{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox television | alt = | image = The_London_Connection.jpg | caption = European video cover | genre = Action<br>Drama | based_on = | writer = | screenplay = Gail Morgan Hickman<br>David E. Boston | story = Gail Morgan Hickman<br>David E. Boston<br>David Assael<br>Joshua Brand<br>Martha Coolidge | director = Robert Clouse | narrator = | starring = Jeffrey Byron<br>Larry Cedar | music = John Cameron | country = United States | language = English | executive_producer = Ron Miller | producer = Jan Williams | location = | cinematography = Godfrey A. Godar | editor = Peter Boita<br>Mike Campbell | camera = | runtime = 100 min. | company = Walt Disney Productions | budget = | network = NBC | released = {{Start date|1979|03|18}}<ref name="OmegaConnectionRelease">{{cite book |last=Galbraith IV|first=Stuart |year=2008|orig-year=first published 2008|title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography|publisher= Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0810860049}}</ref> }} '''''The Omega Connection''''' is a 1979 American made-for-television action spy film directed by Robert Clouse for Walt Disney Productions.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=The Omega Connection |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150216797 |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It stars Jeffrey Byron and Larry Cedar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://allmovie.com/work/the-omega-connection-127919|title = The Omega Connection (1979) - Robert Clouse &#124; Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related &#124; AllMovie}}</ref> It was released theatrically in other countries as '''''The London Connection'''''.

==Plot== Luther Starling is a superspy for the American government who after completing his latest mission of retrieving stolen documents sets out on a six week vacation across Europe. Luther is picked up at Heathrow airport in London, England by his friend Roger in his Morgan 3-Wheeler to stay with Roger and Roger's Aunt Lydia for the duration of the London leg of Luther's trip. By chance the two follow a motorcade where British Secret Service agents Bidley and Peters are escorting a recently defected Eastern European scientist, Professor Buchinski who possesses a revolutionary new energy formula. However, when a team of armed gunmen ambush the motorcade intent on kidnapping the Professor, Luther attempts to intervene but is outmatched but the professor slips a gold ring into his jacket pocket. Upon discovery of the ring, it leads Luther and Roger on an adventure across London as they attempt to rescue the professor from the villainous criminal organization Omega.

==Cast== * Jeffrey Byron as Luther Starling * Larry Cedar as Roger Pike * Roy Kinnear as Bidley * Lee Montague as Vorg * Mona Washbourne as Aunt Lydia * David Kossoff as Professor Buchinski * Frank Windsor as McGuffin * Walter Gotell as Simmons * Nigel Davenport as Arthur Minton * Dudley Sutton as Goetz * David Battley as Peters * Julian Orchard as Driscoll * Kathleen Harrison as elderly lady * Percy Herbert as ship's captain * Don Fellows as General * Bruce Boa as Colonel * Wolfe Morris as Dr. Krause * André Maranne as Duvalier * George Pravda as Kolenkov * Rita Webb as cockney woman * Minah Bird as narcotics agent

==Production== Disney developed ''The Omega Connection'' with the hope of positioning it as a more youthful take on the ''James Bond'' franchise and intended to produce follow-on films centered around the character of Luther Starling.<ref name="Development">{{cite book |last=Taylor|first=Tadhg |year=2015|orig-year=first published 2015|title= Masters of the Shoot-'Em-Up: Conversations with Directors, Actors and Writers of Vintage Action Movies and Television Shows |publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0786494064}}</ref>

The film was shot on location at Pinewood Studios in London.<ref name="WonderfulWorldofDisneyOmega">{{cite book |last=Cotter|first=Bill|year=1997|orig-year=first published 1997|title= The Wonderful World of Disney Television: A Complete History |publisher=Disney Editions|isbn=978-0786863594}}</ref> Gloucester Mews, W2, was used as a filming location during the shooting of ''The London Connection.''<ref>[http://www.lurotbrand.co.uk/flipbook/mewsnews2010-spring/ Mews News]. ''Lurot Brand''. Published Spring 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2013.</ref>

==Release== ''The Omega Connection'' was broadcast on television in the United States on March 18, 1979 as part of ''The Wonderful World of Disney''.<ref name= "WonderfulWorldofDisneyOmega"/><ref name= "OmegaConnectionRelease"/> The film was released theatrically in some foreign markets such as Japan and the United Kingdom under the alternate title of ''The London Connection''.<ref name="LondonConnectionRelease">{{cite book |last=Smith|first=Dave|year=1998|orig-year=first published 1998|title= Disney A to Z : the updated official encyclopedia |publisher=Disney Editions|isbn=978-0786863914}}</ref><ref name= "OmegaConnectionRelease"/> Due to Disney's desire to cater to a more mature audience than usual, the film was broadcast in the 8PM time slot instead of its usual 7PM time slot.<ref name= "Development"/> The change in time slot lead to the film directly competing with critical and ratings hit ''The Jericho Mile'' on ABC and under performed as a result with planned follow-up films such as ''The Paris Connection'' and ''The Rome Connection'' being quietly cancelled.<ref name= "Development"/>

In rebroadcasts of the film in later seasons, the film would be divided into one hour segments to be shown over two weeks worth of broadcasts.<ref name= "WonderfulWorldofDisneyOmega"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=0079481|title=The London Connection}} *{{DisneyAtoZ|title=''The Omega Connection''}}

{{Robert Clouse}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omega Connection, The}} Category:1979 films Category:1979 television films Category:1970s spy action films Category:American spy action films Category:Films directed by Robert Clouse Category:Films scored by John Cameron (musician) Category:Walt Disney Pictures films Category:American television films Category:Films with screenplays by Gail Morgan Hickman Category:1979 English-language films Category:1979 American films Category:English-language action films Category:NBC original films