Premise:
Two international adventurers travel the world offering their
services for hire.
Main Technical Credits:
Most of the Technical Crew for "Soldiers of Fortune"
and other Revue Productions series came from Republic Studios.
Music Supervisor: Stanley Wilson
Editorial Supervisor: Richard G. Wray, A.C.E.
Set Director: Perry Murdock
Directors of Photography:
Herbert J. Kirkpatrick,A.S.C.,
Bud Thackery, A.S.C.,
John MacBurnie, A.S.C.,
Stunts:
Stunt Doubles for John Russell: Paul Stader, Bob Morgan.
Stunt Doubles for Chick Chandler: Dick Crockett, Paul Baxley.
was by far the only early fifties series that utilized more Stuntmen for a 30
minute show.
Most of them had
appeared regularly in Cliffhanger Serials at Republic Pictures,
before their days at Revue Studios.
Their names are:
Dale Van Sickle, Tom Steele, John Day,
Ken Terrell, Gil Perkins, David Sharpe,
And with Help from:
Charles Horvath, Chuck Couch, Boyd Stockman, Carl Saxe, Saul Gorss,
Ronnie Rondell, Boyd 'Red' Morgan, Jack Perkins, Bud Wolff,
and many more.
"Soldiers of Fortune" syndication airdate history:
WSAU-7, Wausau, Wisconsin, 1962-63 Wednesdays at 5:15pm - 5:45pm.
1.xx [--] Soldiers Of Fortune: ADVENTURES OF AL MUNCH
(possibly an aka)
1955 copyright year ?
Soldiers of Fortune (unknown episode title)
The maharajah of an Indian frontier country seeks the advise of Tim and
Toubo.
(Aired 27Dec56 on WKZO-3, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Thursday at 7:00pm)
Soldiers Of Fortune: (unknown episode title)
Tim Kelly and Toubo Smith are hired by an elderly scientist. [TA]
(Repeated 03Oct62 on WSAU-7, Wausau, Wisconsin, Wednesday at 5:15pm –5:45pm)
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DURING THE 1950'S REVUE STUDIOS HAD IN PRODUCTION A NUMBER OF TELEVISION
SERIES, RANGEING FROM COP SHOWS TO WESTERNS. IN 1955 AN ACTION ADVENTURE
SERIES DEBUTED. IT WAS CALLED SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE. THE STORYLINE TOLD OF
TWO INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES WHO TRAVEL THE WORLD OFFERING THEIR SERVICES
FOR HIRE.
THE STARRING ROLES WERE OFFERED TO TWO ESTABLISHED ACTORS. THE PART OF
TIM KELLY WAS GIVEN TO 6'3"; HANDSOME AND RUGGED LOOKING JOHN RUSSELL.
THE ROLE OF HIS PARTNER NAMED TOUBO SMITH WAS TAKEN BY AN ACTOR WHO
MAINLY PLAYED LIGHTS ROLES IN FILMS BEGINING BACK IN 1925. HIS NAME
CHICK CHANDLER.
SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE BECAME POPULAR WITH TV VIEWERS FROM THE VERY START.
THE STORYLINES WOULD TAKE YOU ONE WEEK TO THE JUNGLES OF AFRICA, AND NEXT
TO THE FOGGY WATERFRONTS OF LONDON. THE ENTIRE SERIES WAS SHOT ON THE OLD
REPUBLIC STUDIOS BACKLOT. STOCK FOOTAGE WAS INTERWOVEN WITH REGULAR
PHOTOGRAPHY, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE STORY. REAR SCREEN PROJECTION
WAS USED FROM TIME TO TIME. THE EDITING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF EDITORIAL
CHIEF RICHARD G. WRAY WAS NOTHING LESS THAN SURBURB. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BUD
THACKERY AND JOHN MCBURNIE; WITH THE HELP OF OTHER LENSMEN WAS CRISP AND
FLUID. THERE WAS SOME LOCATION SHOOTING. IT WAS DONE AT IVERSON'S RANCH,
LOCATED NEAR CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA.
THE MAJORITY OF THE SCRIPTS WERE TURNED OUT BY THREE STAFF WRITERS.
LAWRENCE KIMBLE, BARRY SHIPMAN AND FENTON EARNSHAW. THERE WERE TWO
DIRECTORS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELMING MOST OF THE SERIES. THEY
WERE RICHARD IRVING AND JOHN ENGLISH.
NOT ALL OF SHOWS EACH WEEK WERE FILLED WITH NON-STOP ACTION. THE ONE'S
THAT DID ALWAYS HAD AN ABUNDENT OF STUNTMEN, SOME OF WHICH WERE FORMER
REPUBLIC STUDIO DAREDEVILS OF ACTION. KEY SHOWS TO LOOK FOR VIEWING ARE,
'CUT CHARLIE IN', HATCHET MAN','PIPELINE TO DANGER', HATE AT FORTY
FANTHOMS',AND LIMEHOUSE KNIGHTS'.
SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE DID NOT HAVE ONLY ACTION, BUT ELEMENTS OF COMEDY AND
DRAMA. JOHN RUSSELL AND CHICK CHANDLER DID WELL FOR 52 EPISODES. IT
WAS VERY ENJOYABLE TO WATCH WEEK AFTER WEEK. [Sal Crisanti]
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########### Writer - Lawrence Kimble ########
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You may have noticed that quite a few of the writing credits for
this series were written by Lawrence Kimble.
Kimble was one of the most prolific writers during the early days in
Hollywood. His career began in 1936. He wrote screenplays for many low budget
productions at different studios. From time to time he also scripted with
other writers on the same film. He was very active writing films until the
early 50's, when he began writing scripts for television. He was hired
by MCA tv/Revue Studios as a contract writer and began turning out original
stories and teleplays for tv series like:-
"City Detective" (1953-55),
"Soldiers of Fortune" (1955-57),
"State Trooper", (1957-59),
"Mike Hammer" (1958-59),
"Coronado 9" (1959-60),
and many more.
Lawrence Kimble was also part of a writing team, consisting of two other
very prolific writers. They were Barry Shipman and Fenton Earnshaw. It took
a very disciplined and creative individual to turn out script after script
during very short shooting schedules.
Lawrence Kimble was born in Bakerfield, California in 1904 and
left us on September 3, 1977. He was a gifted writer. [Sal Crisanti]
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