Search
Tags: intrigue

Plot synopsis:
The film begins and ends on October 16th, 1999, with 20-year-old Kolia, (Maksim Emelyanov), a Russian army recruit, recording and narrating with a handheld video camera, as young, drunken Russian soldiers taunt, terrorize, and finally execute a civilian Chechen couple in front of their teenage daughter Raissa (Zukhra Duishvili). Kolia's story is one of four personal narratives that unfold against the backdrop of the ruins of a village in Chechnya, the flood of civilian refugees from the village, and a family partially reunited. We first meet Kolia as a pot-smoking guitar player in Perm, 2300 kilometers from the Chechen border, where he is taken into custody for possession of drugs and drafted into army service. As a new recruit, he undergoes a brutal transformation from an innocent youth into a "dehumanized killing machine." When Kolia's fellow soldiers, kill the Chechnan couple, the couple's nine-year-old son, Hadji (Abdul Khalim Mamutsiev) hides and watches and when it is safe, he is able to carry his infant brother to relative safety. The trauma of his parents' death renders him mute. He is helped along the way to the refugee camp by other Chechen refugees and eventually, he is befriended by Carole (Bérénice Bejo), a French-born, Chechnya-based NGO worker. Carole, who works as a researcher and representative of the Human Rights Committee of the European Union, helps Hadji regain his ability to speak. Hadji's elder sister Raïssa searches for both brothers. Helen (Annette Bening), a Red Cross worker, is interviewed by Carol and places hope in the International response to the Second Chechen War to the centuries-old struggle of the Chechen people. Raissa, reunited with her baby brother, escapes once again from the village with the help of other Chechen refugees. She has to leave without Hadji, against her will, because of the Russian federal forces' aerial bombing. Raissa helps Helen at the International Red Cross orphanage. Both Helen and Carole are discouraged when the United Nations Commission of Human Rights report of April 2000 does not declare the situation in Chechnya a humanitarian disaster. Carole delivers her report to the United Nations but soon realizes that not many of the participants are listening. With the help of Carole and Helen, Hadji is reunited with his siblings. The film ends at the beginning, with Kolia's filming of the attack on Hadji's family.

Review: "Search" is a series that failed to find its audience mainly because most of that audience was already in bed (time slot 9 or 10 PM on a school night; it was the first series I got to stay up late for!).
It's also a series that could not have existed before the world watched Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon, since the concept of a room full of specialists monitoring and assisting the agent is, of course, based on the room full of specialists in Houston who monitor and assist our astronauts.Note that Bob Justman (of Star Trek fame) was involved; undoubtedly it was because of Star Trek's influence that the aforementioned room full of specialists included African-Americans, Asian-Americans and women.All in all, it's a shame it didn't catch on, but then again, most of the audience had to be in bed early on school nights.
This was one of the great shows that didn't last.The teamwork shown by the group working behind the scenes was perhaps too "upbeat" for people.
You didn't watch the show expecting the good guys to fail, but instead tried to guess which specialist or gadget would get them out of a jam this time.I don't remember how good the writing and dialog was, but I clearly remember Burgess Meredith's character as a very compelling influence in the "control room".
I would love this show to return to the air or come out on DVD, but I suppose it has been gone for so long that any chance of that happening is pretty low.In any case, it is good to see the show immortalized to some extent by being listed properly here (I searched for "Search" a long time ago and couldn't find it)..
Probe Control computer center assists agents on dangerous recovery missions.
I learned of this show even before it aired on NBC back in 1972 (prepublicity), and decided I liked it even before seeing it.
One thing that I thought was really cool was how Probe Control communicated to the agents via an implanted audio pickup through radio telescope communications.
Of course, Burgess Meredith was essentially the show stealer every time; not many other actors could give an engaging performance sitting at a computer panel.
A couple of years ago a local TV station rebroadcast the pilot episode, co-starring John Gielgud (sp?), and I caught the whole thing on VHS.
When they decided to cancel the series, I was actually put out enough to send in a letter of protest.
After all, it had cool effects, mostly involving things that could be seen in other parts of the spectrum, picked up by the agents' ring-bound scanners..
reasons to recreate the Search TV series.
Search had some of the best elements of the spy genre (handsome persuasive and strong male leads, beautiful women, exotic rich locales, and mysterious missing objects, etc) and of the science fiction genre (an elaborate Mission Control center, computer assisted artificial intelligence information, man/machine embedded implants etc).
The plots where were sometimes not that interesting or hung together well but the relationship of the characters (especially Probe Control irascibly trying to keep the three independent minded agents in line) was fun to watch.When you consider the ongoing popularity of the spy genre and the enthusiastic support of science fiction series by it's fans the series Search should have been a very good success.
It could be that it was just a little ahead of its time.
I encourage the TV production community to consider the creation of a new Search series or something along the same lines.
The TV audience is more interested in both the spy genre (James Bond, the Bourne series etc) and the science fiction series (Star trek, Star Wars, etc than at any time in the past..
I loved the theme music!.
As a brat raised in LA during the mid 60s, I was mad about UNCLE, I Spy, The Avengers, THE Cat, all the good old TV spy and action shows.
Returning to Japan in '68 was a big culture change, especially the dull and boring TV shows (not much change in 2006, even worse).
It was around '73 that one of the network here aired 5 or 6 episodes of Search.
It was dubbed in Japanese (no bilingual TV at that time), and I can't remember any story, but the brilliant titleback and the superb theme music is something that I wish to see and hear again.
One scene I recall is a bird's eye view of an orange Nissan Z car driven by one of the Probe agent.
I thought it was so cool!
It seems difficult to see this series even in the USA now, but I am sure that there are thousands of "hidden Search fans" in the world.
I will definitely buy the whole series if sold on DVD..
Whilst the premise of "Search" was interesting, indeed somewhat foreshadowing "The Six Million Dollar Man" by a couple of years, i.e., people with bio-electronic enhancements, the very premise of it limited the show to running out of steam, ultimately.
After all, how many things can you search for?
Jewels, people, renegade SEARCH-systems scientists, etcetera?
Wouldn't mind seeing it in reruns again, though no doubt some things would seem somewhat dated, over thirty years later.
Still, it is nice to remember when this show was "cool.".
The network got a head cold on this one.
A very nice set-up for a series that looked like it was going far.
In the pilot (The film 'Probe') the controller, B.C. Cameron (The late Burgess Meredith)warns Probe 1 (Hugh Lockwood, played by Hugh O'Brian) that he should avoid a head-cold as it messes with the electronics.
Well I think that the Network got a head cold over this ahead-of-its-time semi-sf spy series.
Like another reviewer, I would love to see the series restarted, perhaps someone could persuade a network to buy the rights?
Leslie Stephens created several series like this (Invisible Man etc), and it seems a pity to waste such inventiveness.As to casting, I wouldn't dare to put forward a suggestion, except that, as a Brit, I wouldn't mind them filming an episode or two in the U.K. with a British 'Probe'....
Search, a great show with high-tech gadgets for 1972.
I used to watch "Search" all the time.
The Probe headquarters was so advanced, that they could use one of the Probe agent's ring for a camera, recorder, Geiger counter around radiation, and a reviver, if one of the agents was knocked out, on thrown overboard into the Sea(like one of the episodes.) What some viewers have failed to mention, is that Probe agents had a dental implant too, so they could click their teeth and send a signal if they were in trouble, and could not talk.
However; one episode where a Probe agent was captured by terrorists(or mad scientists)the enemy became aware of the implant and used it to send their signals into it, to cause pain, obedience, and to basically control the agent like a robot.
However; Probe found the agent's location, and blocked the signals of the enemy, and even talked to the enemy, warning them, to release their prisoner, of Probe would bombard them with an electronic attack.
Shows written today don't have this kind of writing, like Search.
The Actors were well seasoned, and played their roles very well.
Search was best when Probe control room was black with red lights shining down.
Burgess Merridith played his part very well as the Head of Probe, and the Agents, Lockwood(Hugh O'Brian), Nic Bianco(Anthony Franciosa)(My favorite agent.) I loved it when Nic would say to the Probe headquarters; "We did it your way first; now we are doing it Nic Bianco's way." Search at times, was along the lines of Star Trek characters too.
You could see them going through all the switching, and powering up for each Agent they sent out.
Search ran from 1972-1973, but it spawned other shows that came later; like "LeFemme Nikita", movies like "Johnny Neumonic", and of course "24".
Search was a pleasant alternative to the other shows available in 1972, on a WED night.
Some of the episodes would appear very 70s, but in it's time, Search was with the times, if not ahead of the times..
My all-time favorite show.
Its a shame quality, well written and intelligent shows like SEARCH don't last.
I think it was just too far ahead of its time.
I think the show could be done today, but I think the producers would be to tempted to put "pretty boys" as the agents, instead of older, more cerebral actors.
I think I would cast Anthony Zerbe as V.C. Cameron, Steven Weber as C.R. Grover, Ted Danson as Lockwood (yes I think Ted could handle a semi-dramatic role), and Eric Roberts as Nick Bianco.
It would be one cool show....IF...the writing was of an intelligent quality.
The original show, as well as the pilot movie were awesome!!!.
Search pre-empted too much, maybe why it failed.
I know that in the San Francisco Bay Area it was preempted 5 times ( !
) in it's original run, including for 2 shows on the energy crisis !!I loved the show, but the best episodes were the one's with Hugh O'Brien and I can still hear Burgess Meredith going practically insane and yelling " Lockwood !
" and Lockwood ignoring him.The episodes with Doug McClure, and Franciosa weren't as good.I had a terrible crush on Angel Tompkins, too.A guy in Palos Verdes Peninsula was selling copies of the Probe scanner.
Wish I still had one but I lost it.George Senda Martinez, Ca. Super Cool TV Series of the 70s'.
I was in high school when "Search" ran and thought it was the coolest show around!
It was way ahead of it's time.
I'd love to see it re imagined and with the right cast and writing could be an excellent series.
Burgess Meredith was perfect as Cameron, his speech patterns owed to classical theater training.
There's a spot on the web where you can see low quality episodes but i'd still like to see a DVD set of the series.
probe control.com has tons of info on the series.
As long as they stay true to the original it would be a way cool movie!
I remember watching this show when I was a kid.
I really liked it back then, but the one thing I remember about it was Burgess Merideth's speech pattern.
He had this way of over enunciating everything.To this day I can remember him saying "beeeee caaaareful LLLockwooooooddd".I also remember the female controller.
She was the one who was always flirting with the agents.I can almost remember the music too, sort of like the old jewel heist music I think (but I could be confusing it with something else).
Search - pilot name was originally Probe.
This was an awesome show, some great actors.
Burgess Meredith as B.
I think he was a great actor and was so impressive in this show.
There were some very fine actors in this show Hugh O'brian as Hugh Lockwood was the best in this show (aka "Wyatt Earp" another of my fave shows).
Doug McClure and Tony Franciosa were awesome as well.
Yes us old timers have seen a lot of TV and movies this show was so great I was so wanting it to make it at the time.
The Man From UNCLE, I Spy, The Avengers, THE Cat, were all great TV spy and action shows.
Search was so great with all the "cool tools" and great spy stuff.Maybe someday someone will create a new revised "Probe".
But alas it was one of many fine shows that didn't last because of network popularity.
There were many great lineups on all the 3 major networks then NBC, CBS, and ABC.
This show is in my top ten list and besides "Star Trek" is my very all time favorite..
Search series.
I was a kid when I saw Search and it was fantastic.
Hugh O'Brian...Doug McClure and Anthony Franciosa were handsome, interesting and excellent investigators.
World Security headquarters were outstanding, plenty of new technology.
Burguess Meredith (Cameron) was a serious boss but also funny.
adventures and different situations worldwide were interesting ,,, plenty of mystery and action.
I would like to know if I could get it, by somewhere -I meant-.
Hope soon, very soon, we could see those TV episodes in DVD.
I'll be the very first client, I'll really do that purchase But please do the 12 episodes.
In did Search is one of my favorites TV shows.
Great action show with a hook..
A wicked cool "mission control" room.
Three known actors in rotation - all with previous film and tv success.
Great Concept for the time.
I vividly remember watching this show every week.
For the time the technology was pretty amazing.
We were still using a good old rotary dial phone back then and no one even heard of a personal computer or miniature wireless surveillance cameras.
That was even more technology than they used on Star Trek!
Burgess Merideth was wonderful working in "Cameron Probe Control" and Doug McClure was probably my favorite agent.
Today, technology has exceeded the tools used in this program but it would be great to see it brought back in a present day form using the technology we have now.
If this program ever re-appears in some media format, I would love to see it again..
"Search" was truly a lead into the future.
"Search" changed my life.
I thought it was so cool and gave me an interest in computers.
The actors were the greatest and I, like most of you, liked Burgess, Hugh, Doug and Tony.
It was so interesting to me to watch Burgess sitting in front of his computer monitor, directing the agent that was in the field for that episode.
Watching the tapes whirling around and the lights flashing and then all the amazing things that the agent could do with the touch of a button.
It has been so long ago that I really am foggy as to what really happened in most of the shows but it changed my life forever.
Didn't Hugh wear a necklace around his neck that he could talk to Burgess through?
I really wish that they would re-run all the episodes so that I could tape them all..
"Search" Agents?.
I seem to recall that there were THREE agents of Probe in "Search, or "Search Control", (as it was called here in the UK) and not just the two mentioned here already?Hugh O'Brien and Anthony Franciosa have both been included in several previous comments, but wasn't there a third agent who was played by Doug McLure, (the name of whom escapes me.) Am I correct in this, or is it just a warped memory and I'm confusing the actors concerned with another programme completely?
I was about twelve years old at the time "Search Control" was first broadcast and I remember being totally enthralled by the sophistication and creative ingenuity of the technology involved.For me, Burgess Meredith stole the show completely each week, but it was Hugh O'Brien who was the most interesting of the three agents, and three actors who played them.The show was absolutely fantastic and well ahead of it's time!!!.
I LOVED this show when I was a kid!.
I don't remember a single plot from this series, so don't expect any spoilers!
I was a big computer geek long before the personal computer (never mind the Internet) so this show got me where I lived.
I haven't seen it in many, many years, so I have no idea what I'd think of it today.
Obviously the technology would seem quaint, at best, but I recall the stories as being quite good.
I'm afraid I'd laugh too much at their computers though (has anyone seen "Colossus: The Forbin Project" lately?) "Search" is definitely a candidate for a modern-day make-over though!
It's "Mission: Impossible" tailor-made for the Internet Age...instead of a team that goes into a situation, a single person does...supported by a team somewhere else who have the world's information and expertise at their fingertips.
The only question is, in this day and age, would the viewers be amazed at what the "agents" can do with the help of their geeky behind-the-scenes comrades, or would they just think "Big deal...anybody could do that stuff these days!".
Latching on to the superspy genre, this excellent series failed to peak in popularity.
As the superspy genre on TV degenerated into cartoony comedy as the later episodes of Man from Uncle did, this series' updated spook gadgetry such as the use of remote viewing with telemetry analysis and diagnosis via rings and tie clips worn by the Probe agents.
The whole premise however became prosaic and cheesy with the arrival shows like the Bionic Man/Woman with over the top gadgetry that practically turned the characters into robots.Probe was the title of the pilot episode which starred Hugh O'Brian as the field agent.
Retitled as Search for the series, each episode had him, Doug McClure and Tony Franciosca on a round robin basis reminiscent of The Four Just Men of '50s vintage.O'Brian plays the cool, handsome ladykiller and perfect secret agent to the hilt while Doug Mclure portrays the vulnerable and consequently more sympathetic spook complete with various gaffes and goofs.
Tony Franciosca channels it like a Mickey Spillane school of hard knocks private eye with a liberal sprinkling of the inimitable Franciosca humor.But the absolutely coolest thing on this show for me is the theme music.
Couldn't find a track of it so I would actually turn off the radio when driving to play it in my head ---- tuhtuhrahrahrahrah - tararah- rah-rah.
Great!
Caught the theme recently on You Tube and there are two very similar versions, one for Probe and the more refined one for Search.