Customer Reviews

The Avengers - The '67 Collection: Set 1 [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1966, The Avengers was at its height. After the successful sale of the first Black and white season to America, the profits made by the show kept on increasing. The new colour season had to be good. On display here are the earliest five episodes in their own production order. On the second volume in this collection is The Hidden Tiger, which was the height of the series. It was written by Philip Levene, who was the best writer of this season, and here there are three more examples of his work. It is he who created the image and atmosphere of the first colour season, and gave it such memorable qualities. In the last episode of this season, which he wrote himself, he even appeared on screen. The three Levene episodes here, The Fear Merchants, Escape in Time and The See-Through Man, are representative of his work, and of its high standard. Before I had this series permanently on video, I saw the episodes in 1995 on British TV, and I really wanted to see them again, but I had to wait for the commercial release. I was not disappointed. Escape in Time is the second best episode I have ever see. Everything about it, the scripting, the plot, the marvellous set pieces, Diana Rigg in stunning form and a superb villain, reminded me of the best qualities of the show. If is a five star episode. The time travel element clinched it for me. I had to see the rest of the season. A little more varied is The Fear Merchants, excellently directed by Gordon Flemyng. It is all a bit too grim for The Avengers, there are no really amusing characters, it all seems a bit too saidistic. Levene seems to be a little off-form as well, for the script is by no means as funny as Escape in Time. It gets three stars. The See-Through Man is Philip Levene's worst episode. The direction is lifeless, the plot just seems a little too thin, and Warren Mitchell delivers possibly the most irritating performance of the colour series. Diana Rigg does not seem particularly on form, either. It deserves only two. Another five star story is The Bird who Knew Too Much, directed by David Lean's protege, Roy Rossotti. He gives the story an air of artistry and care that is missing terribly from The See-Through Man, and he has a suitably absurd script to back up his talent. Brian Clemens, who wrote it, was also one of the producers and had worked on the show since its conception in 1960. Although there might not be many memorable lines in this one, this is more than made up for by some just plain silly acting, wonderful eccentrics and a good music score. Never was ornithology more fun. The Winged Avenger gets four stars. An obvious spoof of Batman, and the only contribution to the Diana Rigg series of famed TV writer Richard Harris, it just goes from mad, to surreal, when there is a fight on the ceiling at the end. Just what one wants to remember the show by. It is great that these episodes are being rereleased, they are some of the best television made, but the best episode is still in the next box set, The Hidden Tiger.

Writer Philip Levene penned the wonderfully written Escape in time. "Miscreants are escaping to England." Steed and Emma find a slain enemy agent with a 300 year old bullet in him. The next expiring agent leaves a clue that they follow. The escape route involves stuffed animals, a mini mall of vendor/conspirators, and the usual quirky criminals. Emma is nearly run down by a man in a red riding habit on a motor cycle. Avengers wit is top notch. "I didn't know that you could sew," says Steed admiringly as Emma creates a stuffed animal so he can travel the route. "Our relationship hasn't been exactly- domestic- has it?" she retorts. Emma impulsively creates her own stuffed animal to go to Steed's rescue when he disappears. Since he was blindfolded Steed's clues are no help. "there are churches and hills all over," says his harassed colleague. Turkeys!" Steed recalls. "Well why didn't you say so?" Only the Avengers would have a clue to a turkey farm! winged Avenger by Richard Harris has ruthless businessmen who throw employees out of work being sent to their deaths- via an unseen force that climbs buildings and mauls them to death. Emma investigates a disgruntled author who had reason to dislike a murdered publisher. "See you downstairs for tea," he jauntily climbs out the window and slides down a rope. As an explorer Sir Lexius can't stop climbing. Terrific climax of to the death fight on a ceiling between Emma and a crazed villain who will kill anyone who get in his way. One of the wittiest, most surreal episodes of the 1967 series. See through Man is thinly plotted and sluggishly directed. Roy Kinnear as the inventor with the hamster, Bertha running her wheel, is the only humorous note. As the crank inventor whose inventions have been ignored for more than a decade he remains optimistic that he will one day get it right. Has he succeeded in making a man invisible? Clemons bird who Knew too Much has a daffy bird lover who wears a bird on his morterboard and teaches his parrots to recite Shakespeare among other things. Where is Captain Carusoe and why has someone resorted to theft and murder over a parrot? Delightful fight scenes and dangerous ones. Emma tangling with a sadistic killer on top of a diving board, and later with a baddie in a carriage inside an exhibition is great. Well directed. Fear Merchants spoofs psychiatry: one psychiatrist speaks with a Vienniese accent a la Sigmund Freud and the other has developed the most lethal consequences for answering a questionnaire truthfully! Super strong man splits boards with his arm, then is traumitized by a tiny mouse, another titan of industry by excessive speed in a car. Levene's rapid wit delights. Steed unwittingly sets Emma up to be murdered by claiming she is his only rival in business. Great fight scenes again- Steed turning the tables on the sadistic psychiatrist who has HIS own fear and Emma fighting villains while tied to a chair. From VEnus with Love offers the usual eccentrics, an aristocratic chimney sweep, a general who replicates battle sounds on 3 victrolas while dictating his memoirs. What mysterious sounding white flash of light is decimating members of the Venusian society and turning their hair white? Eerie chase as Emma pursues a ball of white light and Steed is nearly dispatched by it as he dives over tombstones. Fast paced and enjoyable. 1967 Set 1 had a much better mix of episodes witty, exciting, and fast paced than 1967 set 3 or 1967 set 4. Later in the year the writing deteriorates, most likely because first Roger Marshall, and later Phlip Levene, the two best writers left the show.

This is a classic set. It has some great ones. Diana Rigg playing Mrs. Peel and Patrick Macnee playing John Steed are fabulous together. This is a humorous and fun series to watch. The set includes: From Venus with Love, The Fear Merchants, Escape In Time, The See-Through Man, The Bird Who Knew Too Much, and The Winged Avenger. This is a classic series.

The Original Avengers remains the best television series of all time (the Prisoner came close.) The synergy of writers, actors, directors, wardrobe, music is hypnotic, and addicting. Feel the neurons firing with every episode, an exercise in satisfaction. With infusions of guest actors such as the delicious and unequalled Christopher Lee; plus Peter Cushing, Anthony Newlands, Peter Bowles, ad infinitum, I salivate nonstop, every time. First and foremost for content and delivery (naturally), subsequently for the actors themselves. Great things, special things in life happen only once; what a shame we fail to fully realize their profoundness at the time of their existence, enough to try to sustain their survival. Great shows like the Avengers not only confirm what we've all known all along, they offer a stark contrast which one cannot ignore: producers and directors insult our intelligence by serving up trash to us on a daily basis. Break free from the trance which is cheap tv and movies, and experience the Avengers. To date, the Original Avengers' decorum has not been equalled; I believe it never will be.

I bought set one and two on a lark last last weekend because I remembered loving the series as a kid. Now I remember why. I found myself watching all twelve episodes in one weekend and going back for sets three and four. Please forget the 1998 movie and give Patrick and Diana a try. You won't regret it.

Go here (to the DVD versions) to see my full reviews of these great episodes:

Avengers '67 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2

Avengers '67 - Set 2, Vols. 3 & 4

Avengers '67 - Set 3, Vols. 5 & 6

The Avengers '67 - Set 4, Vols. 7 & 8

Forget the VHS tapes -- buy the DVDs! They are MUCH clearer and sharper.

Philip Levene wrote the wonderful "Escape in Time." Are miscreants successfully disappearing into the past? After a few agents are murdered Steed follows an escape route and disappears. Shown old films of Derby day around 1910 he murmurs, " A little before my time." "Not necessarily!" says his host who claims he can transport Steed out of the law's reach- for half his loot. Diana Rigg as the resourceful Emma decides to infiltrate their escape route. When a female member of the gang recognizes her Emma is sent back to the late 1500s, thrown into stocks and accused of dressing to "inflame a man to lust!" Emma, dressed in 18th century garb says,"You should see 400 years from now!" Steed's attempted rescue, trying to find the hideout when he was previously blindfolded, and great fight scenes with an 17th century noble, 18th century soldier. Confronted in the 1560s by a man brandishing a 20th century gun the unflappable STeed asks, Aren't you a little ahead of your time? Witty, satirical and fast paced this is the best episode of the six. Winged AVenger, by Richard Harris, spoofs comic books and super heroes. What can scale multi story buildings and claw ruthless business men to death? The usual eccentrics- the famed explorer who climbs out the window and down the rope from the 2nd floor to take tea on the terrace, the professor who takes tea on the ceiling upside down and marvellous fight between Emma and the killer on the ceiling is a great climax. Bird who knew too much has ruthless killers, a great fight between Emma and a killer who relishes dispatching death on a diving board! See Through Man is the weakest- Invisible man and spies with a realistic plot twist but it is slow, sluggishly directed and the only dull story. Fear Merchants pokes fun at captains of industry who have neuroses. There is a great china smashing scene between Steed and a naive Jeremy Raven who rejects all the products of kiln and hurls them across the room. Raven doesn't question why he is able to take over companies that had previously rejected his bids for amalgamation. Steed unwittingly puts Emma in danger when he lies and says that she is a business competitor. Clever satire of psychiatrists and their quirks. From Venus with love tracks a mysterious speeding white object that kills astronomers, turns their hair white and disappears. Does anyone ever survive mysterious happenings except Steed and Emma? The episodes are among the best of 1967 and definitely worth the purchase and can be viewed with pleasure again and again!

At 11, I was too young too really appreciate the Avengers on television the first time around. Thank goodness for video and the second (third, fourth, etc.) time around. The Avengers was a class act with a quirkiness that can only be appreciated in retrospective. The dialog, the tongue-in-cheek fun, and sets are sheer fun. I now remember why Mrs. Emma Peel was my first crush!!

How wonderful to review again and confirm the excellent acting and script writing that made this series so popular. The subtle nuances between Patrick MacNee and Diana Rigg stand the test of time. The color is precise and editing nice and tight. This is truly 5 star quality.

It took seemingly forever for someone finally to have the sense to bring back the original Avengers on video in the U.S.. Well, the wait is over--and oh, the quality. A & E has done a wonderful job with these digitially enhanced episodes. And at $29.95 for six episodes it is a great deal. Emma Peel and Steed never looked better. Bravo to A & E. END