They Keep Killing Steed (11 Nov. 1968)

Enemy agent Arcos has invented a form of instant plastic surgery and he uses it to imprison Steed and create a double, who is sent to throw a spanner in the works at an important peace ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Fuest

Writer:

Brian Clemens (teleplay)

Stars:

Patrick Macnee, Linda Thorson, Ian Ogilvy

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Macnee	...	John Steed
Linda Thorson	...	Tara King
Ian Ogilvy	...	Baron Von Curt
Ray McAnally	...	Arcos
Norman Jones	...	Zerson
Bernard Horsfall	...	Captain Smythe
Patrick Newell	...	Mother
William Ellis	...	Bruno
Hal Galili	...	David Nadine
Nicole Shelby	...	Helga
Rosemary Donnelly	...	Miranda
Gloria Connell	...	Maid
Michael Corcoran	...	Perova
Ross Hutchinson	...	Chairman
Reg Whitehead	...	Etola

Storyline

Enemy agent Arcos has invented a form of instant plastic surgery and he uses it to imprison Steed and create a double, who is sent to throw a spanner in the works at an important peace conference at a country house. Although Steed overpowers his jailer and escapes, Miss King still has to deal with the matter of more than one doppelganger for her colleague though none seem to survive for very long. Until Steed arrives she is assisted by a dashing blond German count.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 1968 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Weekend Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Ian Ogilvy joins Tara King

"They Keep Killing Steed" is the last story involving a double of Steed, and by far the weakest, despite director Robert Fuest's constant attention to detail, which keeps things interesting no matter what transpires. Ray McAnally ("The Positive Negative Man") is the lead villain Arcos, who kidnaps the real Steed to hold hostage while an imposter replaces him at an important peace conference, created by a serum that changes molecular structure, dubbed "instant plastic surgery" (THE OUTER LIMITS used the same serum in 1963's "The Hundred Days of the Dragon"). Steed manages to foil the sabotage plot by instigating multiple duplicates (we actually see a total of 7!), which, amazingly, all get through security, one after the other! None of it makes for a great episode, but Ian Ogilvy proves why he would be a fine replacement for Roger Moore a decade later in RETURN OF THE SAINT. Bernard Horsfall ("The Cybernauts" and "The Fear Merchants") appears as Captain Smythe, who orders all Steeds to be shot on sight, but one sneeze and you might miss the microscopic cameo from delicately lovely redhead Angharad Rees, star of Hammer's 1971 "Hands of the Ripper."