Various (director)
Studiocanal (studio)
PG (certificate)
(length)
22 June 2015 (released)
23 June 2015
Here then comes another helping of what was quite simply the British TV series ever made and many would be of the opinion that Series 5 was The Avengers at its absolute zenith!
This brilliant series had just so much going for it: the crème de la crème of Britain’s acting profession, top film directors, ceaselessly inventive and witty scripts, marvellous sets, dynamic incidental music, and perhaps most importantly (and possibly why it looks so good) it was filmed in colour. Last but by no means least we should mention the magical chemistry of the series two stars, Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg.
On offer here are no less than 25 episodes. Unfortunately there isn’t space to mention all of them but take my word for it there isn’t a bummer in the pack. Each of us will have a favourite episode, most of them were written by Philip Levene and series co-producer Brian Clemens (who was to give us a number if goodies over the years but never topped The Avengers!). Their scripts complemented each other only too well. In fact Levene wrote no less than eleven to Clemens’ eight episodes.
There is always virtually something for everyone in an Avengers episode, for example ‘The Hidden Tiger’ – if you are a cat lover. It is a delightfully potty episode for feline fanciers everywhere. A quirky Levene script features a deliciously OTT performance from comic Ronnie Barker as Mr. Cheshire, the head of P.U.R.R.R. (Philanthropic Union for the Rescue, Relief and Recuperation of Cats). Dig those sets!
‘Epic’ is indeed truly epic, with the one and only Peter Wyngarde delivering a performance which puts that of Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts And Coronets in the shade. Can Wyngarde top his previous performance in Series 4 ‘A Touch of Brimstone’? Of course he can! Here he plays drunken former matinee idol Stewart Kirby in no less than ELEVEN roles (all delivered with the panache and relish that only this great actor could pull off). He is admirably supported by Italian film star Isa Miranda – also hamming it up to high heaven, and Australian bully-boy actor Kenneth J. Warren as Z.Z. von Schnerk, that is to say Erich von Stroheim. All this glorious baloney was filmed on the Elstree back lot. Dig those costumes!
In ‘The Joker’, Peter Jeffrey (and his warts) turns up, having a field day with an amusing German accent as enemy agent Max Prendergast – an old adversary of Emma Peel. Bent on revenge, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues in an isolated country mansion. Dig that song!
The late Sir Christopher Lee turns up as Dr. Frank N. Stone in ‘Never Never Say Die’ – unfortunately not one of the best episodes. However, don’t despair, ‘Return Of The Cybernauts’ features Hammer Film compatriot Peter Cushing – a more engaging episode by far. Emma Peel develops a bit of a crush on Cushing’s mad creator Paul Beresford, while Steed suspects a rat!
Richard Harris’ script for ‘The Winged Avenger’ is a real hoot from beginning to end! Here we have guest stars Nigel Green and Jack McGowran (The Fearless Vampire Killers) involved in a tale in which a comic strip creation comes to live to commit a series of grisly murders.
The recently deceased Brian Clemens apologized for making Diana Rigg’s ‘Emma Peel’ character astute to Patrick Macnee’s ‘John Steed’. This, however, is not overtly apparent as Mrs. Peel comes over as one dame you don’t want to mess with!
This is pure undiluted escapism at its best, and timeless at that.
Blu-ray Special Features include:
• Exclusive audio commentaries with: scriptwriter/producer Brian Clemens on Murdersville, guest star Peter Wyngarde on Epic, scriptwriter Richard Harris on The Winged Avenger, Diana Rigg’s stunt double, Cyd Child, on Return of The Cybernauts
• The Avengers – A Retrospective documentary
• Archive German TV interview with Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg
• Filmed episode introductions by Brian Clemens
• Episode trims from The Fear Merchants, Escape In Time, From Venus With Love and The See-Through Man
• ATV newsreel footage (Diana Rigg receives TV Award)
• The Avengers – “They’re Back” archive trailer
• Granada + points for each episode
• Episode Reconstructions for lost series 1 episodes One For The Mortuary, Death on The Slipway, Tunnel of Fear and Dragonsfield
• Interview with Diana Rigg (extract from British Legends Of Stage & Screen)
• 1960s German Titles
• Stills galleries
