Saturday, July 28, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: FRANZ ALTMÜLLER


FRANZ ALTMÜLLER

CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
Werner Klemperer

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time


From Wikipedia:
Franz Altmüller [is] the vicious Nazi counterpart to [General] Swanson.


BCnU!

Friday, July 27, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: GENERAL SWANSON


BRIGADIER GENERAL ALAN SWANSON

CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
Vince Edwards

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

From Wikipedia:
Brigadier Alan Swanson [is] the American general masterminding the exchange [of industrial diamonds for German gyroscopes]. Although a novice at intelligence, Swanson is nonetheless ruthless and commands, at the outset, that Rhinemann must be killed.


It can't be proven, but General Swanson could be the older brother of Commodore Otis Swanson and father of "Swanny" Swanson ('Columbo' - "Last Salute To The Commodore").  "Swanny" may have been Alan Swanson, Jr.

BCnU!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: AMBASSADOR GRANVILLE


AMBASSADOR HENDERSON GRANVILLE


CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
John Huston

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

Huston only had two scenes in the mini-series and not much more was required of him than his larger-than-life presence and that great voice which you could wrap yourself up in on a cold night. But what makes him interesting is that of all the characters in the story, Ambassador Granville should have been based on a real person. (And maybe he was.....)

From Wikipedia:
Norman Armour – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 18, 1939
Presented credentials: June 19, 1939
Terminated mission: Recalled June 27, 1944; left post June 29, 1944

Note: Normal relations between the U.S. and Argentina were interrupted Feb 24, 1944; the U.S. did not recognize the new government of Argentina and recalled Ambassador Armour on June 27, 1944. Relations were restored when the U.S. recognized the Farrell government on April 19, 1945.

Note:
The name of the chargé d'affaires a.i. or other chief of mission who served in the interim between Ambassadors Armour and Braden is not recorded.

Spruille Braden
– Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 8, 1945
Presented credentials: May 21, 1945
Terminated mission: Left post September 23, 1945

So in the interim between the two ambassadors, "for alls I know", there really was a Henderson Granville.
BCnU!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: DANIEL MEEHAN


DANIEL MEEHAN


CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
Ramon Bieri

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

Meehan was a government operative, probably a member of the OSS.

BCnU!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: BOBBY BALLARD & THE MARCH HARE


Another "Two For Tuesday" showcase for 'The Rhinemann Exchange'.....

BOBBY BALLARD

CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
Roddy McDowall

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

 

Ballard was the cryptologist working at the American Embassy in Buenos Aires. Throughout the production I kept expecting him to be revealed to be the traitor, since it's the kind of role McDowall does so well.

THE MARCH HARE

CREATED BY:
Lewis Carroll

PORTRAYED BY:
Roddy McDowall

AS SEEN IN:
"Alice In Wonderland"

TV STATUS:
Recastaway

TV DIMENSION OPTIONS:
1]  The True Wonderland
2]  BookWorld, an alternate universe, not just a dimension
3]  A dreamscape, perhaps based on a particular edition of the book

 

From Wikipedia:
See the earlier entry from March.

BCnU!

Monday, July 23, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: HEINRICH STOLZ


HEINRICH STOLZ

CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
Bo Brundin

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

Stolz was a Nazi assistant and bodyguard for Rhinemann, who acted as the intermediary with David Spaulding.

BCnU!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

AS SEEN ON TV: LESLIE HAWKWOOD


 
LESLIE JENNER HAWKWOOD


CREATED BY:
Robert Ludlum

PORTRAYED BY:
Lauren Hutton

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rhinemann Exchange'

TV DIMENSION:
Earth Prime-Time

From Wikipedia:
Leslie Jenner Hawkwood [is] an old flame of Spaulding, who - having married into a Jewish family - is aware of the full extent of the Nazi genocide and who has joined the Haganah.


Leslie marks one of the big changes from the Ludlum novel. In the book, Jean Cameron becomes the love of David Spaulding's life. But that aspect is always held by Leslie and Jean Cameron is just an employee at the embassy (although she does make a play for David.) The rest of Jean's storyline may still play out in the book as it did in the show; I don't know, I never read it. But there was never anyone but Leslie for him in Toobworld.

BCnU!