baxter27

David Croft was a successful writer/director with many, much loved British comedies like "Dad's Army", "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" and "'Allo 'Allo!" to his credit but this was a complete loser - no "Dad's Army".

Obviously scripted to get the best out of popular Australian TV comedian Ron Frazer, it ended up more like "Are You Being Served?" with rather puerile "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" jokes and a bevy of untalented, if attractive girls in various states of undress, it just didn't work.

Imported British actors Hugh Lloyd and Anne Sidney filled out the cast but it was pulled halfway through it's British run and never got another showing in Australia where it was set and filmed.

"Margo! You shouldn't have shot him. A gun is a last resort. Always remember, we're Phantom Agents!" So began every episode of this extremely popular (in Australia) Japanese TV series. Appearing on our screens a month or two after the equally popular "The Samurai" this show seemed like a Japanese version of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. but with spooky and sometimes mystical special effects.

Phantom Agents battled the evil Black Flags of Snig Z and the even more evil international criminal conspiracy, the Ghost Group. Cheesy special effects such as the transistor radio that turned into a rifle were available as toys in Australian shops but we didn't care.

Always remember, we're Phantom Agents!