7 /10 1 Votes
6.2/10 TV Country of origin United Kingdom Final episode date 10 May 1974 Number of episodes 6 | 7.6/10 IMDb First episode date 5 April 1974 Number of seasons 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring John MillsBrian KeithLilli PalmerBarry Morse Cast Similar Wish Me Luck, Sharpe's Peril, The Palace, Island at War, Midnight Man | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Zoo Gang was a 1974 ITC Entertainment drama series that ran for six one-hour colour episodes, based on the 1971 book of the same name by Paul Gallico.
Contents
the zoo gang tv intro
Plot
Five French Resistance fighters, known by their animal-based code names (the Wolf, the Tiger, the Elephant, the Leopard and the Fox) fought during World War II. Their efforts came to a stop when one of their number, Claude Roget (the Wolf) was betrayed to the Gestapo by a contact called Boucher. In their interrogation, one of their number Roget, who as the husband of Manouche (the Leopard) was shot dead before her eyes.
Thirty years later, Thomas Devon (the Elephant) spots Boucher (who was going under the name Rosch) in his shop. The surviving members of the Zoo Gang drop what they are doing and rendezvous for vengeance. The series follows the adventures of the remaining gang of four resistance fighters reunited 30 years later to scam habitual con artists and criminals in order to take their money and use it for good causes. Despite their ages, they put their skills and experience to use to raise enough money to construct a hospital in the memory of Claude. The gang is (reluctantly) aided by the son of Manouche and Claude, an inspector in the French police.
The series is set on the French Riviera in Nice. Guest stars included Philip Madoc, Peter Cushing and Jacqueline Pearce. Roger Delgado, best known for his role as Doctor Who villain The Master also appeared although he died in a car crash prior to transmission.
Main cast
Music
The series theme music was composed by Paul and Linda McCartney. The score was composed by Ken Thorne. Both are available on the Network compilation : The Music Of ITC, Network 7959016.
Episode list
Airdates given here are for ATV, other ITV regions airdates vary.
International distribution
The series aired on CBC-TV in Canada in the summer of 1974. In the U.S., the series was broadcast by NBC, two episodes per night for three nights in July and August 1975.
DVD
The complete series was released on Region 2 DVD on 2 July 2007. Actor Barry Morse, (The Tiger), by then the last surviving regular actor from the series, provided an introduction in the DVD extras. He died the following year.