Avengers '65 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2Rating:
Release Date: 31 August, 1998 Retail Price: $39.95 OUR Price: $35.96 You SAVE: $3.99! Cast: |
Avengers '65 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2 Reviews
The introductions of Emma Peel
Episodes in Volume 1 & 2 - 1965 introduce the dazzling and vivacious Mrs. Emma Peel. Most people know Mrs. Peel, but they little recall Dr. Katherine Gale (1962-64), played by Honor Blackman, she followed Steed's original partner - a male Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry 1961-62). Blackman had left to be a Bond gal in "Goldfinger". Over the year, Steed (Macnee) proved he could hold "The Avengers" down while a parade of partners waltzed in and out of the series. But none made the impression Mrs. Peel did. She was a thorough, self-contained woman. She was smart, able to fight like a man and was beautiful, what the women of the late 70s would be aiming for, so you might say, she was the first really strong figure on telly for women to use as an idol.
You are introduced to Mrs. Peel in six great episodes in this series.
1) "The Town of No Return" - Mrs. Peel and Steed must travel to Little Bazely-by-the-Sea. (Note of interest is Mr. Smallwood, a character in this episode, goes on to play "Mother" in the Tara King ear). This episode was originally filmed with Elizabeth Sheppard as Steed's partner Mrs. Emma Peel. She was immediately replaced with Diana Rigg and the rest is history! Steel and Mrs. Peel are sent to uncover a conspiracy of a small sea side town, when it's actually a launching spot to take over all of Britain
2) "The Gravediggers" is a very jolly episode - a fault develops in Britain's radar. it ends with Emma tied to a miniature railroad in the manners of the old "Perils of Pauline" and Steed must ride to the rescue
3) "The Cybernauts" is the best episode (in the B&W) and the only one to have sequels - "The Return of the Cybernauts" with Peter Cushing, filmed in color and "The Last of the Cybernauts with Purdey", Steel and Gambit in the
New Avengers. Veteran horror actor Michael Gough plays a man confined to a wheel chair who has perfected the radio controlled Cybernaut. Then tension in this episode is amazing. Rigg really comes into her own in this one.
4) "Death at Bargain Prices" has Emma going undercover in the women's lingerie where they discover the whole store is not as it would seem
5) "Castle De'ath" is a great episode where the past and present collide in a medieval chamber of horrors, forcing the dashing Steele and delectable Emma to fight a modern menace with dirk and claymore.
6) "The Master Minds" has public servant running amok, pity that, Steed and Mrs. Peel go undercover at a school for intellectuals. They must face hypnosis and fight to save the say
They are just a delight to enjoy in the sharp DVD format. With writing and directing from names like Brian Clemens and Roy Baker.
Not just Nostalgia!
I grew up watching these black and white Emma Peel Avenger episodes in the UK. But when I came to search for them on Amazon.co.uk I could only find entire collections that were both expensive and rare. I was really surprised when I found exactly what I was looking for here on the American version. Obviously it's the American market where the Avengers is popular enough to get the all-star treatment in these relatively cheap and good quality dvd sets spanning the entire Avengers archive. This, off course, was my 1st purchase- the introduction of (cross her at your peril!) Mrs. Emma Peel.
While these 6 Avenger missions can veer into the ridiculous and times have obviously changed since 1965, amazingly these stories are still completely valid, yet surreal investigations into the under-belly of criminal Britain. You couldn't reproduce the magic of the show for a modern audience, as the Avengers movie certainly proved, but thankfully you can still watch the original episodes as if no time had passed and be thoroughly immersed in the strangeness that is the Avengers' world.
My impression of this 1965 set (beginning the Steed-Peel partnership) is that these are not the best of their collaborations (obviously the best is yet to come and I'll definitely be acquiring those very soon). But this isn't because Diana Rigg takes time to adjust to the part (far from it- right from the outset she makes her role as Steed's equal partner in crime-solving her own)- it's more that my personal episode favourites come later on in her tenure. Although that's not to say that these episodes aren't inventive, thrilling and involving, because they are- VERY much so and I would definitely advise you to begin your Avengers DVD collection with this little gem that has weathered the past 40 years incredibly well indeed.
Episode (1) 'The Town of No Return'
A great Cold war-influenced story with a horror-movie feel- 8/10
Episode (2) 'The Gravediggers'
Peppered with quintessentially English set peices, it's funny and inventive!- 8/10
Episode (3) 'The Cybernauts'
A mad inventor, an unstoppable fighter and high-kicking action from Emma!- 9/10
Episode (4) 'Death at Bargain Prices'
A department store conspiracy, but light on originality and tension- 6/10
Episode (5) 'Castle De'Ath'
Atmospheric and intriguing (if somewhat plodding)- the under-cover routine is still proving a winner (plus, the ending is pure Avengers class!)- 7/10
Episode (6) 'The Master Minds'
Emma in a nurse's costume along with hypnosis and anarchy in the aristocracy- interesting/confusing/amusing, but a bit slow- 6/10
More Customer Reviews (5 total)
You like Avengers '65 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2?
|
© 2004 DVD Booty | Don't Plunder Our Cache of Booty, Matey!
Hosting Provided by Debt Relief Clearinghouse
