The Doombolt Chase ( 1978 )

HTV, an independent British production company, released a number of memorable children's television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s....one of which was The Doombolt Chase, a six-part adventure serial that aired in March 1978.

Don Houghton, a writer who contributed to several Doctor Who and Sapphire & Steel episodes, penned the screenplay for this clever sci-fi adventure which centers around the British navy. When Commander David Wheeler ( Donald Burton ) rams and destroys an unarmed vessel without a motive he is court-martialed
and later imprisoned. His son Richard ( Andrew Ashby ), who believes that his father received secret orders to ram the vessel, embarks on a search for information that might clear his name. Joining him in the hunt are his friends Lucy ( Shelley Crowhurst ) and Peter ( Richard Willis ). Their investigations lead them into a dangerous web of intrigue and espionage involving secret codes and a deadly new weapon of war known as the Doombolt. 

The Doombolt Chase was the second of two naval-themed adventure serials produced by Peter Graham Scott that were aimed at teenage audiences ( Scott had also produced the chilling 1977 Children of the Stones serial ). It is an exciting little production that combines authentic action scenes with location filming, numerous plot twists, a spunky theme song, and some fine acting by veteran Brits such as Peter Vaughn and Frederick Jaeger. 

The Doombolt Chase has been beautifully restored and is currently available on DVD through Network Distributing Limited. If you're interested in this series, you may also enjoy Follow Me ( 1977 ). To check out other Network DVD release reviews simply click here!