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The Avengers (1961-1969)
I've looked on Google and can see no thread dedicated to the original series of the Avengers,apart from a write-up about it .
But if there is,then please lock this.
I'm watching some of the episodes of the very 1st series of 'The Avengers',with Ian Hendry getting the starring role and Patrick MacNee only getting a 'with' comment,and with some diabolical theme music.
I take it the series was filmed live,as it looks totally a live format to me...can anyone confirm that ,who know more about the Avengers than me ?
But if there is,then please lock this.
I'm watching some of the episodes of the very 1st series of 'The Avengers',with Ian Hendry getting the starring role and Patrick MacNee only getting a 'with' comment,and with some diabolical theme music.
I take it the series was filmed live,as it looks totally a live format to me...can anyone confirm that ,who know more about the Avengers than me ?
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Comments
Ian Hendry is a doctor,so why its called 'The Avengers' yet i dont know,he is just having a cup of tea hahaha.
Wow,Ian Hendry's Doctor is almost 'fetch my shoes' like to his secretary...
I'm also planning on checking out a few of the earlier Honor Blackman episodes soon, just to see how they compare. But yeah, I'm really digging the fourth season at least.
(And Season 4 definitely does not have a live format feel to me. Much more cinematic.)
Series 1 is a bit of a snorefest if im honest....i can see why @vzok couldnt get on with it,i am struggling myself...
29mins of a 50mins show and STILL no Steed !!!!
Poor Ian Hendry is sweating like a pig under those studio lights ,but he is very very good,a real trooper...class.
In fact there are only a handful of Series One episodes preserved. The rest were lost.
The three or four salvaged episodes are included on the complete Series 2 dvd set.
The show format was radically changed for series two,with MacNee as Steed, the gentleman spy, taking over as the lead.
The format change was inspired by Bond, with Dr No in production.
The producers astutely foresaw the coming Bond inspired '60s spyfy trend.
Steed originally had rotating sidekicks, with Blackman's Gale emerging as the permanent partner until she left to do Goldfinger, and was replaced by Rigg.
Avengers is pure '60s gold. I love to binge watch it.
I got all of the original A+E DVD Boxes plus the new released Blu-ray Boxes that are absolutely stunning.
As in the Columbo thread I will contribute here as well regularly.
I only saw three episodes so far on Blu-ray as "life happened" and I didn't watch much TV anyway since December.
Thanks for opening this!
It was more Hendrys deal, the series one.
Steed morphed into Steed the spy for Series Two, which is really when The Avengers became The Avengers, paving the way for the iconic Steed & Peel years.
Personally I regard this as part of the series, so it's actually 1961-1969 and 1976-1977.
It's another 26 episodes.
There is another thread for the 'New Avengers' i just made,Mr Kleenex,you wally
:)>-
Avengers is on blu-ray now?
That's awesome. I've been putting off buying the DVD sets, or the complete DVD set, as they aren't cheap, but if there is Blu release, I might have to splurge!
I'm not sure where you're located, @timmer, but here in the States, the only Blu-Ray for 'The Avengers' I have found is this one for Season 5: https://amazon.com/Avengers-Season-Blu-ray-Digital-HD/dp/B00MVIYKVE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1492031049&sr=8-10&keywords=avengers+blu+ray
Not sure why there aren't Blu-Rays for the other seasons, but I'm guessing Season 5 is probably the most popular?
the picture quality is simply breathtaking!
Truth is the Steed and Peel seasons dominate in popularity, so it seems these seasons get the best release treatment.
I'd like to buy the whole series in one collection, but I wonder are the black & white years worth doing a blu-ray release for?
=====
Edit: @BondJasonBond006 , so the Emma Peel b&w series also got a Blu release as well as colour Mrs Peel and the final Tara King series.
Good stuff. Must buy!
I'm going to work on a favourites list, it's not that easy actually.
The episodes you have already seen are all quite good and yes the next one you'll see, The Cybernauts, is indeed a fan favourite.
I will disclose who my favourite is from the series.
Prepare for shock people! It's not Diana Rigg!
It's Linda Thorson!
I'm still trying to source a high quality upscaling region free blu ray player for a good price so that I can purchase the entire set from the UK. I'm sick and tired of these studios dicking around with region coding. It's borderline offensive.
I've heard that season 4 (Peel in black and white) is actually the best season. I have watched them when younger but can't remember anything abou them.
Especially the b/w episodes look fantastic in my opinion. The contrasts are amazing.
The Blu-rays are available as UK and as German versions. But I also found Season 5 at least as US release.
THE AVENGERS, in German "Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone" ("With Umbrella, Charme and Bowler Hat") was the first later-night TV show my parents allowed me to watch when I was about 9 or 10, in 1966, every Tuesday night at 9. Dubbed in German, of course, with Patrick Macnee's voice being that of Gert Günter Hoffmann, who also was the German voice of Sean Connery in the Bond films, and initially in black and white.
I bought those Emma Peel episodes on DVD fifteen years ago and now have them on Blu-ray. Essential stuff. I've never seen any of those Cathy Gale episodes, many of which I understand were lost when the BBC deleted them in order to re-use the magnetic tapes.
I've yet to consider buying the Tara King episodes because I could never connect to them as much as I could to Emma Peel. Likewise, I'm not likely to extend my love to the NEW AVENGERS. I saw several episodes in the late 70s, but felt they just weren't the same, especially that "Mother" stuff.
Still, greatest TV series ever. For those of you who would like to get into it deeper, and discover parallels to the Bond franchise, may I point you to theavengers.tv/forever/. That website hasn't been updated for a while, but is incredibly comprehensive for everyone truly interested in The (REAL!!!) Avengers.
The shows were filmed live in the early days! Like a theatre play almost.
The DVDs are good quality actually. But a word to the first few seasons.
-If you are a die-hard fan like me, you'll want to have them.
It's certainly interesting to watch them....once....just to see how it all began and how TV Shows were done in those days.
If I am allowed to make a very general statement about The Avengers, then I would say, the show got better by every season.
That includes the Linda Thorson shows. As I said above, she is my favourite which has also to do with the great scripts of those 33 episodes.
So Amazon USA has that one season then
I'll have to get that!
Are blu-ray region coded? I thought only DVD were region coded
then I guess you have the German versions like I do.
The introduction to the series and the episodes from Oliver Kalkofe and Wolfgang Bahro are a true gift to the fans. Never seen anything like that done before for a TV Show release.