Your Next Box-Set: The Avengers

[mrs_emma_peel]

Your Next Box-Set: The Avengers ...
The 60s 'spy-fi' series is a gaudy and glamorous antidote to the archetypal gloomy depictions of cold war espionage ...

Sex kitten with claws ... Diana Rigg's Mrs Peel was a swinging sixties fashion icon in trouser suits, catsuits or little more than her birthday suit ...
Toby Manning ... The Guardian online ... Thursday, 22nd September, 2011

If Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a creepily dark, cold war downer, then The Avengers is the same era's glam, peppy little pick-me-up. From 1961-69, Britain's trend-setting 'spy fi' show made the cold war seem rather fun, presenting espionage as a flip, swinging 60s accessory. 'What sort of fiend are we dealing with?' cries mainstay Steed (Patrick Macnee) in one episode: 'A man who would bite the end off a cigar is capable of anything!'

It's a far cry from glum old George Smiley. Brolly-twirling, bowler-doffing Steed is equally suave producing an afternoon tea-set from his knapsack or delivering a deadly blow with his umbrella. With his 'touch of the aristocrat', Steed maintains a highly civilised sexual tension with his female co-stars. Honor Blackman's Mrs Gale (1962-64) is a cut-glass brain-box with a natty line in leathers and a gun in her garter. Better still, Diana Rigg's Mrs Peel (1965-67) is a sex kitten with claws. A swinging fashion plate in trouser suits, catsuits or little more than her birthday suit, she's always ready with an arch rejoinder - or a swift karate kick.

Yet the show isn't all death-by-champagne-cork high jinx. At its mid-60s apex, The Avengers had a pervading air of nuclear menace via its parade of deserted air bases, creepy country houses, isolated observatories and blasted beach villages. Not to mention its rolling rogues' gallery of dastardly - and just plain daft - threats: neo-Nazi takeovers, lethal viruses, feral financiers and, naturally, Russian agents.

The Americans loved the show, but made a stinking 1998 movie with Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes.

The new 50th anniversary boxset, however, is a (pricey) delight. Worth enduring the cardboard sets and performances of the opening seasons and the Linda Thorson autumn years for the 51 riveting Rigg episodes between. If Tinker Tailor is the cold war in foggy, faded sepia, then even the Avengers' monochrome episodes seem to take place in a glorious, gaudy and just slightly tacky Technicolor.

I totally agree … what a lovely article!
Emma

Your next box set: The Avengers | Television & radio | The Guardian

[dpgmel]

Yes, I'm slowly revsiting the Diana Rigg episodes after many years and the thing that strikes me now is how witty the scripts are and the interaction between Steed and Mrs Peel is a joy to behold, only rewtched seven epsidoes so far so 44 to go ( have to make sure I ration them ! )

Certainly a joy

[agutterfan]

It's always a delight to hear from mrs emma peel. Have you seen this item yet? Unfortunately, no details as to what's on it yet.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avengers-Sp...7043541&sr=1-1

[Dandy Forsdyke]

The Golden Schlussel - rare short film starring Diana Rigg
The Mini-Killers - 4 part short film mini-series starring Diana Rigg
Director Laurence Bourne interview
Wish You Were Here? - Top Ten Avengers locations featurette
Death at Bargain Prices - alternate end tag
Hot Snow - Episode Reconstruction
Toy Trap - Episode Reconstruction
Newly discovered Series 5 archival trailer
German cinema trailer
Titan Avengers 50th Anniversary DVD booklet
Diana' Avengers Comic Strip booklet

[Timmy_Lea]

I've got the Diana Rigg ones.

[Richard_in_wales]

I've around thirty episodes, each one is a joy to watch.

[agutterfan]

The Golden Schlussel - rare short film starring Diana Rigg
The Mini-Killers - 4 part short film mini-series starring Diana Rigg
Director Laurence Bourne interview
Wish You Were Here? - Top Ten Avengers locations featurette
Death at Bargain Prices - alternate end tag
Hot Snow - Episode Reconstruction
Toy Trap - Episode Reconstruction
Newly discovered Series 5 archival trailer
German cinema trailer
Titan Avengers 50th Anniversary DVD booklet
Diana' Avengers Comic Strip booklet

Thanks very much for the information, IMDb lists The Mini-Killers but not The Golden Schlussel. Having recently completed watching S2 & remaining S1 boxset I now have all The Avengers & The New Avengers on DVD. The Mrs Peel series (B&W and Colour) are still the best in my opinion. (I ignore the movie - what movie?)

[didi-5]

I have series 4 from the Studio Canal sets (with the replacement discs 3 and 7) plus the Dutch release of series 6. The other Rigg episodes I have from series 5 were recorded from the BBC4 run. Someday I want to get series 2 for the remaining Hendry episodes.

The Avengers is tremendous fun although I have always found Patrick McNee to be disappointing in any other role than Steed.

[mrs_emma_peel]

Hi agutterfan, Dandy,
Sorry for taking so long to reply ... I hadn't seen the new Avengers extras DVD ... I was thinking of buying, but on seeing the reviews on Amazon there seems to be some disc issues ... so I'll wait until Optimum have resolved them. The DVD content looks excellent
Emma