A fantastic postmodern opening sequence with Mrs Peel apparently watching The Cybernauts before Steed appears on her telly to say that she's needed. Note the cutting edge wired remote control.
Primed by this, we have no trouble guessing that the mysterious man (Christopher Lee) who survives being run over twice by Christopher Benjamin (returning from How To Succeed At Murder), and hates radios, might just be a robot. Even if we missed it, the fact that his name is Dr Frank N. Stone (which I missed first time round) is there to help us. The real mystery is in whether he or his sidekick Penrose (Jeremy 'Kal' Young, returning from A Touch of Brimstone), or both, is evilly motivated.
Unusually there's a companion of the week in Dr James (Patricia English making her third appearance), who gets to play a pivotal role in resolving the final fight.
It's a rule that in any story involving doubles, the regulars have to get doubled, and this is no exception; but this time their duplicates are saved for comedy purposes at the end. It's quite funny though. Unlike the closing gag itself, which is a rubbish joke about politicians.
Also seen: Arnold 'Pte Godfrey' Ridley as an old remote-controlled boat enthusiast. Alan Chuntz (the chauffeur in Seeds of Doom). Geoffrey Reed (the skipper of the Polotska in Checkmate).
Previously seen: John Junkin returning from Dressed To Kill.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Joe Orton and Doctor Who
From Joe Orton's diaries, February 5th 1967:
Airdate lists suggest this must have been Underwater Menace episode 4. And what a pity Orton didn't have a cine camera handy to record the episode in which Jamie made such an impression on him.
And for April 15th 1967:
That was The Faceless Ones episode 2. Joe Orton would have made a great DW forum poster (if he'd cottoned on to the correct spelling of Fraser anyway). Incidentally, reading the diaries again last week I realised that he may be talking about Hines as possible casting for Sloane. I would have liked to have seen that.
He also overheard two women on a bus talking about a Dalek story. One thought it was too far-fetched. The other agreed: 'You know where you are with human beings, don't you,' she said.
Finally, in January 1967 an excerpt from Orton's play Loot is televised. In the director's chair is none other than a young Peter Moffat, who told Orton how much he'd like to have a go at doing Entertaining Mr Sloane on TV too. (Nothing came of it because Rediffusion were too timid to broadcast a play about a man and woman competing over a dodgy young man).
Yesterday I was watching an episode of Dr Who and I spotted a little boy in that called Frazer Hines.
Airdate lists suggest this must have been Underwater Menace episode 4. And what a pity Orton didn't have a cine camera handy to record the episode in which Jamie made such an impression on him.
And for April 15th 1967:
Watched Dr Who on television. Rubbish, but there's a young boy in it who is worth looking at... I mentally undress him. I'm sure the BBC would be horrified if they realised that even a science fiction series can be used erotically.
That was The Faceless Ones episode 2. Joe Orton would have made a great DW forum poster (if he'd cottoned on to the correct spelling of Fraser anyway). Incidentally, reading the diaries again last week I realised that he may be talking about Hines as possible casting for Sloane. I would have liked to have seen that.
He also overheard two women on a bus talking about a Dalek story. One thought it was too far-fetched. The other agreed: 'You know where you are with human beings, don't you,' she said.
Finally, in January 1967 an excerpt from Orton's play Loot is televised. In the director's chair is none other than a young Peter Moffat, who told Orton how much he'd like to have a go at doing Entertaining Mr Sloane on TV too. (Nothing came of it because Rediffusion were too timid to broadcast a play about a man and woman competing over a dodgy young man).
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Naive Avengersthon - 90. The Correct Way To Kill
Now this one must be the remake of The Charmers which I was warned about. It was actually a lot better than I expected - for example Michael 'Toymaker' Gough (returning from The Cybernauts) is a lot better as the Russian spymaster than the character's name, 'Nutski', suggests. And Philip Madoc (making his fourth appearance) can raise the tone of any episode, though he's wasted in this.
Anna Quayle, who I find was the awful wacky Mrs Monroe in the later Grange Hill era, is also pretty good as Steed's Rrrussian partner, an appealing blend of ugly and sexy. I was disappointed though by the way her initial scene showed her as capable of kicking serious arse, thus setting us up with the expectation that she'll use these skills again in the denouement, but she doesn't.
Peter 'Leader Clent' Barkworth from The Medicine Men, and Graham Armitage (Barney in The Macra Terror, returning from Quick, Quick Slow Death) are great as the two principal killer city gents. Their immaculate suits, bowlers and brollies give them an extraordinarily sinister air, and their Thompson Twins impression in the teaser only heightens the effect. (To be precise I refer to the Tintin duo, not the 80s pop trio, though that would have been funny).
I enjoyed this a lot more than The Charmers. The style of series 5 is a lot better suited to this kind of story.
Also and previously seen: Terence 'Lord Ravensworth' Alexander, rather ironically returning from The Town of No Return.
Also seen: not Colin Jeavons but Timothy Bateson as the chiropodist - I think he was the original Grange Hill caretaker.
Anna Quayle, who I find was the awful wacky Mrs Monroe in the later Grange Hill era, is also pretty good as Steed's Rrrussian partner, an appealing blend of ugly and sexy. I was disappointed though by the way her initial scene showed her as capable of kicking serious arse, thus setting us up with the expectation that she'll use these skills again in the denouement, but she doesn't.
Peter 'Leader Clent' Barkworth from The Medicine Men, and Graham Armitage (Barney in The Macra Terror, returning from Quick, Quick Slow Death) are great as the two principal killer city gents. Their immaculate suits, bowlers and brollies give them an extraordinarily sinister air, and their Thompson Twins impression in the teaser only heightens the effect. (To be precise I refer to the Tintin duo, not the 80s pop trio, though that would have been funny).
I enjoyed this a lot more than The Charmers. The style of series 5 is a lot better suited to this kind of story.
Also and previously seen: Terence 'Lord Ravensworth' Alexander, rather ironically returning from The Town of No Return.
Also seen: not Colin Jeavons but Timothy Bateson as the chiropodist - I think he was the original Grange Hill caretaker.
Naive Avengersthon - 89. The Hidden Tiger
I liked this one: prominent people are once again being mysteriously clawed to death, apparently by a lion this time. After some misdirection at an experimental farm, the trail leads to the headquarters of the Philanthropic Union for Rescue, Relief and Recuperation of cats. I liked the succession of cut-out cats in the driveway with warning notices on them: NO DOGS, STRICTLY NO DOGS, DOGS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED.
Edwin Cheshire, the director of PURRR, looked very much like a young Ronnie Barker, and indeed that's who was playing him. Very cat-like, though I thought having him lap his glass of milk was too obvious and spoilt it.
The deaths are quickly seen to be rehearsals for a sinister plan on a very large scale, designed by Cheshire's sinister colleague, Dr Manx (!) (Lyndon 'Silanus' Brook). I appreciated the way that he guiltily thinks his plan has been turned on him and dies as a result of panicking. Also that the correct solution to the mystery is proposed as a joke in the first five minutes.
Also seen: Frederick Treves (Brotadac and Kenneth Williams crony).
Previously seen: Michael Forrest returning from Death Dispatch.
Edwin Cheshire, the director of PURRR, looked very much like a young Ronnie Barker, and indeed that's who was playing him. Very cat-like, though I thought having him lap his glass of milk was too obvious and spoilt it.
The deaths are quickly seen to be rehearsals for a sinister plan on a very large scale, designed by Cheshire's sinister colleague, Dr Manx (!) (Lyndon 'Silanus' Brook). I appreciated the way that he guiltily thinks his plan has been turned on him and dies as a result of panicking. Also that the correct solution to the mystery is proposed as a joke in the first five minutes.
Also seen: Frederick Treves (Brotadac and Kenneth Williams crony).
Previously seen: Michael Forrest returning from Death Dispatch.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Naive Avengersthon - 88. The Living Dead
An interesting combination here: initially a story about ghosts appearing near the scene of a mining disaster, and then it veers wildly off into James Bond territory.
The feel of the two parts is very different: in the first part we have comedy with two rival ghost-hunting organisations, represented by the spiritual Pamela Ann 'Janley' Davy returning from Mission to Montreal and the scientific Vernon 'Chief Scientist' Dobtcheff returning from Room Without A View.
The second part on the other hand is quite sinister: similarities to Bond yes, but also the unsettling combination of ruthlessness and ridiculousness of the Village.
Previously and also seen: Julian Glover returning from Two's A Crowd, John 'Prof Krimpton' Cater making his third appearance.
Also seen: Jack 'Sgt Arnold' Woolgar.
Previously seen: Edward 'Zastor' Underdown from The Murder Market, Howard Marion Crawford from What The Butler Saw, Alister Williamson all the way from Hot Snow and Jack Watson from Silent Dust.
The feel of the two parts is very different: in the first part we have comedy with two rival ghost-hunting organisations, represented by the spiritual Pamela Ann 'Janley' Davy returning from Mission to Montreal and the scientific Vernon 'Chief Scientist' Dobtcheff returning from Room Without A View.
The second part on the other hand is quite sinister: similarities to Bond yes, but also the unsettling combination of ruthlessness and ridiculousness of the Village.
Previously and also seen: Julian Glover returning from Two's A Crowd, John 'Prof Krimpton' Cater making his third appearance.
Also seen: Jack 'Sgt Arnold' Woolgar.
Previously seen: Edward 'Zastor' Underdown from The Murder Market, Howard Marion Crawford from What The Butler Saw, Alister Williamson all the way from Hot Snow and Jack Watson from Silent Dust.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Naive Avengersthon - 87. The Winged Avenger
Lot of spoilers in this appreciation I'm afraid, it's the only way to give an adequate impression.
Businessmen are being killed off (again) - this time by a huge avian creature. The closeups of it climbing up buildings with its claws are excellent - unfortunately they use the same ones for two different buildings, and they don't match the masonry on either. But that's the only flaw here, the Winged Avenger is made to seem very frightening.
The trail leads Steed to the bickering writer/artist duo behind the Winged Avenger comic. The identity of the Avenger becomes clear, and as Steed is driven to the location where Mrs Peel's gone to follow up some misdirection, he flips through the latest Winged Avenger storyboards, which show a certain Elma Peem in dire peril. There's a brilliant dissolve between each successive board and Mrs Peel's identical situation.
When Steed arrives to save the day, he defeats the Avenger by whacking it over the head with boards bearing legends like POW!, BLAM! and SPLAT!, all to the cheeky accompaniment of the Batman TV theme. This scene is genuinely hilarious, and the closing gag features a PING! of its own.
I noticed at the start of series 4 that it took them a while to get into their stride with the new format, and similarly this seems to be the point in series 5 where they've found the right kind of story to tell with the new-style show. One of my favourite episodes so far.
Jack MacGowran as the flight-obsessed Professor is excellent, just the right blend of naivety and obsession.
Also seen: Neil 'The Maylin' Hallett. Frank Bellamy at the pen for the comic art.
Previously and also seen: Colin 'Max Quordlepleen' Jeavons back from A Touch of Brimstone.
Previously seen: A.J. Brown returning from Small Game for Big Hunters, Hilary Wontner from Silent Dust. Roy Patrick making his third appearance.
Businessmen are being killed off (again) - this time by a huge avian creature. The closeups of it climbing up buildings with its claws are excellent - unfortunately they use the same ones for two different buildings, and they don't match the masonry on either. But that's the only flaw here, the Winged Avenger is made to seem very frightening.
The trail leads Steed to the bickering writer/artist duo behind the Winged Avenger comic. The identity of the Avenger becomes clear, and as Steed is driven to the location where Mrs Peel's gone to follow up some misdirection, he flips through the latest Winged Avenger storyboards, which show a certain Elma Peem in dire peril. There's a brilliant dissolve between each successive board and Mrs Peel's identical situation.
When Steed arrives to save the day, he defeats the Avenger by whacking it over the head with boards bearing legends like POW!, BLAM! and SPLAT!, all to the cheeky accompaniment of the Batman TV theme. This scene is genuinely hilarious, and the closing gag features a PING! of its own.
I noticed at the start of series 4 that it took them a while to get into their stride with the new format, and similarly this seems to be the point in series 5 where they've found the right kind of story to tell with the new-style show. One of my favourite episodes so far.
Jack MacGowran as the flight-obsessed Professor is excellent, just the right blend of naivety and obsession.
Also seen: Neil 'The Maylin' Hallett. Frank Bellamy at the pen for the comic art.
Previously and also seen: Colin 'Max Quordlepleen' Jeavons back from A Touch of Brimstone.
Previously seen: A.J. Brown returning from Small Game for Big Hunters, Hilary Wontner from Silent Dust. Roy Patrick making his third appearance.
Naive Avengersthon - 86. The See-Through Man
A third example of the 'fantastic happenings which turn out not to be quite so fantastic' story, revolving around the possible invention of an invisibility formula, and its uses to a certain foreign power.
Unfortunately it's also an example of a komedy spy story, as can be seen from the presence of Warren Mitchell (his fourth appearance) as Brodny again. I find the constant scenes of him cringing before his political bosses very irritating.
It's not a bad story overall I suppose, the invisibility is quite ingeniously explained, though if there was a reason for the mysterious happenings in the park, I missed it.
Also seen: John 'Rev Ernest Matthews' Nettleton.
Previously and also seen: Roy Kinnear making his third appearance, Moira 'Domitia' Redmond coming all the way back from Hot Snow.
Unfortunately it's also an example of a komedy spy story, as can be seen from the presence of Warren Mitchell (his fourth appearance) as Brodny again. I find the constant scenes of him cringing before his political bosses very irritating.
It's not a bad story overall I suppose, the invisibility is quite ingeniously explained, though if there was a reason for the mysterious happenings in the park, I missed it.
Also seen: John 'Rev Ernest Matthews' Nettleton.
Previously and also seen: Roy Kinnear making his third appearance, Moira 'Domitia' Redmond coming all the way back from Hot Snow.