For those who might not be familiar, the half-hour episodes of DANGER MAN came before the hour-long series.
The character of John Drake was refined, here in these chestnuts. At this point, he was an 'agent' for 'NATO.'
There are many threads, similarities between the two series. In this episode, as there are in this one.
THE KEY's plot is about someone who is giving secret intelligence to the other side. WHO is giving these secrets is the plot.
Drake is sent to Vienna, to investigate Logan, who would seem to be the leak, despite his background in the military, during WW2, in which he served the Allies faithfully.
The twists, the turns in THE KEY are very similar to an episode of the hour-long series; ARE YOU GOING TO BE MORE PERMANENT, starring the delightful Susan Hampshire.
I'm reviewing this one, because it is through episodes, such as this - that you can see the quality of work, that wen in to make the classic 3 series with Patrick McGoohan - which all featured the same pool of actors, writers, cameramen, music men, etc.
If you're more familiar with the hour-long series, then you'd think that these episodes from it's half-hour 'sibling' would be just that: truncated versions. They're not.
While there are some 'misses' in the series, as a whole, the half-hour series jam-packs so much dialogue, plot, that you really sometimes think it IS an hour-long episode (and, I don't mean that in the obvious way).
In addition to Peter (The Supervisor in THE PRISONER) Swanick's first appearance in the trilogy, there is also a notable appearance by Charles Gray - whom most American viewers will surely remember as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, and The Narrator in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW ('...I would like...if I may...' - oops! Sorry).
The wife of Logan is played by a very lovely young actress named Monique Ahrens, who, I'm sad to say - has not made more than a very few screen appearances.
All-in-all, for anyone who's a John Drake fan, or is familiar with the hour- long series, but, new to these half-hour gems, this one is a good starting- point to watch, for you can see the craftsmanship that went in to making DANGER MAN a GREAT series - half-hour, or hour-long.