As pointed out in previous comments, Blue Light was part Counterfeit Traitor, part Operation Crossbow, part James Bond, and all Robert Goulet. Goulet was perfect, an earlier version of Pierce Brosnan in many ways, as "traitor" David March, double agent extraordinaire, trying his best to help win the war in WWII Europe almost singlehandedly. He was in his prime, handsome and virile, and convincingly charming and deadly, and his romantic interest and partner in spying was the exciting French actress Christine Carrere. Don't get me wrong, I came back week after week to see how David March could outwit the Nazis and advance the war effort, but I also came back to see Christine who, along with Diana Rigg as The Avengers' Emma Peel, was one of the sexiest European ladies on American 60's TV. Though historically inaccurate, the episode, which I believe was a larger part of the movie culled from the series, involved the destruction of the V-1 and V-2 rocket base at Peenemunde. It was for all intents and purposes an American James Bond taking on a Nazi version of a Spectre plot and great fun and adventure. Though I don't recall what was opposite it in its time slot, I was hooked, I know some veterans of WWII laughed at some of the plots, James Bond could be fantastic, but not David March in WWII, I still think, even today, that it was very underrated and Goulet should have been used more in roles like this. Today his voice is silent, most of his music is out of print, and this series is all but forgotten. Sadly, now that Robert Goulet has passed away, perhaps they'll resurrect his albums and put this short-lived series out on DVD. What a voice! How the heavens must sound today!
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hondo55131 October 2007
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AudioFileZ3 July 2013Whatever the premise, this is simply inspired fiction. That said, it's pretty entertaining nonetheless. I've heard it said that Robert Goulet is the template for Pierce Bronson as one of the later-day James Bond depictions...Well, yes! And, that is what compels one to watch this short-lived series. It has some of the ingredients right.
David March, as portrayed by Goulet, is a double-agent for the Allied Forces. He is spot-on in this role. He has the suave demeanor and the rough-and-tumble "edge" a turn-coat must exude.
Granted, the Nazi's are somewhat "dumbed-down" which is grossly understated, but it just creates the palate from which March leaps forward from. In that context it makes a kind of "perfect sense" that if bought into fruition (which, obviously it was not)l
I love the fact that each week March is on the brink of exposure, yet he survives. There's no rest for the weary!!! His female foil is a beaut! She really has chemistry and is always an arm's length away. That's tension added on.
Robert Goulet has an uneasy screen tension. He's staggeringly handsome, but not in an All-American way. He rides that jumping-off point well in this series. We believe in him, but we're very aware of his vulnerability. Goulet seems to fit the idea of the perfect "double-agent" almost too well.
If Blue Light would have had better writing and a degree of more realism this series could have conquered it's time, but, sadly it lagged in both in spite of the inspired casting of the new talent, Robert Goulet. In some ways it damaged his career just because at the time a one-year TV-series was seen as such a disappointment.
Still, this is a worth seeking out vintage TV espionage series. It hits more highs than lows. I really believe Goulet could have been a Dean Martin in the popular culture if given more of a chance and this series certainly more than hints at that. See it and enjoy the ride. -
wasuperfunder23 October 2007I agree! My sister and I loved this show. Robert Goulet was great, the plots were interesting (we were 11 and 16, in the prior to internet days) I would love to see these shows again. "where were the Yankees in '37, '38 etc". I wonder if anyone else remembers that reference! K
I'm sorry to hear Robert is ill, and awaiting a transplant. He and Carol Lawrence (the Broadway maria in West Side Story) were the height of glamour for us in the 60's. My best wishes and hopes go out to him
Loved the Emerald Nuts Ad--I think someone else remembered Blue Light
Why does this site insist on 10 lines?
I'm just trying to fill space to get me comments posted. -
I remember the series which we used to watch back in 1966. The intrigue and the plots were well executed (pardon the pun since there were a few Nazis, suspicious of David March' activities, who were bent on finding a reason to execute him).
David March was always one step ahead and always managed to complete his mission.
I also remember this program being made into a movie which was a combination of a few episodes from the TV series, which I found to be only slightly disappointing, since I enjoyed the TV series.
Now that Robert Goulet has survived the many years since the series was aired and he has entertained audiences since, both as a popular singer and as an excellent actor as his long list of credits prove, it would be nice if the series would be released on DVD. Hello? is anybody listening? -
Goulet was excellent. He brought gravitas to the role of David March and all of the cast were very good. The guest stars and supporting players were well chosen and familiar from previous Nazi roles including Eric Brayden from Rat Patrol, Francis Lederer and Oscar Beregi. The actresses were all knockouts, of course. Unfortunately, the show lasted slightly over half a season. An official DVD and Blu Ray would be terrific but seems unlikely while crap gets the green light instead of the blue light.
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2eddie30 October 2007I never watched "Blue Light", but I do remember the TV ads on ABC. It was a mid-season replacement. It was the same mid-season that also introduced the "Batman" TV series to the world. We all know about "Batman", but I haven't even heard the name "Blue Light" since I was in elementary school.
I had no idea what the series was about, but I knew that Robert Goulet had something to do with it. Now I'm seeing that it was about Nazis and World War II Europe. I had no idea.
Yeah, I was a pup at the time. Certain little facts always stick with me. -
epopkoff28 November 2007I recently saw a few episodes of Blue Light at a friends house. This series makes Hogans Heroes look like Saving Private Ryan. The hero David March is a traitor who is accepted by Nazi high command and is in reality a double agent. Despite the ridiculous idea you can see that March is a DUMB agent. In an early episode March is talking about a secret plan to blow up a German factory on a German plane with other Germans reading newspapers around him! This type of error was repeated continually throughout the series. Im surprised he lasted beyond the third episode.It seems that London would be angry at him for disclosing his "secret" identity to so many people that it had to be verified continually. The Germans themselves are portrayed as bumbling simpletons who at times wear helmets that were so large that they could not see with them on. March also continues to destroy the Germans despite the fact that it was obvious he was a traitor. Other than the fact that the series is hilarious at times Blue Light is a poor excuse for a action series.
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cariart27 January 2004In 1962, Paramount Pictures released THE COUNTERFEIT TRAITOR, based on the true story of Eric Ericson (William Holden), a Swedish industrialist, who, while 'working' for the Nazis, was actually an allied spy. While branded a 'collaborator' by his friends, he provided vital information, at great risk to his life.
Four years later, as the worldwide 'James Bond' craze was beginning to wind down, 20th Century Fox decided the film's concept might make an exciting espionage series, changed the lead from a Swedish businessman to an American correspondent, and cast popular Broadway/singing star Robert Goulet as the agent, code named 'Blue Light'.
Each episode, while pretending to support Nazi activities, and broadcasting anti-American propaganda, Goulet's 'David March' would actually be passing, in code, essential strategic information to the allies. The job, of course, branded him a traitor, a role he had to continuously play, even carrying on the charade with the woman he loved, Suzanne Duchard, portrayed by French actress Christine Carère (only the allied High Command knew his secret). Some members of the Gestapo had suspicions of March's sincerity, however, and would sometimes pass him 'bad' information, hoping to trip him up, and then execute him.
Shot in color, and broadcast on ABC, "Blue Light" placed March among the highest ranking Nazis, with frequent parties and social occasions providing an elegant backdrop to the intrigue. Goulet's performance was convincing in his dramatic TV debut, and the series wasn't bad, despite the occasional 'sixties' hairdo popping up, and the laughable German accents the actors portraying 'Nazis' all adopted. What ultimately killed the program was simply a bad time slot, and poor ratings.
For another 'take' on an American journalist/spy 'working' for the Nazis in WWII, catch MOTHER NIGHT, a MUCH darker 1996 film with Nick Nolte.