"The New Avengers" (1976) TV series 1976-1977

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Writer:

Sydney Newman (characters)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

5 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

John Steed and his new accomplices Purdey and Gambit find themselves facing new and deadly dangers in the bizarre world of espionage...

Plot Keywords:

John Steed | Trio | Spy | Femme Fatale | 1970s

Cast

Patrick Macnee	...	John Steed (26 episodes, 1976-1977)
Gareth Hunt	...	Mike Gambit (26 episodes, 1976-1977)
Joanna Lumley	...	Purdey (26 episodes, 1976-1977)

Also Known As:

Chapeau melon et bottes de cuir (France) (dubbed version)
The New Avengers in Canada (Canada: English title) (last season title)

Runtime:

60 min (26 episodes)

Country:

France | UK | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Beckton Gasworks, Beckton, London, England, UK

Company:

Avengers Enterprises, The

Trivia:

Patrick Macnee had difficulty getting back into character as Steed. After being confronted with this by producer Albert Fennell, he found inspiration by watching Benny Hill spoofing The Avengers on his TV show.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Top Gear: (2004-11-07)" (2004)

I stumbled on this once night in 1978 or so.

Knock me over with a feather! At first I was not sure what I was watching on late night Detroit or Windsor television -- then it dawned. I made it my business every Friday night after the news to catch THE NEW AVENGERS, but probably saw little more than half.

No, it was not the old time religion, because the old chemistry would be impossible to create. This programme stood on its own, suffering in comparison only if one wanted the more of same. THE NEW AVENGERS was "bigger" (which does not make it better), less wacky, and to employ the amorphous, less artistic. The budgets of the 1960s were no doubt modest, forcing more creativity.

None the less, it was well cast with Steed as more of an elder statesman -- not "old" at 54 as another commentator was unkind enough to allege. Purdy was not Rigg or Blackman, but then she created her own viable character as a woman, much distinguished from the "youth market" Tara of 1968-9.

I make no comment upon individual episodes, because it would not be fair given the time elapsed, for me 1980 at latest. Having no cable television, nor being a videophile, I have not seen THE NEW AVENGERS since.