The Avengers 

A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominately female partners.

Creator:

Sydney Newman

Stars:

Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Patrick Macnee	...	John Steed / ... 161 episodes, 1961-1969

Storyline

John Steed (Patrick Macnee) works for British Intelligence and works with various partners, notably: Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry) (season one), Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman) (seasons two and three), Emma Peel (Dame Diana Rigg) (seasons four, five, and six), and Tara King (Linda Thorson) (season seven). The problems he finds are always a bit odd, just on the edge of science fiction (cyborg killers, a city built under a disused coal mine, a gang put together for adrenaline junkies, and a killer who used a concentrated cold virus to kill his victims by having them sneeze to death). Steed is always the ultimate in culture and grace as he saves the world each week.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | avenger | avengers | sexy female spy | evil | 

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Genres:

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

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

Honor Blackman left the series to appear in Goldfinger (1964).

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Goofs

Steed was an officer during World War Two, but episodes involving his past disagree as to whether he served in the Army or the Royal Air Force.

In The Avengers: Game Bristow had a list of Army officers he was targeting, including Major John Steed.

In The Avengers: The Hour That Never Was Steed reminisces about life at RAF Hamelin.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
John Steed: Mrs. Peel, we're needed.

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Crazy Credits

In some parts of the world, the opening credits for the first color season begin with a brief sequence showing Steed preparing to open a bottle of champagne. Mrs. Peel shoots the cap off the bottle, and they pour a toast to each other. Only then do the opening credits actually begin.

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Alternate Versions

Starting in the summer of 2004, the BBC America Channel aired prints of fifth and sixth season episodes with the humorous tag sequences at the end of episodes deleted. During the autumn of 2004, the prints were further altered, with the original closing credits sequence with shadowy images of Steed and Mrs. Peel against a blue background replaced by credits rapidly rolled past a plain black background. In early 2005, the same channel aired seventh season prints with the same changes.

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Connections

Referenced in American Dreams: High Hopes (2003)

User Reviews

The Avengers set the standard for TV espionage

One of my all-time favourite series, which hits its peak with the colour Emma Peel episodes. Style, humour, character and a wonderful hitchcockian macabre atmosphere.

Macnee is one of the greatest, most charismatic, leading men to ever grace Television. Rigg has become iconic in TV history, also appreciated was the groundwork set by Honor Blackman for strong females roles.

Great show. Great music. Great production values once it hit it's fifth series. Great atmosphere all round.

Details

Release Date:

28 March 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Avengers

Filming Locations:

31 Ennismore Gardens Mews, Knightsbridge, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Weekend Television, Associated British Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (161 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (3.1 Surround DVD release)

Color:

Black and White Color