Product Details

• Actors: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson, Ian Hendry
• Writers: Sydney Newman
• Format: Box set, Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 27, 1999
• Run Time: 364 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305396108
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #20,261 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)

  #21 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Television
  #20 in	Video > Television > A&E Home Video > British Cult Television
  #8 in	Video > Action & Adventure > Superheroes > Avengers

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

According to one Avengers-appreciation Web site, three of the seven episodes contained in this three-volume boxed set--"Too Many Christmas Trees," "A Surfeit of H20," and "Dial a Deadly Number"--rank among the 10 best episodes from the series' Mrs. Emma Peel era (a fourth, "The Hour That Never Was," is ranked in the top 20), making this the perfect chaser to The Avengers '65 Set 1. "What nasty situation have you got in store for me this time?" Mrs. Peel asks in "The Man-Eater of Surrey Green," another of the vintage, black-and-white episodes from the series' breakthrough fourth season, which introduced Diana Rigg in her signature role. The answers make for diabolically clever entertainment in classic Avengers tradition: a "herbicial" plant from outer space (in "The Man-Eater"), matrimonial matchmaker assassins (in "The Murder Market"), a rainmaking vintner (in "H20"), and a brainwashing dentist (in "The Hour"). "Christmas Trees" alone is worth the price of the boxed set. In this haunting episode for all seasons, Steed is plagued by deadly nightmares that have begun to come true. Outfitted at one point as Oliver Twist, Mrs. Peel proves herself to be the woman of our dreams. Each volume is also available separately. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Volume 4: The Murder Market/ A Surfeit of H2O Volume 5: The Hour That Never Was/ Dial a Deadly Number Volume 6: Man-Eater of Surrey Green/ Two’s a Crowd/ Too Many Christmas Trees

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete at last, August 22, 1999

By	F. Behrens "Frank Behrens" (Keene, NH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Avengers '65: Set 2 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

At last all the Diana Rigg episodes are available on video tapes (or DVD if you have the hardware). Here you can view at your leisure exactly what tv is missing today: the exquisitely correct balance of high adventure with tongue-in-cheek plots, dialogue, and world-outlook. The assumption is that the viewers are fairly well educated and can appreciate such references as "Your handbag, Lady Bracknell" in "The Girl from Auntie" episode. This is to a large extent Wildean satire anyway, with a dash of W.S. Gilbert: assume that an absurd situation is normal and follow its logical trail to wherever it leads. On the whole, the black and white episodes are a touch more innocent than the more studio-bound amd self conscious color ones. And it is fun spotting future big stars and lesser ones, none of whom were permitted to appear more than once in the same series. And for a trivia question, what character other than "Brodney" the bumbling Soviet agent appeared in a black and white and then a color episode? Not the same actor, mind you: the same character. Now the question is, Will the Tara King episodes follow? My contact at A&E says no one is sure at this time. But thanks and thanks again for these sets.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steed Pours Champagne - Emma Sparkles, May 7, 2002

By	Bruce Rux (Aurora, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Avengers '65: Set 2 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The best thing about The Avengers is that the series is so diverse, a random grab of any half dozen episodes is sure to bring up at least three you're guaranteed to enjoy. With seven available in this set, the odds increase that you'll pull up four.

For those who miss the earlier Honor Blackman crime melodramas in the series, "The Murder Market," "Two's A Crowd" and "Dial A Deadly Number" will fit their bill. "A Surfeit of H2O," "The Hour That Never Was" and "The Man-Eater of Surrey Green" provide a bit of sci-fi and action/adventure, and "Too Many Christmas Trees" - a favorite in anyone's book - is a wonderful psychological suspenser in the espionage/murder vein.

But better than all of that is simply the magnificent chemistry between stars Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, which livens-up even the weakest episodes in the series with wit, humor and a great abundance of charm. Rarely has any show been so graced with two such appealing actors, let alone writers sparkling enough to make adept use of their native talents. There is a depth of feeling, commitment and moral fortitude, in the characters of John Steed and Emma Peel, that is rarely seen anymore, and is sorely missed.

Enter the world of The Avengers - or reacquaint yourself, if you're already a fan - and immerse yourself in excellence.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A mix of classics and weaker episodes, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Avengers '65: Set 2 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This collection is a real mixed bag, with classic episodes (including the sharply written, seamless thriller DIAL A DEADLY NUMBER and the enjoyably surreal TOO MANY CHRISTMAS TREES) balanced against definitely weaker episodes (THE HOUR THAT NEVER WAS, MAN-EATER OF SURRY GREEN).