12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for "Avengers" fans, November 30, 2010
This review is from: The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic (Hardcover)
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest cult TV shows of all time, Titan Books and author Marcus Hearn have produced "The Avengers: A Celebration". Titan and Hearn are responsible for a number of fine books on the history of Hammer Films. This book has the same high standards of layout and design. This is not really an "ultimate" history of the British spy show. It is more of a photographic trip through the show's original 1961-1969 run. Most of the photos have never been published before, and they look like they were taken yesterday. The highlights are the many pictures of "The Avengers" leading ladies: Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, and Linda Thorson.
The book is divided into chapters representing each of the original show's seasons. Each season gets a brief write-up concerning various details, and then photos from episodes of that season fill out the chapter. The book also has a foreword written by series star Patrick Macnee.
Unfortunately not every episode is given a photo, and there is not a complete episode guide listed. This book is more of a pictoral "celebration" of the show, instead of a nuts and bolts history. But the incredible images (especially of Blackman, Rigg, and Thorson) more than make up for any shortcomings. Any "Avengers" fan would love to have this book.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Book on Sixties TV Series The Avengers, November 18, 2010
This review is from: The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic (Hardcover)
Mrs Peel, We're Needed.
Just received this book today and its a winner. Another great publication by Titan. Jam packed with photos in the 160 pages, and I wish it was twice the size. Great celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Avengers TV show that was so much fun. One of my all time favorites, alongside The Man From Uncle (hey Titan, how about a similar book on that great show?). Fans of the series will love this book, the size is nice and large, providing great coverage with the many photos that take us back to that special time. There has never been another show like it, and the great John Steed and Emma Peel never looked better. Of course, this book covers the entire run of the show (minus the New Avengers from the 70s), each season getting it's fair share of exposure. I love these books, full of fun and pictures, and leaving you wanting more.
Grab this book, you won't regret it.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Celebrating a TV Classic!, November 27, 2010
This review is from: The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic (Hardcover)
If any television show of the 1960s deserves a 'celebration,' it's THE AVENGERS. When this witty, tongue-firmly-in-cheek English import premiered on American TV in 1966, it was an exhilarating breathe of fresh air. Brimming with outlandish plots, menacing but ever-so-British villains and the wonderful pairing of Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, THE AVENGERS was 'must-watch' TV from the word go. Author Marcus Hearn takes an informative and well-illustrated trip down Avengers Memory Lane in this 2010 Titan Books release.
In his Avengers coverage, Hearn limits himself to the classic shows broadcast in the 1960s, detailing the Ian Hendry, Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson series. Like most baby boomers, I never saw the Hendry or Blackman shows. My first exposure was to Macnee and Rigg. What a wonderful combination that was: the ever urbane secret agent Steed and the fearless feminist - not to mention drop dead gorgeous - Peel. The chemistry between the two was a joy to behold. Whether they faced winged avengers, demented movie producers or Venusians, you knew Steed and Peel would triumph through their intelligence, fighting skills and a few arched eyebrows and double entendres.
Yet beyond the grand silliness of it all, The Avengers was quite trendsetting in the Peel character. Here was an intelligent, resourceful woman clearly the equal of her partner. She could take care of herself - thank you very much! - and didn't have to be rescued at the end of each show; sometimes she did the rescuing!
Aside from the wonderful chemistry between the two, Macnee and Rigg were fine actors in their own right. Both had wonderfully expressive faces and could convey genuine emotion in the midst of all the tongue-in-cheek antics.
When Linda Thorson replaced Rigg, my initial thought was that she had a very, very tough act to follow. Judging from THE AVENGERS, A CELEBRATION, the show's new production team didn't help her in initially creating a watchable character. The Tara King shows were ok but not as much fun as the Rigg episodes.
In any case, Avengers fans should enjoy this romp through our TV back pages. Hearn provides an entertaining overview of the show but the book's main selling point is the tons and tons of b&w and color photographs of Macnee, Hendry, Blackman, Rigg and Thorson in action. Recommended.
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