Reviews (8)

OK Evening's Entertainment
Fun to see Mike Mazurky, Henry Wilcoxon, and George Raft in bit parts. Fun to see Robert Saachi do a spot-on impersonation of Bogart. The best unplanned fun is viewing the cheesy 70s TV-movie values that add to the nostalgia of the film.

This is bogart BUT the plot is silly and at times perverted
5 stars to the actor playing bogie,he has the voice,look, manors and style PERFECT. however the golden age of movies did not have curse words & naked women and i really doubt the real bogie would have lowered himself to this stupid script. If you are the ultimate bogart fan,like me, you can apprechiate just how good this actor plays him and at times there are a few funny sceenes like a car crash resulting from seeing bogie back from the dead.nice hearing the this actor relate everything to the "old days" as he visits certain streets and area's in this film where previous old movies were shot naming the stars who were in them, you can kind of picture it in B&W in your head if you saw the films. it is also kind of neat seeing a cameo by george raft an actor who played with bogie way back when in some of the classics but this is NOT a child safe movie. You can take most of the golden age movies and watch them with a family but not this trashy comedy too many uneeded sex implied scenario's that just dont fit with the real humphrey bogart films.

Enjoyable and lightweight...
Andy Fenaday's scipt follows self-employed detective (Scacchi, who's incredible) as he gets wrapped up in a MALTESE FALCON-type mystery. Heavy doses of amusing dialog, crammed with old movie references, this movie is better than FLETCH. A lot of fun and worth repeated viewings. A must for movie buffs. Good family viewing, with older kids. Rated PG for profanity, violence, and mild sexual innuendo.

A sweet bit of noir
Robert Sacchi attained minor celebrity in the 70's and 80's for his uncanny resemblance to Bogie and parlayed it into a career in TV commercials and cameo movie roles, most notably in Woody Allen's PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM. This vehicle is built around his unique "gift." It's an unremarkable but highly likable send-up of the great private eye flicks from the 30's and 40's - its most obvious inspiration being THE MALTESE FALCON, but there are allusions to THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI and other classics as well.It is chock full of hard-boiled banter and shadowy frames and shadowy characters and probably would have been better shot in black and white to capture the true ambience and ambiguities of the originals it seeks to imitate.

Same Marlowe is hired to find "the eyes of Alexander", sapphire replicas of Alexander the Great's eyes used in a bust of the conqueror, and during the search he runs into a snag of competing interests, all played by well-known character actors, Victor Buono and Herbert Lom among them. The plot, however, is superfluous, as it almost always is in detective films. The real point of the movie is to pay tribute to old time movie magic, and part of its fun is in the cameos. Apart from bit parts by the likes of George Raft, watch out for appearances by famed Hollywood reporters James Bacon and Robert Osborne as well (the latter now the host of cable's Turner Classic Movies).

Wonderful Spoof
Sacchi is the best Bogart impersonator ever... dry and droll as Sam Marlowe! The music from award winning composer George Duning [From Here To Eternity, Picnic, The World of Suzie Wong], the cinematography of perfect locations [including the famous Ambassador Hotel] are all right on target as famous tv director Robert Day [Kojak, Streets of San Francisco, The Avengers] guides the most endearing group of well-known character actors through a spoof of every dark detective film every made. See this if you loved all the old serious flicks... this one will make you howl. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Almost unwatchable
As a serious fan of the Emma Peel era I was excited to find these "Cathy Gale" era videos on sale. Unfortunately, the production values of the episodes I've tried to watch (from Set 4) are just awful. Shaky hand-held camera work, unintelligible sound, dreadful sets, terrible acting by all but Macnee and Blackman. Save your money!

Early adventures for Steed
For all the fans of The Avengers familiar with the Emma Peel/Tara King era of the show, these early episodes featuring Cathy Gale and Venus Smith may come as something of a disappointment. In fact, fans of the later shows may find it hard to believe that they are even part of the same TV series!

After the initial run of 26 episodes featuring Police Surgeon David Keel and his cohort John Steed had aired in the UK in 1961/62, the producers of the program opted to bring Steed to the forefront of the action and give him a number of different "assistants." Thus, for season two, 26 further episodes were made and broadcast in 1962/63 featuring Steed abetted by Martin King, Venus Smith or Cathy Gale. Mrs. Gale turned out to be the most popular and successful foil for the suave agent, and the other characters did not return after season two. Unlike the later Peel/King stories which were all made on film, these studio based TV shows are much more reliant on dialogue and plot than visual elements, and can be somewhat heavy going as a result.

A&E is releasing these stories in a somewhat confusing order, and has started with season three. The first two sets released, Avengers 64 1 & 2, feature the LAST six episodes of season three. Next comes Avengers 63 sets 1 & 2 which comprises of the first half of the season. Next up in the release order is 63 sets 3 & 4 which precede 1 & 2 in running order and in fact feature the last seven stories from season two, plus the first from season three. Confused? Ultimately, it doesn't really matter, since thankfully there's no real reason to watch the stories in chronological order anyway.

What is interesting is the development of the production standards. 63 sets 3 & 4, featuring the latter stories from season two, are far more rudimentary in terms of production quality. The sets are extremely small and sparse; The direction very slap-hazard; Camera work shoddy; Sound is extremely poor; and the acting is negligible. With no budget for editing or reshooting, all the actor's fluffs and goofs stayed in. Steed's character is far less suave and sophisticated then he became later during his familiar role alongside Mrs. Peel, and the relationship with Mrs. Gale in particular is at first downright hostile with very little warmth between the two. He seems to get along much better with Miss Venus Smith, a night club singer who he engages at various gigs to act as his eyes and ears. Venus is a very odd character, and played strangely, but enthusiastically by Julie Stevens. She looks about 12, sings like she's forty, and dresses like anything in between. She also seems extremely naïve and it's hard to imagine why Steed engages her to help him at all. The far more intelligent and elegant Mrs. Gale does eventually warm up to Steed, and in the season three stories where she is the exclusive companion to him, their relationship develops nicely and they become much warmer and closer to each other.

The production values on season three are also much better than the earlier episodes. The sets became larger and more elaborate. The direction, lighting and sound improved greatly and the acting was much less wooden. Some editing was clearly allowed on these later stories, whereas the earlier ones clearly were broadcast as if they were live. There's a terrific blunder in "Six hands across a table," where Cathy is called "Ros" in one scene, and both actors realize the mistake, but keep going.

The quality of the DVD's is somewhat disappointing, even accounting for the age of the material and the production values mentioned above. It may not be the case, but it certainly appears that A&E have made no attempt whatsoever to re-master the original tapes, and the flaws, jumps, scratches and sound blips are too numerous to mention. Virtually every episode on 63 sets 3 & 4 are hampered by picture and sound flaws and defects. Things do improve for 63 1 & 2 and 64 1 & 2, but the quality is still disappointing. Mind you, it appears they have done nothing to clean up the Tara King episodes either!

As a big fan of the series, I wouldn't even consider not having these episodes in my collection, but if you're looking for the wacky camp humor and the tele-fantasy of the Peel/King eras, these stories may not be for you.

The Best!!!!!!!!
This was the best DVD set that I ever bought! This set is a must-have for true Avengers fans. The picture is crisp and this will be a part of your collection forever. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A great British crime comedy always worth watching again, Two Way Stretch is about imprisoned crooks who hatch a scheme to pull off a heist with a perfect alibi by breaking out, doing the job, and then breaking back in to serve out their sentences. Peter Sellers, usually an eccentric support in these things, takes a rare lead as cocky mastermind Dodger Lane, confident enough to share the screen with performers who would be doing serious time if scene-stealing were an actual offense. The chief delight of the film is Lionel Jeffries's bristling, infuriated, hilariously humiliated warder Sidney Crout, forever fuming as Dodger gets away with some new scheme. Also in on the scam: Wilfrid Hyde-White as a bogus clergyman, David Lodge as the dimwitted muscleman, and Bernard Cribbins in the nice young man part. The British cinema has been turning out an unheralded series of wonderful caper comedies for decades, from The Lavender Hill Mob through A Fish Called Wanda to The Parole Officer; this effort--along with the follow-up, The Wrong Arm of the Law--ranks among the best. --Kim Newman ... Read more

Reviews (6)

New color era for Steed and Mrs. Peel
Following the huge success of the first filmed series of The Avengers, starring Patrick MacNee as debonair British agent John Steed and his cool, sophisticated partner Mrs. Emma Peel, the producers opted to make the next batch of 26 episodes in color, to be broadcast in 1967. In order to accomplish this, foreign backing was necessary, and the American networks were approached. The US had broadcast the black and white season four as a mid-season replacement, and were interested in moving forward with a color season in prime time, however they only provided enough backing for 16 episodes initially. Another challenge was that Diana Rigg was not particularly keen to film another season of the show, and demanded a huge salary increase in order to secure her participation. She got the money, but it was made clear it would be her second and last season with the show.

Apart from the use of color film, there were other subtle changes to the show for this fifth season. Both Steed and Emma were given new apartments and Mrs. Peel a much more stylized wardrobe. The device of ending each story with the two leads driving off in a variety of vehicles was abandoned and instead a tag scene was used to introduce each story, where Steed informed his partner that they were needed in a variety of humorous ways. Each story title was also given a two-line subtitle. After completion of the first batch of 16, the American backers did provide finance for a further 16 but asked for both the subtitles and tag scenes to be dropped, and also requested that Mrs. Peel's wardrobe became more recognizably en vogue.

After only 8 episodes were completed, producers Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell left the show after a disagreement and the new producers opted not to continue with Mrs. Peel and began their own interpretation of the show. It wasn't long before Clemens and Fennell were back in charge, but the 67 series ended with "Mission highly improbable," although Rigg was brought back in 1968 for the one-off "The forget me knot," to introduce her replacement Tara King. This episode is included in this release as a bonus episode.

In terms of storylines, acting and the wonderful interplay between the two leads, there is little difference between this color season and the preceding black and white stories and the show had really reached its zenith by this point. Certainly in terms of popularity and ratings, it was never as successful again. Interestingly, several of these stories are in fact remakes of earlier episodes from the Mrs. Gale era. "The joker," "The correct way to kill," and "The $50,000 breakfast," are all remakes, whereas "The return of the Cybernauts," is a sequel to an earlier Steed/Mrs. Peel adventure.

Fans of The Avengers will of course be delighted to have these discs, and I'd highly recommend them to any other fans of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, and indeed fans of the 60's spy format. If you've ever seen the dreadful movie featuring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, don't let that put you off. These stories are the real McCoy!

Pop Goes the Weasel
If you fondly remember that great British import that we watched on TV way back in the 60s then you no doubt know about the content of what you are getting. You are more likely concerned about the quality of the product. Like John might say to Emma, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back. Just watch the hat please." John and Emma are back and are here to stay via DVD technology. Being on DVD, the aesthetics about the actual episodes are not in question here. More appropriately one may ask how they look. They look good, very good, excellent in fact. Great 60s pop culture.

A great classic!
I remember watching the Avengers on TV 7-8 years ago when A&E was showing them. Now, I am glad to say that I can own this series. The Avengers have always been based on intelligent scripts, witty dialogue, and suspense. This set is no exception. This set contains very classic, very different episodes from the Avengers: suspense thrillers, psychological games, and good old espionage. I highly recommend it.

One of the best TV shows ever
I am thoroughly impressed with A&E's reissue of the Avengers series. Never have these episodes looked so good: the color is sharp, the sound crisp, and the shows themselves are as witty and fun as you remember. Yes, the "extras" are skimpy but to have three episodes on one disc is worth the sacrifice

Absolutely top-notch
The VHS (digital enhanced) version is beautiful. Vivid colors and seamless cuts. Looks as good as the day it was broadcast. Of course, the series is 5-stars plus (no doubt about that). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Much like the U.S. series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., this cool, clever cold war spy show is built on elaborate espionage shell games and diplomatic chicanery, and Patrick McGoohan's John Drake is the ingenious con man behind the bluffs and feints. The eight episodes on set 3 feature the usual array of plots pulled off with tongue-in-cheek charm--the nationalistic fervor of "Have a Glass of Wine" turns espionage into a veritable sporting event between spies, and in "You're Not in Any Trouble, Are You?" Drake gets to the bottom of a murder for hire ring by taking out a hit on himself. But the humor is interspersed with more ambivalent episodes. "That's Two of Us Sorry" offers up a casualty of the cold war mentality, and the assassins school of "Such Men Are Dangerous" rings with an undercurrent of fascism. For sheer invention, "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove" delivers a mind game worthy of The Prisoner's Number 2. The set also features "A Man to Be Trusted," "The Affair at Castelevara," and "Don't Nail Him Yet."

The episodes feature the complete British cuts, with the Danger Man title and bouncy spinet theme song, but if you miss the Johnny Rivers theme song from the American version of the show, just click to the supplements and you can enjoy the U.S. credits as well as a still gallery and a biography and filmography of star Patrick McGoohan. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Top Notch
Much has already been said. This is one of the best TV series of all time!

Secret Agent/Danger Man and Combat were the two best series from the 60s.

At last!
I remember watching two or three half-hour episodes of "Danger Man"as a very small child. I am cursed with a photographic memory, so Patrick McGoohan's face and style were imprinted on my mind.The first season of "Danger Man" was a huge success in the German speaking countries and I have always found it strange that the hour-long episodes were never shown here.I got the ITC tapes 10 years ago but I had given up hope to see more of this elegant series. So imagine my joy when I learned about the A&E releases.

The quality of the show is amazing. It is a feast for the eyes with its beautiful black and white filming and the fashion of the Kennedy era. Furthermore I have always loved John Le Carre's books and many of the plots here come as close in complexity as scripts in a TV series can get.Even a comedy like "Have a glass of wine" is basically a clever espionage story.

But of course the most important asset is Mr. McGoohan's portrayal of John Drake as a moral man trying to stick to his values despite doing an often immoral job. It is surprising how much of the drama originates in this conflict between duty and personal honour.I certainly had not expected this depth of characterisation in a cold war spy series.

There are many splendid episodes in these three sets.My favourite in set one is "No marks for servility"-no other actor can convey smouldering aggressiveness like Patrick McGoohan."Whatever happened to George Foster" in set two is surprisingly modern in this era of globalisation and "Colony Three" is a nightmare with many memorable images.It is almost too sinister for my taste.Set three, the best so far, has "A man to be trusted" with lots of clever dialogue and a very sudden violent ending set in a dark rainforest with the hero in severe distress; the delightful "Have a glass of wine", poking fun at the French and featuring among other things a bicycle chase; and "You're not in any trouble" with its hint of romance.

In my opinion this series is highly recommendable and I do hope that A&E release the rest of it .For me this is not a nostalgic memory but exciting and new.

Danger Man Set 3: A mixed bag...
Patrick McGoohan is back as British secret agent John Drake in the third boxed set of episodes of Danger Man. Adventures in espionage without the pyrotechnics. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 5: (Disc 1)

That's Two Of Us Sorry (5): A well-written episode, featuring a "red herring" and a sad ironic finish. At the Loch Broom power plant in Scotland, some top secret papers are missing. Fingerprints on a briefcase point to a "Jock Lawson" as the culprit. Strangely, Lawson, a suspected traitor, disappeared 20 years previously and is presumed dead. Drake's investigations take him to the island of "Herta", in search of the mysterious owner of the prints. The presence of Russian sailors raises Drake's suspicions, but the tightly knit island community does not yield its secrets easily. The persistent Drake, while still a bit off track, does eventually find a secret or two, raising local tempers and yielding some bittersweet results. Francesca Annis, guest stars as a fetching Scottish lassie, her second appearance in the series.

Such Men Are Dangerous (2): Drake takes the place of a convict who has been recruited along with several other criminals into a shadowy group called "The Order". A country estate serves as a training ground for murder and mayhem. The story starts out with some promise, but crashes pretty badly at the end. A "lowlight" is the comical car chase across some muddy terrain, sped up to appear more "exciting".

A Man To Be Trusted (3): This complicated tale finds John Drake in the Caribbean, looking into the deaths of two British agents, both killed after being brutally tortured. He has the assistance of a local law officer, but he is still not sure whom he can trust. Greed, lust and voodoo all play a part in this tale that gets a bit too close to Drake's heart.

The Affair at Castelevara (3): A roll of movie film that records an atrocity that took place at Castelevara, holds the key to freeing a man condemned to death. A local subversive group works with both Drake and the Americans, to try and free the prisoner, who could be more valuable dead than alive.

Volume 6: (Disc 2)

Don't Nail Him Yet (2): Denis Rawson is a bureaucrat living above his means, and is suspected of passing classified information. After a "chance" meeting with Drake brings the two together, the poor young man can't seem to get him out of his life. The game is to uncover the spy ring without letting critical information slip through. A bit slow and tedious, but finishes with an uncharacteristic bang.

The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove (2): Taking a break from the usual tense drama, this tale rooted in an alternate reality, plays with the audience. After a traffic accident, Drake finds himself in an unfamiliar world, not sure what is real, struggling to put the pieces together. There are clues, so if you can see the ending coming from a long way off, you won't be surprised at all. Nice to see the late Desmond Llewelyn, "Q" from the Bond films here.

Have a Glass of Wine (4): Another story involving following a courier to the source. This time it is to the wine country of France, and the results are not pleasant. First Drake is out pedaled on a bicycle, then outsmarted, and left to face a murder charge. Drake must escape from the law, identify the real killer, and then uncover the secret spy network. This is no easy task. With his back against the wall, John gets pretty violent here, taking on the police as well as dealing with the opposition.

You're Not In Any Trouble, Are You? (3): When an agent mysteriously drops out from his hotel window, John Drake is sent to Rome to investigate. He finds a troubled young woman, and clues that lead him to a "killing syndicate", a group that kills for money. Drake puts a contract out on himself, and then waits for the killer to arrive. This episode approaches the edge, and the finale pushes it over.

Danger Man Set 3 is a mixed bag. A couple of outstanding episodes, but also a few clunkers. Drake is on familiar ground, but the writing is not consistently top notch. Once again, not enough positives to justify a ringing endorsement of this set. Give A&E credit for addressing a previous complaint, by upgrading to four episodes per disc. Fans of Danger Man, may find my other reviews of interest.

Heroic, realistic
Wonderful plots. John Drake is a genuine hero in a not-always-clear and not-always-fair world. He does his best to be true to his values. I especially like "A Man to Be Trusted" -- the plot about a third-world election is very ingenious and would apply today.

Fun to watch on DVD where you can back up and slow-mo the stunts. Look at the scene where Drake turns over the dinner table in "Have a Glass of Wine" -- the actor playing the villain subtlely helps McGoohan flip the table!

Many of the actors became stars and are familiar to us in British drama and comedy. But wonderful acting in even the smallest roles. I especially remember Drake's expatriot widowed landlady in "A Man to Be Trusted"

Heroic and realistic, too

Superb Spy Show
A wonderful show for anyone interested in vintage spy series. The B&W filming lends an interesting quality to the episodes and seems to give the viewer a better feel for the Cold War. Some plots are straight forward, but others are as convoluted as an episode of Mission: Impossible, which came some years later.

I haven't seen these episodes in years and was delighted to find them on DVD. In this set, each DVD contains 4 episodes. They're well worth the price. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

A toast to A&E for releasing this two-volume set of vintage episodesfrom the fourth season of The Avengers. The Avengers debuted in Great Britain in 1961 (predating the James Bond films), but it was not until the late 1960s that it found a welcome home in the United States. Unlike other baby-boomer-era series, The Avengers was not widely syndicated or officially released on home video. This may be one reason why these rarely seen episodes seem as cool as when they first aired. Another reason, of course, is Diana Rigg in her signature role as the ravishing Emma Peel, partner to Patrick Macnee's urbane, umbrella-toting spy John Steed who is every bit his equal in dispatching villains or engaging in provocative banter. What makes this collection of particular interest is that these episodes introduced Mrs. Peel. Steed andMrs. Peel were the Mulder and Scully of their time; they investigated extraordinary goings-on in the most ordinary locales, such as a seaside town populated by sinister imposters, in "The Town of No Return" or a department store that has been rigged with a nuclear bomb, in "Death at Bargain Prices." Also included is "The Cybernauts," which was the first Avengers episode to be broadcast in America. It is representative of the series' best, with its automated assassins and a colorful madman who plots to install an electronic dictatorship. Other episodes are the haunting "Castle De'ath," "The Gravediggers," and "The Master Minds." All are in glorious black and white and highly recommended. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Deadly Dame Peel.
I have been a huge fan of this series since first seeing it as a kid. My admiration has not diminished for this groundbreaking series. Leave it to the classy Brits to come up with the first "strong woman" of television. The first time I saw Diana Rigg as "Mrs. Emma Peel", I was hooked. Don't get me wrong, I loved Patrick Macnee as "John Steed", so cool in his fabulous English suits and walking stick. But, it was Mrs. Peel that had me fascinated. Oh, the excitement I'd feel when she donned one of her skin-tight body suits, then you KNEW a battle was soon to follow. One of the best things about this series, and one that was remarkable for that time, was the equality of both their characters. Steed had total respect for Mrs. Peel, and she got him out of many scrapes, usually dispatching her opponent with a few karate chops. To see a woman, indeed an incredibly sexy woman, display strength, power, intelligence, and beauty, all in one portrayal, was absolutely unheard of at that time. What they had is called CHEMISTRY, and, it is rare. Though partners against the evil forces that be, who used their brains as much as their physical prowess, their underlying flirtation with each other via witty repartee never waned, and was a big part of their success. I must admit to sadness when Diana Rigg's Mrs. Peel left the series. I tried to get into the new character, a lovely Brit girl whose name was, I think, Linda Thorson(?). But, no, Mrs. Peel was irreplacable, my heart was broken, and I, like many, abandoned the series from that point on. Though this dvd contains one of my favorite episodes, "The Cybernauts", I still intend on getting the entire "Mrs. Peel" collection, it's on my future "must-have" list. This series also had one of my all-time favorite intros, it excites to this day. Maybe those younger will not totally appreciate the lack of computerized special effects of this time period. But, for me, there was more excitement, beauty, and intelligence in Diana Riggs Mrs. Peel than in any Anjelia Jolie opus. Mrs. Peel remains the personification of Strong Woman, against whom all other strong-woman-glamour-pusses are measured.... yet pale. The one whose beauty, brains, and power were made to be worshipped, and, worship her you shall!

New partner for Steed
These DVD's from A&E represent the best known and certainly the most popular era of the long running British TV fantasy-adventure series "The Avengers." Made between 1965 and 1966, all 26 episodes of the fourth season of the show are available here on eight discs in four sets, or two at a time.

When Honor Blackman (Mrs. Cathy Gale) left the series after season 3 to take up the lead role in the Bond movie "Goldfinger," the producers had already made the decision to start filming the series, moving it out of the TV studio and giving it a much glossier and dynamic feel. John Steed (Patrick MacNee), the debonair British government agent stayed on and his new partner was devised by the production team to be another tough, all-action girl with "Man Appeal." M-Appeal (geddit?) Elizabeth Shepherd was cast as Mrs. Emma Peel and two episodes were filmed before it was mutually agreed that she didn't meet the expectations of the production team. A quick replacement was sought and in stepped Diana Rigg. A TV legend was born.

The relationship between Steed and Mrs. Gale had always been haughty to say the least. With the introduction of the widowed (or seemingly) Mrs. Peel, the relationship between the two leads became much closer with a great deal of sexual tension. Mrs. Peel was as intelligent, quick thinking and emasculated as her predecessor, and initially at least shared her penchant for leather outfits, but she was also certainly softer and more readily prepared to act as Steed's partner in their adventures.

The stories were certainly becoming much more fantasy bound, and the use of diabolical masterminds and organizations with bizarre acronyms became the norm for the stories from this series on. The fantasy and sci-fi elements of the show were highlighted more than before and the fashions and design of the show took on a much more stylish and indeed 'stylized' look. The success of these elements was immediate, and huge ratings in the UK followed, plus overseas transmissions of the show followed for the first time. Such was their success indeed that another 26 episodes were soon commissioned, this time to be made in color.

The stories have supposedly been digitally re-mastered for these DVD releases, and indeed the picture quality is pretty impressive, but there is still sparkle and dirt on the prints that may detract from the quality for some viewers. The 26 episodes are presented in the same order of their original UK transmission. Unfortunately, as with all the A&E Avengers releases, there are no extras at all. Not even production notes. However, there are menus included, which are nicely done.

This for me is the very best season of the show, with great style and wit accompanying the excellent scripts, direction and production values. I'd certainly recommend this release to anyone.

The Awesome Avengers
This Avengers is a must have DVD!Steves Helarious! Emma Rocks! It's an all round funny show.

The 3 Worlds of John Steed
John Steed must have felt like Gulliver in the three worlds of Kathy Gale, Mrs. Emma Peel and Tara King. 'The Avengers" was a popular 1960's British fantasy-adventure series that focused on the exploits of a male-female duo in the service of the British government. The series underwent several changes of its female lead but its one constant male lead was John Steed always portrayed by the debonair Patrick Macnee (Originally the John Steed had two male partners but that format eventually changed). Kathy Gale portrayed by Honor Blackman became Steed's first female partner. However, when Honor Blackman departed the series and Diana Rigg entered as Mrs. Emma Peel, the show became an international sensation. Rigg brought sophistication, wit, charm and beauty, which hid her lethal and highly visual judo and karate abilities. Macnee and Rigg complemented each other beautifully with their carefree witty and charming exchange of dialogue. The show distinguished itself with bizarre and futuristic villains and fantastic plots. Popular at the height of the James Bond craze, the show was able to distinguish itself with its simply over-the-top visual style. Laurie Johnson's catchy and sophisticated main title theme matched the visuals of the show and still conjures up an image of the series when listened to today. When Diana Rigg left the series, Linda Thorson entered as John Steed's new partner Tara King. The series soon went off the air in the United States. It was a shame because the episodes with Tara King were quite good. The King episodes seemed to be a little more down to earth and contained some very good writing and intricate plotting. In any event series definitely left its mark amongst the finest. These DVD copies are gorgeous and they sound great in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono.

Look Steed 2 Volumes
John and Emma are back and are here to stay via DVD technology. Being on DVD, the aesthetics about the actual episodes are not in question here. More appropriately one may ask how they look. They look good, very good. If you relish a series like "The Avengers" or "Twilight Zone" you no doubt know about the content of what you are getting. You are more likely concerned about the quality of what you are getting. Like Emma might say to John, "Can I borrow your umbrella? Thank You Mother. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Danger Man Set 4: Gadgets and Gizmos
Patrick McGoohan returns as British secret agent John Drake in the fourth boxed set of one hour long episodes of Danger Man. Presented in black and white, are adventures in espionage around the world. Here are summaries and/or comments for the episodes in this set. Episode ratings are on a scale from one to five (best).

Volume 7: (Disc 1)

Sting in the Tail (3): This episode features Derren Nesbitt, as "Rachid Noureddine", a hit man headquartered in Beirut. Drake's plan is to lure him to where he can be captured, by using his girlfriend, a nightclub singer. Drake's cover is as an artist, interested in painting the woman's picture. Nesbitt is an actor who usually has a riveting screen presence, and this is the case here. There are sparks, when he and Drake, clash swords over the woman. The plot is simple and direct, though accepting McGoohan as a romantic figure is always a challenge. This episode's title is drawn from a gadget weapon similar to those provided by Q Branch in the Bond films.

The Black Book (4): Sir Noel Blanchard has been indiscreet, and is feeling a blackmailer's bite. John Drake is enlisted to look into the situation, and is sent to Paris to investigate. Tracking the payoff money, Drake encounters a mysterious young woman, and a connection to a Russian spy network. An above average episode, that has a gritty edge. More gadgetry, this time it is a typewriter that tracks and transmits radio signals.

English Lady Takes Lodgers (4): After George Stanway, a well known local smuggler disappears, Drake is sent to Lisbon to investigate. Stanway's wife Emma, takes in boarders, and is on unusually good terms with her lodgers. Drake too becomes a guest, and is soon swept up into the mysterious affairs of the villa's occupants.

Loyalty Always Pays (4): There's trouble in an unnamed African country, where the Minister of Defense has signed a secret treaty with China. Drake is sent in to get proof the treaty's existence. Making use of the local intelligence network to get the information he needs, Drake runs a con game, forcing a security official to help him to get access to the Ministry. This is a well-written episode full of intrigue, and featuring more gadgets.

Volume 8: (Disc 2)

Are You Going To Be More Permanent? (3): The last two comptrollers in Geneva have disappeared. The three local agents are under suspicion. Prepared for a trap, Drake is sent in to ferret out a double agent. A solid, no-frills tale of espionage.

Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet (4): A couple employed at an English atomic research lab, mysteriously disappears. Seeking to discover their fate, John Drake turns up in Haiti, of all places. There he encounters a mysterious English couple, a Russian agent, an overly intrusive police official, and the owner of a mining operation with much to conceal. Forming an alliance with the Russian; Drake explores the secrets of the mine, leading to an explosive finish.

A Very Dangerous Game (4): Drake assumes the identity of a teacher on his way to take a position in Singapore. Upon arrival, Drake is contacted by Chinese spies, and instructed to help trap a British agent. Soon Drake has located the ring's base of operations, and is playing a dangerous game of deception, where the price of failure is death. A fast paced adventure with an interesting but somewhat curious resolution.

The Mercenaries (3): Once again in an unnamed African nation, John Drake's initial undercover role is as a mercenary. Uncovering a connection between the leader of the mercenaries and an unscrupulous surgeon, Drake then must prevent the death of the country's Prime Minister, and avert a forced takeover. This episode is not with some humor, featuring a native witch doctor, and a most impressive pole vault.

In Danger Man Set 4, gadgets and gizmos seem to be more prominent than in previous episodes, particularly in Volume 7. The inclusion of such devices does not detract too much, as they remain tools used within context of the stories. In summary, another solid collection that should satisfy fans of the series, and cold war espionage.

The editors at A&E might pay a bit more attention to detail, and get the location correct in the episode synopsis. Spain is substituted for Portugal, Vienna for Geneva, and Hong Kong for Singapore. Fans of Danger Man, may find my other reviews of the series of interest. Be seeing you.

More realistic than James Bond
The people involved in producing and writing this program were previously involved in early post war journalism specializing in espionage. This is what makes the program so realistic. Some liberties are taken from reality by the use of gadgets. Watching this series will give members of the X generation a feel for what the world was like a few decades before they were born. ... Read more

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This special, four-episode volume unhappily brings the Mrs. Peelchapter of The Avengers to a close. "The Positive-Negative Man" is a shocking tale about an electronically charged killer dispatching members of a scientific research team with one touch of his finger. Steed (Patrick Macnee)and Mrs. Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) get a dose of high voltage, and the story is deliciously tense at times (who doesn't remember being a kid and squealing when somebody threatened to poke you with a finger?), but the wacky plot keeps matters from getting too serious. Good surreal fun and delightfully sexy. "Murdersville" is a dark tale about a quiet English town in which nearly all the residents participate in killing for a fee. Mrs. Peel discovers this the hard way when an old friend inadvertently leads her into danger there--some of it quite medieval, as in a tense scene where Emma nearly drowns in a witch's ducking pool. Highlights include a phone ruse in which our beautiful heroine foils her captors by calling her "husband John" to reassure him, and a climactic fight that manages to make pie-throwing a deadly art. "Mission Highly Improbable" follows, a wild story about a miniaturization device being used by villains to shrink their enemies to pocket-size--at which point they can be tossed into the trash or washed down a drain. The action gets even more fun when Steed and Mrs. Peel, at different times, are themselves made tiny and have to make do in a world of giant--though ordinary--objects such as pens and telephones. Finally, there's "The Forget-Me-Knot," in whichMrs. Peel's replacement on the show and in partnership with Steed is introduced: Tara King (Linda Thorson). The script concerns a traitor within the intelligence organization and his henchmen, who are using a memory-killing drug on their victims. But the strongest moment anyone watching this show will remember is a coda in which Steed and Emma say goodbye. Crushing! --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

SHOCKING POSITIVELY SHOCKING
Shocking! Positively shocking! No, I am not referring to the comment that Sean Connery made after he electrocuted an undesirable in his bathtub at the beginning of "Goldfinger." No, I am referring to "THE AVENGERS" episode, "The Positive-Negative Man" in this set. I am also referring to the episode, "The Forget-Me-Knot" where Mrs. Emma Peel portrayed by the exquisite Diana Rigg departs from the series and is replaced by Tara King in the person of the lovely Linda Thorson. Shocking! That episode has something to do about introducing memory loss on some unsuspecting chap or something. I seem to have forgotten. Now where was I? Oh yes, poor Patrick Macnee! I don't think that debonair John Steed will ever recover from all these different female partners or should I say work associates! I mean going up and down stairs, forgetting one's umbrella and all that! Really! Good show all around!

Enter Tara King Exit Emma Peel
Set 4, Volume 8 contains 4 episodes of the series. "Mission Highly Improbable" is highly inferior to the other 3. Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg are both espionage veterans via this British TV series as well as appearing subsequently in "A View To A Kill" and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" respectively. As we see Mrs. Peel make her exit, enter Tara King played by the highly overlooked Linda Thorson in "The Forget-Me-Knot". Electrifying "The Positive-Negative Man" is reminiscent of an animated "Batman" episode. Zap! "Murdersville" is very good and offbeat and leaves the viewer curiously paranoiac. Good luck, Mrs. Peel! I hope see more of Tara soon. ... Read more

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Philip Levene wrote the first episode on this DVD, "The See-ThroughMan," in which a discredited inventor (the delightful Roy Kinnear) sells his formula for invisibility and John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Mrs Emma Peel(Diana Rigg) believe enemy agents may be using it. Not one of the pantheon episodes, "The See-Through Man" is still quite enjoyable, particularly in its tag scene, which finds our hero and heroine pushing Steed's old Rolls after it fails to start. "The Bird Who Knew Too Much" is a Brian Clemens story in which Steed and Mrs. Peel find carrier pigeons equipped with tiny cameras used to photograph top-secret missile bases. The photography theme extends to some comic moments in which Steed and Mrs. Peel both do a little posing for a fashion cameraman, but there is also some fun with a parrot named Captain Crusoe, who at one point requests political asylum. Also on this DVD is "The Winged Avenger," a truly crafty piece of work by writer Richard Harris, with good tongue-in-cheek references to the influence of comic-book culture on 1960s television. A number of ruthless men are being ripped apart and killed by an unknown assailant, the only clue being that their murders seem to have been predicted in recent comic strips featuring a Batman-like superhero named the Winged Avenger. The zippy climax finds Mrs. Peel and a killer each wearing magnetic boots that allow them to fight on a ceiling. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bring the 67 John Steed and Emma Peel Avengers Back
This was a great TV series. 'The Avengers" was a popular 1960's British fantasy-adventure series that focused on the exploits of a male-female duo in the service of the British government. The series underwent several changes of its female lead but its one constant male lead was John Steed always portrayed by the debonair Patrick Macnee (Originally the John Steed had two male partners but that format eventually changed). Kathy Gale portrayed by Honor Blackman became Steed's first female partner. However, when Honor Blackman departed the series and Diana Rigg entered as Mrs. Emma Peel, the show became an international sensation. Rigg brought sophistication, wit, charm and beauty, which hid her lethal and highly visual judo and karate abilities. Macnee and Rigg complemented each other beautifully with their carefree witty and charming exchange of dialogue. The show distinguished itself with bizarre and futuristic villains and fantastic plots. Popular at the height of the James Bond craze, the show was able to distinguish itself with its simply over-the-top visual style. Laurie Johnson's catchy and sophisticated main title theme matched the visuals of the show and still conjures up an image of the series when listened to today. When Diana Rigg left the series, Linda Thorson entered as John Steed's new partner Tara King. The series soon went off the air in the United States. It was a shame because the episodes with Tara King were quite good. The King episodes seemed to be a little more down to earth and contained some very good writing and intricate plotting. In any event series definitely left its mark amongst the finest. These DVD copies are gorgeous.

Steel Leather and an Umbrella Mrs. Peel?
If you relish a series like "Honey West," "T.H.E. Cat" or "77 Sunset Strip" you no doubt know about the content of what you are getting. You are more likely concerned about the quality of the product. Like John Steed (Patrick Macnee) might say to Mrs. Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back. Just watch the hat please." John and Emma are back and are here to stay via DVD technology. Being on DVD, the aesthetics about the actual episodes are not in question here. More appropriately one may ask how they look. They look good, very good.

You may find this offer a Peeling
You can look up the individual reviews. This collection will either bring back old memories or create some new old memories. However you will have friends and relatives that will want to remember Mother (Patrick Newell.) A single case makes the movies easier to keep track of and look better on your video storage wall. Being DVDs this is a one-time investment. Buying them individually can add up in shipping and handling. So as Emma says "Always keep your bowler on in time of stress, and watch out for diabolical masterminds." And buy the collection. Also available is Avengers '67 Set 1 Vol 01 (1966). ... Read more

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"Pain and the knife are inseparable!" That's what incredulous colleagues keep telling Dr. Bolton (Boris Karloff), a respected surgeon who is determined to develop a successful anesthetic to bring pain-free surgery to 1840s England, when brutal amputation is a bloody and commonplace procedure.Bolton keeps testing his latest "inhalations" on himself, and his son's warnings against addiction remain unheeded. Before long, the tenacious doctor is hooked on his own elixir, barred from further practice and the drugs needed for research, and so desperate to prove the validity of his work that he agrees to a Faustian bargain: In exchange for the necessary chemicals, he signs bogus death certificates for local body-snatchers Black Ben (Francis De Wolff) and Resurrection Joe (Christopher Lee), who earn cash by supplying medical schools with fresh cadavers.

Robert Day (who also directed Karloff in The Haunted Strangler) handles this morbid plot with professional restraint, adding some routine hallucinatory interludes when Karloff's delirium results in a barrage of fevered visions. Otherwise this is a well-crafted but rather bland affair, noteworthy for its early display of blood (which is utterly tasteful by later standards) and also for giving Karloff one of his juicier roles, which the veteran horror icon tackles with admirable vigor and appropriate obsessiveness. On the strength of his early films for Hammer Studios, Christopher Lee was given prominent billing when this film (shot in 1958) was finally released in 1962, and while his eerie presence is keenly felt, his role is a relatively minor one. Still, this makes Corridors of Blood something of a milestone in the genre, signaling the passage of Karloff's era and the beginning of Lee's. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

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In "Death at Bargain Prices," Steed and Mrs. Peel once again find extraordinary goings-on in the most ordinary places, in this case a department store that serves as a front for madman tycoon Horatio Kane's biggest takeover bid yet--of London (he has rigged the store with a nuclear device). Mrs. Peel works undercover as a clerk, prompting Steed's priceless line, "I asked where to find you and was told, 'Our Mrs. Peel is in ladies' underwear.' I rattled up the stairs three at a time." This episode was directed by Charles Crichton, who later directed A Fish Called Wanda."Castle De'ath" is a truly haunting episode, both because of its red-herring ghost story and the scandalous peek at Mrs. Peel's navel, not to mention her nocturnal investigation of a foreboding Scottish castle in her nightgown. What brings her and "McSteed" (outfitted in a kilt) to the castle is the death of an agent in scuba gear, who when found was four inches taller than when he was alive. "It all has to do with the price of fish," whispers McSteed. In "The Master Minds," Steed and Mrs. Peel investigate a series of raids on state security. Each, Steed notes, "has been boldly conceived and superbly executed" by "a diabolical mastermind." This leads the duo to a special school for geniuses whose lesson plan includes brainwashing. Highlights of this episode are a student's come-on to Steed ("I wonder if I might lure you away from brainwork for something more physical") and a climactic fight seen only in shadow behind a screen on which a military training film is being projected backward. Grade: A. All three episodes are in glorious black and white. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

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The early reels of First Man into Space should delight fans oftheMercury/Sputnik era in rocket technology... though it may delight fans oflow-budget '50s sci-fi even more. A small manned rocket, launched from a jetcruising at high altitude, manages to poke its nose up about 250 miles abovethe earth---thus making its cocky, reckless pilot the (you guessed it) first man into space. Unfortunately, weird cosmic debris clings to the spacecraft when it crash-lands, and also to the astronaut:he's now covered with alayer of scaly, sparkly space rock. To put it in technical terms, thereturned pilot is categorized as "a great big lumbering deformed monster."He's lumbering around a rocket facility in New Mexico, and themonster-pilot's brother (played by the always sober, always reliable MarshallThompson) must find the thing before it kills again. Oddly enough, once the cheesy space-flight FX wear off, First Man into Space turns into a competentand surprisingly thoughtful thriller; give this movie some points for atleast trying to emphasize the science in its fiction. --Robert Horton ... Read more

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With a provocative swat on her leather-clad bottom, John Steed (Patrick Macnee) first clashes swords with his new partner, Mrs. Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), in "The Town of No Return," the episode that launched the fourth season of The Avengers. "Town" begins on a characteristically surreal note as a figure emerges from the sea in what looks like a giant Hefty bag. Out pops an impeccably dressed gent who notes to a nonplussed fisherman, "Looks like rain," which brings us to Bazeley-by-the-Sea, a quaint but odd village where four agents have disappeared. Will Steed and Mrs. Peel be numbers five and six? Like one of the treats Steed offers Peel on their Bazeley-bound train, this episode is "a marzipan delight." In "The Gravediggers," Steed and Mrs. Peel dig up a sinister plot to sabotage Britain's radar defense system. But this doesn't quite explain howMrs. Peel finds herself tied to a train track with a miniature locomotive chugging toward her! "The Cybernauts" was the first episode to air in the United States. Steed and Mrs. Peel are up against automated assassins made by an inventor who plots to create an electronic dictatorship. A highlight is an elegantly dressed Mrs. Peel's karate fight. All three episodes are in glorious black and white. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

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The first half of The Haunted Strangler is a civilized look at VictorianLondon, with socially minded novelist Boris Karloff investigating a20-year-old murder case. Still, it's Karloff, right? So when the elegant, snow-hairedking of horror movies finally wanders into a graveyard in the middle of the night, shovel in hand, intent on digging up the bones of a serial killer, theviewer can breath a sigh of relief:we're back on familiar turf. Freshly dugturf, that is. This is not the last surprise in this neatly turned picture, which has some genuinely disturbing moments mixed into the cut-rateatmosphere. The plot borrows from the legends of Dr. Jekyll and Jack theRipper, and the presence of Karloff specifically invokes his earlier horrorsin Val Lewton's moody shockers, Bedlam and The Body Snatcher. The horrormaestro, 70 years old, is exceptionally agile; stripped to the waist andfighting a straitjacket, he looks as though he's about to outwrestle histwo burly attendants down at the local insane asylum. You go, Boris! Weirdestthing about this movie:the inordinate amount of footage devoted to can-candancers--no, the star is not involved; Karloff wasn't that agile.--RobertHorton ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Boris Karloff does Jekyll and Hyde with a twist
Boris Karloff plays two different characters in this minor 1958 horror film directed by Robert Day. In 1860 a sailor named Styles was executed for being the Haymarket Strangler, who killed five women in a series of brutal murders. Twenty years later philanthropist and novelist James Rankin (Karloff) suspects they hung the wrong man...This is really a minor effort from Karloff, who was still a few years away from being rediscovered in Roger Corman's horror comedies at this point in his long career. The most interesting part of this film is how this English film tries to be racy with all the prostitutes running around as Tenant's potential targets. "The Haunted Strangler" is one for Karloff fans who feel a need to watch everything he ever did. Not a bad film, just not a good one either.

Karloff Masterpiece!
This is one of the best horror movies that Boris Karloff made and he really shows his acting talent.

CAN-CAN
For can-can enthusiasts, this film contains two EXCEPTIONAL can-can numbers in full costume (including traditional suspender stockings and frilled underwear)....

Why the bad rap?
I dont see why this movie gets such poor reviews. Boris does a great facial contortion with paralisis when possesed by a dead murderer. Great victorian costumes help set the stage for a pretty good mystery. I guess most of todays audience expect special effects to replace acting. No twisting heads or spewed pea soup here. While its not as good as Frankenstein, The Mummy or the afore mentioned Corridors of Blood, its still a pretty good Karloff movie.

Boris Karloff does Jekyl and Hyde with a Columbo twist
Boris Karloff gets to play a pair of characters in this minor 1958 horror film directed by Robert Day. In 1860 a sailor named Styles was executed for being the Haymarket Strangler, who killed five women in a series of brutal murders. Twenty years later philanthropist and novelist James Rankin (Karloff) suspects they hung the wrong man. When Rankin discovers the missing murder weapon, a scalpel, in Styles' coffin, he has a fit and murders a music hall singer. Rankin blacks out and the next day does not remember anything. That is when his wife, Barbara (Elizabeth Allan), tells Rankin that his real name is Tenant, and that HE is the Haymarket Strangler. Twenty years earlier she helped him escape from an insane asylum when he developed amnesia. But now that he has his scalpel again, his murderous tendencies return. This is really a minor effort from Karloff, who was still a few years away from being rediscovered in Roger Corman's horror comedies. The most interesting part of "The Haunted Strangler" is how this English film tries to be racy with all the prostitutes running around as Tenant's potential targets. This is one for Karloff fans who feel a need to watch everything he ever did. Not a bad film, just not a good one either. ... Read more

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Not a masterpiece, but still suitable for framing, is "The Girl from Auntie," one of three episodes on this DVD from the 1966 season of The Avengers, in which an art dealer, who supplies his clients "anything for a price" (including the Mona Lisa!), kidnaps Emma for auction to enemy agents. This episode features perhaps the series' quaintest assassin, an elderly "lady" who dispatches her victims with knitting needles. Highlights and comical characters abound, including a game Emma Peel impersonator who gets the episode's best line. "Six bodies in an hour and 20 minutes," Steed remarks. "What do you call that?" "A good first act," she replies. In a wickedly funny Beatles reference, four corpses tumble out of a closet. Their names: John, Paul, George, and... Fred. "The 13th Hole," is not quite up to par, but the impeccable chemistry between Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg as gentleman spy John Steed and his ravishing partner,Mrs. Emma Peel, respectively, is palpable. Mrs. Peel scores a hole inone with the episode's best line. After he is nearly bogeyed by a golf ball, Steed credits his fortified hat with saving his life. Remarks Mrs. Peel, "It really is the height of pessimism to have a hat lined with chain mail." The final episode, "The Quick-Quick-Slow Death," has all the right moves, as Mrs. Peel goes undercover at a dance studio. The kinkiest moment comes courtesy of an Italian shoemaker. "Look," he gushes over Mrs. Peel's wiggling piggies, "they talk to me. You naughty little chatterboxes, you." The fade-out alone is worth the price of purchase. Instead of riding, rowing, or sailing off into the sunset as is customary, Steed and Mrs. Peel engage in a little Fred and Ginger action. All three episodes are in black and white. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

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"The House That Jack Built" is one of Diana Rigg's finest hours, and arare chance to see the usually nonplussed Mrs. Peel totally plussed. She is in for "the fright of [her] life" when she is held prisoner in a house rigged by a vengeful techno-obsessed madman bent on driving her insane. Rooms that move and labyrinthian mazes are mere prologue to "the exhibition dedicated to the late Emma Peel." This DVD also contains the three black-and-white episodes that wrapped up the fourth season of The Avengers in high style. "A Sense of History" is not grade A, but John Steed (Patrick Macnee)and Mrs. Peel's investigation of deadly goings-on at a university does earnextra credit for Mrs. Peel's Robin Hood costume and her pointed exchange with Steed, who is dressed as the Sheriff of Nottingham. His sword, she observes, "looks a bit droopy." "Wait until it's challenged," he replies. In the macabre "How to Succeed... At Murder," 11--make that 12--prominent businessmen have been dispatched by a band of secretarial assassins. Who is pulling the strings? Her name is Henrietta, a real "doll." Her battle cry: "To bring men to heel and put woman at the pinnacle of power. Ruination to all men!" The DVD concludes with the bonus episode "Honey for the Prince," which one Avengers-appreciation Web site ranks among the top 20episodes of the Mrs. Peel era. The provocative prologue shows Steed and Mrs. Peelactually skipping arm in arm back to Steed's place. It is all "Quite Fantastic," which is the name of a company that creates and satisfies their customers' "most repressed desires." Speaking of fantasies, Mrs. Peel, "sold" to a young prince targeted for assassination, appears in garb that would make Barbara Eden's Jeannie blush. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

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PLEASE RELEASE THIS ON DVD
THIS IS A GREAT SHOW, AND IS VERY WORTHY OF BEING PUT ON DVD.COMPARED TO OVERS, LIKE A-TEAM, MATLOCK BLOWS THEM OUT OF THE WATER! ... Read more

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The glory years of The Avengers, the stylish British television series starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg as intelligence operatives, are in full bloom in this three-episode volume. First up is "The £50,000 Breakfast," a typically quirky mystery that begins with a Zurich-bound ventriloquist crashing his car and ending up in a hospital--only to be discovered carrying a stash of diamonds in his stomach. The strange circumstance leads John Steed (Macnee) and Mrs. Emma Peel (Rigg) into an investigation of a wealthy financier who may be considering taking his fortune out of England. But that's only the beginning: soon Steed andMrs. Peel are up to their knees in murder plots and borzoi dogs, all endingin a gift of a Dalmatian-spotted tie. "Dead Man's Treasure" is probably best remembered for a harrowing scene in which poor Mrs. Peel is forced to "drive" a racing car simulator that gives powerful electric shocks when she veers off a virtual road. The simulator is one of the kookier gimmicks in a story about a fellow agent who plants a dispatch box in a car enthusiast's mansion, then arranges for Steed and Mrs. Peel to participate in a treasurehunt for the missing item. Saboteurs abound, but the episode's highlight is the hunt, which finds contestants and their autos subjected to spikes in the road, sugar in their petrol tanks, and misarranged road signs. The action is crisp, the humor cheeky, and our heroic duo sexy and sharp. The final episode begins with one of the most enjoyable stories from the series. "You Have Just Been Murdered" is a clever mystery in which wealthy men are being mock-assassinated by stalkers who shoot, stab, and otherwise "murder" them with toy weapons. The reason is simple: blackmail. If the hidden, insidious mastermind behind this plot can get that close to his victims, he can certainly put them in the grave for good. Enter Steed and Mrs.Peel into the fray, who fail to get much cooperation from the terrified millionaires and have to find their way to the villain's lair on their own. The show ends delightfully with one of the series' best tags: Steed counting his fortune in halfpennies and finding he's just short of a certain goal.... --Tom Keogh ... Read more