The Avengers (TV Series) Mr. Teddy Bear (1962) User Reviews

Cathy hires a hit-man to kill Steed!

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 21 April 2017]

As this episode opens Colonel Wayne-Gilley is about to be interviewed on television then, just as he is about to start speaking, he drops dead. It turns out he had ingested a large dose of cyanide in a capsule that contained a tiny intricate timing device. Whoever orchestrated the killing must have been expensive as every capsule in the colonel's pill container had been replaced by such a device to ensure he swallowed the right one. The only suspect is an expensive hit-man known as 'Mr Teddy Bear'. With no idea who he actually is it is decided that Cathy will contact him to take out a contract on Steed! She makes her way to the contact point and is confronted by the sight of an actual teddy bear; the killer is watching via a television camera and talking to her via a speaker in the bear… if they are to catch the man behind the bear Cathy will have to go through with putting a contract on Steed; something that will be very dangerous as so far 'Mr Teddy Bear' has never failed and the only client to cross him ended up dead.

This, the first episode featuring Cathy Gale to be broadcast, is a good story although it doesn't really serve as an introduction to her character… not surprising given that it wasn't actually the first episode made to feature her.

In some ways this feels like a much later episode thanks to the 'talking teddy bear' that stands in for the real hit-man when Cathy meets him to take out the contract; it is still a bit grittier overall though… especially when at one time it looks as though Steed has been killed! This scene is pretty good even though I'm sure nobody will think he is really dead; there is still the question of how he survived for the viewer to contemplate. 'Mr Teddy Bear' is an interesting antagonist as we don't actually see him until near the end; he also seems genuinely dangerous; the way he hides himself makes him creepy rather than funny. This episode is also notable for the appearance of Steed's boss 'One Ten'; a character I don't recall seeing before this may of course just be because I've yet to see many episodes from this era. The cast do a fine job; Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman are on good form as Steed and Cathy and Bernard Goldman is suitably intimidating as Mr Teddy Bear without being obviously evil. Overall this is a good early instalment in this classic TV series.

Catherine Gale debuts for British audiences

[kevinolzak · 8/10 · 3 January 2011]

"Mr Teddy Bear" was actually the fourth episode shot with Honor Blackman, but the one chosen (out of ten completed) as the second season debut for British audiences in September 1962, beginning with a live television broadcast where the principal subject suddenly drops dead of an apparent heart attack. Douglas Muir enjoys his largest role as One Ten, Steed's superior, who informs Steed that the man was poisoned by a professional assassin known only as Mr. Teddy Bear (Bernard Goldman), an ingenious mastermind who works alone and charges high prices for his services. Catherine Gale engages him to kill a certain John Steed, their first meeting conducted in a dilapidated building where terms are discussed through a stuffed bear, with the actual assassination a simple phone call away. Certainly an eye opening change from preceding shows, the origins of the filmed series are all here, including the well conceived, larger-than-life villain, and a riveting climactic encounter which proved to be tough to follow. Cathy wears leather for the first time, ditching the garter gun from "Propellant 23," and in our first ever view of Steed's flat, he has a Dalmatian appropriately named Freckles (Cathy warns him to keep Freckles off her furniture). At one point, while practicing judo together, Steed makes a pass at Cathy, only to be silently shoved right back down to the floor! Michael Robbins also appeared in "Square Root of Evil," "Dragonsfield," and "Take Me to Your Leader," Michael Collins previously did "Brought to Book," Kenneth Keeling later did "The Grandeur That Was Rome," and John Horsley later did "Thingumajig." Honor Blackman was an instant sensation, with only nine episodes interrupting the flow of her two seasons doing the series, six with Julie Stevens, three with Jon Rollason.

Introducing the Fashionable Mrs. Gale

[create · 8/10 · 26 September 2015]

In a shocking development, British Col. Wayne-Gilley (Kenneth Keeling) dies during an interview on a national current affairs program broadcast out of London. John Steed (Patrick Macnee) corners the coroner to find out if the death was natural. The post-mortem proves that the death was a homicide. One-Ten (Douglas Muir), Steed's superior in a mysterious governmental (?) agency, believes that the killer is the international assassin, Mr. Teddy Bear.

One-Ten orders John to take this opportunity to out the menace. Steed plots to have a contract put out upon himself, and he convinces a friend/comrade (?) of his, Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman) to initiate the contact with the mastermind. Cathy is leery of this hair- brained plan, and points out that it could result in the agent being killed. This is a risk that Steed laughs off.

And thus began the Cathy Gale Era of the Avengers.

I first saw this episode back in 1992 on A&E. I would later discover the show was shown out of broadcast order. At the beginning of the year (2015), COZI, the NBC digital network began playing most of the entire run of The Avengers; and – again – played the Cathy Gale episodes out of order. But this time, I had technology on my side. I DVR'ed the episodes, and watched them in chronological order to their broadcast. I was able to do this thanks to IMDb – a website that hadn't existed back in 1992. (This website listed the shows in order of the broadcast.) Although I had seen some of the programs at the beginning of the year, I specifically saved Mr. Teddy Bear for when I would do the binge watching. (Thus my second viewing was twenty-three years later.) I thought it would show a lot as to what went into their thinking of bringing in the character of Cathy Gale.

Honor Blackman was a starlet who had a breakthrough as Liz Lucas, a supporting character role in A Night To Remember, an award-winning film about the fateful voyage of the Titanic. Unfortunately, it didn't get a big audience in America, but Blackman's film was a hit in Europe. After that she did a lot of supporting roles in British industry films mostly playing athletic young woman. As age caught up with Ms. Blackman (like age 30), those roles began disappearing.

Cathy Gale was a whole different look. The role was older...say 35...but no less athletic – as scenes of her practicing judo with Steed show. But what is more revealing is the style of the character, and many of the shots that the producers choose to highlight. She has a Grace Kelly haircut complete with molded bangs, Kim Novak cat-suits, and Eve Maria Saint- type business dresses – as well as a penchant for pulling out the cigarettes. In a car chase scene, they silhouette her in dark, in a striking similarity to a scene from North by Northwest. In another scene, where she has to view a grisly photo, it looked pretty close to Dial M for Murder. Needless to say, Ms. Blackmon is blond, and would fit the icy-cold blonds favored by a certain director - especially with that crystal clear voice she has. Also, Ms. Gale is a sometimes glasses wearing professional – an anthropologist – and like Hitchcock would often do in his films, her profession was something to talk about, not to show. That's could not last in TV, however. The lives of main characters have to be explored if dramas are to last.

Did the Producers have an idea to copy from Alfred Hitchcock? I think so. (Hitchcock's spy agencies were always un-named. And his supervisor spies were always rotating. Just something to remember.) But they also have some style of their own. When Cathy goes to her first meeting with Mr. Teddy Bear, she instead gets introduced to a talking teddy bear – a scene Hitchcock would have avoided as too camp (but it works here). And the scene where John finds a dead body amongst death masks would never have made it into a star release of the fifties or early sixties. These were definitely horror, b-film elements. (ABC, the studio that released the series also did some horror films.) The filmmakers were also a lot more interested in sexuality. In that judo scene, they switch a lot from fighting to embracing to fighting off. And that leather-suit was…definitely not a Hollywood A-lister wardrobe. (It's pretty obvious that fashion is going to be a theme of this show.)

Yes, they were trying to copy Hitchcock – who was getting great receipts with his spy films. While working at Gaumat back in the twenties and thirties, the director did several spy dramas (probably the first); so, why not follow his formula into more success? It wasn't stealing. This was the beginning of The Avengers, and it was obvious that they were going to go into their own direction.

Highly stylized British spy TV

[oscar-35 · 9 January 2012]

*Spoiler/plot- 1962, "Mr. Teddy Bear"- An assassin with a humorous name kills a famous world traveler on a TV show and The Avengers prove they aren't to be toyed with in these matters. A chimp's fingerprints and a dead informant make for a predicament for John Steed and Cathy Gale.

*Special Stars- Honor Blackman, Patrick MacNee

*Theme- Unique creative characters in the security service are not always on the side of good.

*Trivia/location/goofs- An early popular and classic Mrs. Cathy Gale episode. Look for the first appearance of leather clothing worn by Mrs. Gale.

*Emotion- An enjoyable and rather highly stylized British spy TV show that shows us the era of the 60's very well.

Hitchcock?!

[terrycowan-45764 · 10/10 · 19 March 2019]

The lead of The Avengers was Ian Hendry, who left the series during a production strike. Producers replaced him by bumping John Steed into the lead with rotating partners, by the time leather-clad, gun-wielding, motorcycle riding anthropologist widow Mrs. Cathy Gale arrived (in scripts written for Hendry), it was clear who Steed's new partner was. Don't recall any Hitchcock blonde knowing judo, nor being as tough as Mrs. Gale - she had to be, to fend off both Steed & villains!

"But perhaps you've noticed, I'm not a gentleman."

[armansyal · 9/10 · 24 September 2022]

'Mr. Teddy Bear' is the first episode of the second season of The Avengers and is the episode debut of Cathy Gale played by Honor Blackman. Interestingly this episode, despite being the first broadcasted, happens to be the fourth episode Honor Blackman shot- which was typical as many tv shows broadcasted their episodes out of production order at the time.

The episode starts off with a camera crew getting ready and setting up for an interview in a studio with an author advertising his latest book, played by Tim Brinton- who was the genuine ITV newsreader of the day. As they start recording, the interview begins- however, just before the author can answer a question, he falls to the floor and dies immediately. It turns out the author had been poisoned. One Ten, played by Douglas Muir believes this man was yet another victim of the infamous assassin 'Mr. Teddy Bear'. Gale investigates about this hitman by disguising herself and organising a meeting with this assassin; ordering him to assassinate Steed.

I really enjoyed this episode, many great moments. Bernard Goldman was excellent as the mysterious and eerie-looking Mr. Teddy Bear. Honor Blackman is absolutely FANTASTIC as Cathy Gale;

"You have a surprising faith in gentlemen's agreements, Mr. Teddy Bear. But perhaps you've noticed, I'm not a gentleman."

Bad-Ass! Also, the "Why aren't you dead" quote was hilarious. Looking forward to seeing more of her throughout the series. Pat and Honor have amazing chemistry between them!

The Gadget Man

[profh-1 · 7/10 · 29 June 2022]

Steed's ordered to "get" a professional hit man who uses clever gadgets to murder his unsuspecting victims. The plan involves his new friend Cathy Gale putting out a contract to have Steed killed, which comes very close to actually happening!

Between seasons, Ian Hendry left for a film career. Following 3 episodes with Jon Rollason as Dr. Martin King (to use up 3 leftover Dr. David Keel scripts, I guess they didn't want that money going to waste), it was decided Steed would have 2 women as his partners in season 2, with all 3 characters being spaced out in rotation.

Honor Blackman as widowed anthropologist Catherine Gale, was unlike any leading lady ever seen on TV before her. She was tough, independant, capable, and intensely-intelligent! When the writers had trouble figuring out how to handle her, she took her husband's advice: "Why not play it like a MAN-- they'll get the idea." They did!

"Mr. Teddy Bear" was actually the 7th episode filmed that season, and Cathy's 4th, but was chosen to open the season, and I can really see WHY. Patrick Macnee once said "There never was any really good writing", referring to the show as "dull crime plots", but thanks to Ian Hendry deciding to re-write the dialogue at the rehearsal stage, a tradition carried on by Macnee and his later co-stars, they really amped the stories up and turned them into something special. This particular episode, I feel, already started with a more-clever-than-usual premise, and when combined with the on-screen personalities of Steed & Gale, was a MESMERIZING experience to sit through!

Somehow, in the 90s, I missed this one on A&E, and seeing it today for the first time, I was absolutely FLOORED that a show with such a low budget, studio-bound, shot on video, looking like a stage play, should be so completely RIVETTING. Especially the final act, when we finally get to meet the villain, and are on the edge of our seat wondering, HOW is Cathy going to get out of this alive?

Apparently this was the first time we ever saw Steed's flat, or his Dalmation dog "Freckles". We also see Steed & Cathy practicing judo, an idea they came up with because it was too awkward to have her carrying a gun (which she still had at the end of this story).

Among the supporting cast is Douglas Muir as Steed's boss "One-Ten", a very serious-minded government type who feels Steed's too cavalier about putting himself in danger. He appeared in 6 episodes of season 1 (all sadly lost) and 5 episodes of season 5 (a total off 11), but disappeared after. Also seen this season were One-Twelve, One-Seven and One-Six (they seemed to be counting down to zero... heh).

Michael Robbins also turns up as a biker hired to spy on Cathy, who Steed interrogates cold-bloodedly, before later finding him DEAD. I'll probably always remember him as the highwayman "Richard Mace" in the Peter Davison DOCTOR WHO story "The Visitation".

When A&E ran seasons 2 & 3 in the 90s, they CUT 8 minutes from every episode. It's amazing they made sense at all, and actually managed to grow on me with each viewing. I'm sure it's going to be a massive pleasure FINALLY being able to see these UNCUT as intended. I've been watching a lot of 60s spy shows on DVD lately, including "VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA", "THE MAN FROM UNCLE" and "THE GIRL FROM UNCLE", but apart from "UNCLE" season 1, nothing has been as good or as entertaining as "THE AVENGERS"... and I'm only on the "cheap" season so far!

Hitchcock?! II

[terrycowan-45764 · 10/10 · 19 March 2019]

And spy movies existed long before Hitch used them, check out Leslie Howard's 1934 British Agent, Garbo & Myrna Loy both played spies based on real-life WWI characters.

The new era starts well.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 4 September 2023]

John Steed teams up with Cathy Gale, to hunt down Mr Teddy Bear, an assassin, who is believed to have killed a man who died live on a television show.

I've watched this show in totally the wrong order, I began with Mrs Peel, then Tara, then watched the early years. What's definitely clear, was the progression from series one, pretty much straight up crime mysteries, to this style, very much more fantasy crime drama.

It's a fine start to the Cathy Gale years, Blackman is wonderful as Cathy, I really did enjoy the dynamic between her and Steed. It's a quirky case, with a very quirky villain, well paced, it definitely held my interest.

A few well known faces to spot here, Michael Robbins and John Horsley to name just two.

7/10.

Mr. Teddy Bear

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 24 March 2019]

Elements of this episode signpost the future direction of this series. Moving from action adventure to fantasy adventure.

Colonel Wayne-Gilley dies during a live television broadcast. He swallowed a cyanide capsule that was precisely timed to go off.

Steed is asked to investigate. Suspicion falls on a hit man for hire. Cathy Gale contacts him to take out a hit on Steed.

She finds herself talking to a Teddy Bear rigged up with CCTV and a microphone.

Mr Teddy Bear has never failed on a hit and Steed finds himself in danger.

A slightly off beat adventure, we see Cathy practising judo on Steed.

Steed is used as bait to trap an assassin.

[tandlich1 · 7/10 · 7 January 2019]

A plan to trap an international assassin by having Cathy Gale putting a contract on Steed's life. The first appearance by Cathy Gale as Steed's permanent partner. Amusing device of using a talking bear to communucate with Mr. Teddy Bear's clients. His method of execution - gadgets in close proximity to the victim that induce instant death - was very Bond like. Bernard Goldman was effective as Mr. Teddy Bear, although he only appeared in two scenes. The act of capturing him required a leap of faith.