Crossbow is a 1987 historical drama action adventure television series that aired on CBN Cable Network. The series was produced by Steven North and Richard Schlesinger for Robert Halmi Inc., in co-production with French television network FR3, and filmed entirely on location in France.

Crossbow
Series title over a flaming background
Genre
Created byAnthony Horowitz
StarringWill Lyman
Hans Meyer
Guy Rolfe
John Otway
Bernard Spiegel
Nick Brimble
Bertie Cortez
David Barry Gray
Dana Barron
Jeremy Clyde
ComposerStanislas Syrewicz
Country of origin
  • France
  • United Kingdom
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes72
Production
Executive producers
Running time25–27 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBN Cable Network
ReleaseAugust 30, 1987 (1987-08-30) –
February 11, 1989 (1989-02-11)[citation needed]

Crossbow follows the adventures of William Tell (Will Lyman) and takes place in the 14th-century in Switzerland.[2] William Tell and his son Matthew are imprisoned by the tyrannical Gessler (Jeremy Clyde). As Governor (Landburgher in the original story) of Austria, Gessler plans to stop the Swiss uprising. Having split the apple on his son's head with his crossbow, much to Gessler's chagrin, there is no stopping William Tell's legendary strength and skill.

Characters

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Main

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Guests

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Media

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A television film, Crossbow: The Movie, edited from combined episodes of the series, was released on DVD in 2005, under the title The Adventures of William Tell. The complete series was later released in 2018 on six DVD discs.

An action-adventure game titled Crossbow: the Legend of William Tell, based on the series, was released in 1989 for the Amiga and the Atari ST.

Marvel Comics released several issues of a tie-in comic book, with the characters of Tell and Gessler drawn to the likenesses of Will Lyman and Jeremy Clyde. An illustrated storybook and a novelization were released as well.

The musical score for the series was composed by Stanisław Syrewicz, and used an arrangement of the William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini in one of the tracks. A limited printing of the score was released in 1989 on CD and on LP record.

Episodes

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Season 1 (1987–88)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Banquet"George MihalkaEdithe Swensen and Steven BawolAugust 30, 1987 (1987-08-30)
22"The Prisoner"George MihalkaEdithe Swensen and Steven BawolSeptember 6, 1987 (1987-09-06)
33"The Little Soldier"John David ColesAnthony HorowitzSeptember 13, 1987 (1987-09-13)
44"The Scavengers"John David ColesAnthony HorowitzSeptember 20, 1987 (1987-09-20)
55"Reunion"Chris KingAnthony Horowitz and Steven BawolSeptember 27, 1987 (1987-09-27)
66"Albion"George MihalkaEdithe Swensen and Steven BawolOctober 4, 1987 (1987-10-04)
77"Sanctuary"Paul StanleyEdithe SwensenOctober 11, 1987 (1987-10-11)
88"The Dukes of Zharinghen"Paul StanleyEdithe SwensenOctober 18, 1987 (1987-10-18)
99"The Bet"Paul StanleyEdithe SwensenOctober 25, 1987 (1987-10-25)
1010"The Stallion"Chris KingAnthony Horowitz and Steven BawolNovember 1, 1987 (1987-11-01)
1111"The Imposter"Allan A. GoldsteinEdithe SwensenNovember 8, 1987 (1987-11-08)
1212"The Pass"Allan A. GoldsteinEdithe SwensenNovember 15, 1987 (1987-11-15)
1313"Misalliance"Allan A. GoldsteinEdithe SwensenNovember 22, 1987 (1987-11-22)
1414"The Alchemist"David KappesHarry KappesNovember 29, 1987 (1987-11-29)
1515"Possessed!"Dennis BerryMark Princi and Steven BawolDecember 6, 1987 (1987-12-06)
1616"The Moor: Part 1"John David ColesMark Princi and Anthony HorowitzDecember 13, 1987 (1987-12-13)
1717"The Moor: Part 2"John David ColesMark Princi and Anthony HorowitzDecember 20, 1987 (1987-12-20)
1818"The Four Horsemen"George MihalkaStory by : Bernard Frangin
Teleplay by : Steven Bawol and Anthony Horowitz
December 27, 1987 (1987-12-27)
1919"The Citadel"George MihalkaStory by : Bernard Frangin
Teleplay by : Steven Bawol and Anthony Horowitz
January 3, 1988 (1988-01-03)
2020"The Princess"George MihalkaStory by : Bernard Frangin
Teleplay by : Steven Bawol and Anthony Horowitz
January 10, 1988 (1988-01-10)
2121"Lotus"Dennis BerryAnthony HorowitzJanuary 17, 1988 (1988-01-17)
2222"The Physician"Dennis BerryAnthony HorowitzJanuary 24, 1988 (1988-01-24)
2323"The Handmaiden"Jacques MetheRanald GrahamJanuary 31, 1988 (1988-01-31)
2424"The Rebirth"Jacques MetheRanald GrahamFebruary 7, 1988 (1988-02-07)

Season 2 (1988–89)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
251"Nightmare"George MihalkaJohn Flanagan & Andrew McCullochSeptember 3, 1988 (1988-09-03)
262"Birthright"George MihalkaAnthony HorowitzSeptember 10, 1988 (1988-09-10)
273"Trolls"George MihalkaPascal Bancou & Christian BouveronSeptember 17, 1988 (1988-09-17)
284"Nemesis"George MihalkaDavid WilksSeptember 24, 1988 (1988-09-24)
295"The Pit"Christian DuguayClaude HarzOctober 1, 1988 (1988-10-01)
306"The Rock"Christian DuguayClaude HarzOctober 8, 1988 (1988-10-08)
317"The Taking of Castle Tanner"Christian DuguayPascal Bancou & Christian BouveronOctober 15, 1988 (1988-10-15)
328"Fear"Christian DuguayDavid WilksOctober 22, 1988 (1988-10-22)
339"The Emperor: Part 1"George MihalkaSteven BawolOctober 29, 1988 (1988-10-29)
3410"The Emperor: Part 2"George MihalkaSteven BawolOctober 29, 1988 (1988-10-29)
3511"The Lost Crusader"George MihalkaDavid WilksNovember 5, 1988 (1988-11-05)
3612"Exit the Dragon"Dennis BerryJohn Flanagan & Andrew McCullochNovember 12, 1988 (1988-11-12)
3713"Actors"Dennis BerryMichelle PrinciNovember 19, 1988 (1988-11-19)
3814"Seekers of the Soul"Dennis BerryClaude HarzNovember 26, 1988 (1988-11-26)
3915"Masterplan"Richard SchlesingerClaude HarzDecember 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)
4016"Ladyship"Richard SchlesingerMichelle PrinciDecember 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)
4117"The Promised Land"Richard SchlesingerJohn Flanagan & Andrew McCullochDecember 17, 1988 (1988-12-17)
4218"Rejection"Richard SchlesingerClaude HarzDecember 24, 1988 (1988-12-24)
4319"Message to Geneva"Christian DuguayHarold KappesJanuary 7, 1989 (1989-01-07)
4420"The Electors"Christian DuguaySteven BawolJanuary 14, 1989 (1989-01-14)
4521"The Inquisitor"Dennis BerryRanald GrahamJanuary 21, 1989 (1989-01-21)
4622"Amnesty"Christian DuguayRanald GrahamJanuary 28, 1989 (1989-01-28)
4723"Blood Brothers"Dennis BerryRanald Graham & Claude HarzFebruary 4, 1989 (1989-02-04)
4824"Betrayal"Dennis BerryUnknownFebruary 11, 1989 (1989-02-11)

Season 3 (1989)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
491"The Touch"Dennis BerryRanald Graham1989 (1989)
502"Spirit of Rebellion"Paolo BarzmanRanald Graham and Mark Lyons1989 (1989)
513"Insurrection"Dennis BerryClaude Harz and Mark Lyons1989 (1989)
524"Doppelganger"Paolo BarzmanDavid Wilks1989 (1989)
535"Trailbreak"Paolo BarzmanRanald Graham1989 (1989)
546"The Mission"Dennis BerryJohn Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch1989 (1989)
557"The Bounty Twins"Dennis BerryLeonard Tuck1989 (1989)
568"The Gods"Christian DuguayDavid Wilks1989 (1989)
579"Gansari's Zombies"Dennis BerryClaude Harz1989 (1989)
5810"The Shadow"Christian DuguayJohn Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch1989 (1989)
5911"Gorian the Spider"Christian DuguayClaude Harz1989 (1989)
6012"Forbidden Fruit"Dennis BerryRanald Graham1989 (1989)
6113"The Lost City"Dennis BerryDavid Wilks1989 (1989)
6214"The Bridge"Christian DuguayDavid Wilks1989 (1989)
6315"Silver Rider"Christian DuguayMark Princi1989 (1989)
6416"The Children"Mai ZetterlingMai Zetterling and David Hughes1989 (1989)
6517"The Magician"Dennis BerryClaude Harz1989 (1989)
6618"The Wind Wagon"Mai ZetterlingMai Zetterling and David Hughes1989 (1989)
6719"Goldilocks"Dennis BerryRanald Graham1989 (1989)
6820"The Amazon"Christian DuguayDavid Wilks1989 (1989)
6921"Headhunters"Christian DuguayStory by : Robert Halmi Jr.
Teleplay by : David Wilks
1989 (1989)
7022"Forbidden Land"Mai ZetterlingMai Zetterling and David Hughes1989 (1989)
7123"Moment of Truth: Part I"Christian DuguayClaude Harz1989 (1989)
7224"Moment of Truth: Part II"Christian DuguayClaude Harz1989 (1989)

References

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  1. ^ "Crossbow Season 1".
  2. ^ a b Howard Maxford, Hammer Complete : The Films, The Personnel, The Company. Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2019 ISBN 9781476670072 (p. 632)
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