Reviews (1)

Morse in God's Own Country?
Promised land begins, rather unpromisingly, with Morse and Strange observing a funeral and identifying in the grand tradition of detective movies the villains. A nod to the old Thaw series, the Sweeney, the show continues in this vein for a while as the boundaries are established, of getting the final villains, the possibility of a gang's release.

Morse is ordered to revisit a supergrass to try to uncover evidence which would resolve both the issues. The snitch has begun a new life in the equivalent of the witness protection scheme so everything appears to be straightforward.

On the eve of their departure, Lewis is more than a little miffed at having to forego his vacation, a burglary occurs at the local freesheet newspaper and in the grand Holmesian tradition, nothing is stolen.

Off our intrepid heroes set for Lewis to discover that the person they are visiting was transplanted to Australia.

There are some spectacular shots of the countryside which dwarf the car that they are driving and which serves to give a sense of perspective on the vastness of the country. In a vignette Morse discovers that he has not brought his beloved opera tape with him to play on the long drive. Lewis, searching for an alternative discovers country music, Australian style, on the radio. This again underscores the notion of Australia as a new country shaking off her connections to Britain.

On arriving at their destination the sterotypical portrayal of Australian men as boorish, gambling, womenisers is presented in a scene where Morse and Lewis venture into the local bar. In a very funny moment, Lewis orders a beer while Morse contents himself with an orange juice - a reversal of the usual position - which moves on to a condemnation by Morse of non-real ale and a perception by the locals that Morse is possibly homosexual.

The plot develops with a mysterious stranger driving a camper, the stoolie's wife is both hostile and yet welcoming. Her husband has disappeared, nothing new in that, and Morse and Lewis expend considerable energies in the search.

As the programme develops the stereotypical views of the country and it's people are challenged and they are shown to be warm, sociable, and open minded.

In the conclusion, in front of the Sydney Opera House, Lewis has resolved his issues by remaining in Australia to be joined by his wife. Morse is left in solitude with his ticket to the opera, a tragic figure who is unable to articulate his feelings.

This Morse does not have the usual twists and turns and in many ways is one of the most approachable of the shows. Regardless it is still terrific entertainment and well worth the five stars. ... Read more

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Arguably the most entertaining and satisfying episode from the entire Granada Television series about Sherlock Holmes, The Second Stain finds Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuth facing intertwining problems, each with very different consequences. On the one hand, a saber-rattling letter to the British government from a "foreign potentate" has disappeared from the hands of the Rt. Honorable Trelawney Hope (Stuart Wilson), which could incite a major war if it turns up in some visible way. On the other hand, Hope's wife, Lady Hilda (Patricia Hodge), appears to know something about the letter's disposition, but she won't say on pain of some undefined disaster to her marriage. Holmes (Jeremy Brett in his finest hour) and Dr. Watson (a wonderful performance by Edward Hardwicke) can't unravel one mystery without tackling the other, and then there is a murder to boot. The results are well worth the story complications that ensue. The look of epiphany on Brett's face when the ever-clueless Inspector Lestrade (Colin Jeavons) tells Holmes about an odd detail in the murder victim's home--the placement of a certain bloodstained rug doesn't correspond to the location of the soaked-through stain on the floor below--is enormous fun. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

We love it
When Sherlock Holmes is approached by the Prime Minister himself, it looks to be the start of the greatest case of his life. A very important letter is missing from the Secretary for European Affair's dispatch box, and it is not too much to say that its publication would propel Britain into a major war. Only three men in England would handle such a document, and when one of them suddenly turns up dead, Holmes casts his eyes in that direction. And though the dead man does not have the letter, there is a mystery connected with his death - where he died there was blood on the carpet but not on the floor beneath, but looking elsewhere there is a second stain. There are mysteries within mysteries here, mysteries that only Sherlock Holmes can solve!

Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! This fifty-minute episode, the Second Stain, was episode four of the third season, and originally aired on July 30, 1986. As an added bonus, a main character is played by Patricia Hodge, who also played Phyllida "Portia" Erskine-Brown in the Rumpole series. (By the way, if you like Jeremy Brett, you can see him in an entirely different role in My Fair Lady (1964) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill!)

I loved this tape and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too. My family and I highly recommend it to you!

A mixed bag
I would have a hard time saying that this is one of the best in the series. There is very little suspense, Watson's role is smaller than usual, and I'm not sure the story holds up.

Still, this episode does have several features to recommend it. First, the comical Inspector Lestrade is at his best. Second, Brett's facial expressions are masterful. In fact, this may be his best performance. Third, the story is both deadly serious (consider that Conan Doyle wrote this 15 years before WWI) and hilarious, with Holmes' sexism and carelessness with matches providing good laughs.

In my opinion, The Hound is still the best in the series, but you really can't go wrong with any of them.

Pen Ultimate Holmes
One of the top entries in this series, and Brett continues to imbue his already flawless Holmes with still more interesting facets. A stolen letter, from a foreign hot-head, disappears from a government officials's dispatch box. Both the hapless official AND the Prime Minister (Harry Andrews in an impeccable performance) are terrified: it means war should the contents become public. Holmes realizes that too much time has elapsed for the letter to remain secret, so "prepare for war," he advises. A following visit from the official's furtive wife intrigues Holmes and Watson further, but they will not compromise the British government for the sake of a woman's wiles -- and still the contents don't surface and so there just might be a chance. A well timed murder becomes the catalyst, and so -- the adventure begins. Grenada has never been in finer form than with this terrific Victorian mystery. The cast plays with seasoned perfection (Colin Jeavons joins in again expertly as the waste-of-time Inspector Lestrade) and the results are wonderful! Edward Hardwicke remains as comfortable as a favorite slipper in playing Watson, and Brett's iconoclastic detective is just a joy to watch (his dismissive -- and dangerous -- match-tossing, scrambling and snorting on the Lucas parlor floor, etc.)! Listen to Patrick Gowers beautiful musical motif for Lord Bellinger and just enjoy this excellent and all too brief visit back in time to the Victorian wonderland of Sherlock Holmes.

One of the best episodes of entire run.
Perhaps the strongest cast assembled for a single episode. An enthralling story with particular cogent performances delivered by Jeremy Brett,Colin Jeavons,Sean Scanlan and Patricia Hodge. ... Read more

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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle caught a fair amount of flak for getting a lot of details wrong in this story about the training and racing of horses.Nevertheless, it is one of his most popular yarns and makes a fine basis for this vigorous 1988 episode from the Granada Television series about Sherlock Holmes. The Great Detective (Jeremy Brett) and his chronicler and ally Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) hurry to Devonshire, following the murder of a trainer and the disappearance of Silver Blaze, a swift horse heavily favored to win the big-money Wessex Cup. Holmes takes some snarly barbs from Blaze's rich owner in stride--though he has his revenge on the arrogant fellow later. The mystery is a keen one and the solution is among Doyle's most inventive. Brett and Hardwicke are at their best as the dynamic duo. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Nice Friendship/Partnership Story
I would give this story 4 1/2 stars if I could because while this is not the best of the Granada series, it certainly isn't the worst. I like "Silver Blaze" because it is a good story (even if Doyle got some of the horse racing details wrong), and it is nice to see Holmes and Watson working together. Watson (played by the supurb Edward Hardwicke) is not the useless cardboard cutout which is only there to fill space, he assists Holmes with studying the evidence, and later hunting for the horse upon the moor. The scene where they are cheering on Silver Blaze in the race is grand, and the expression on Holmes' face is priceless. He wants to cheer for Silver Blaze but can't quite break that reserved barrier. Jeremy Brett plays the eccentric detective beautifully although he does look tired in this story.

The beginning of the end
I am sorry to say that I cannot really recommend this video, and I wish they had filmed it before Jeremy Brett's illness started to affect his performance. For affect it it certainly does.

Still, there is the marvellous line about the dog in the night-time... ... Read more

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"Escape in Time" finds the intrepid John Steed and Emma Peel hot on the trail of villains who are offering criminals the perfect escape from modern law: a one-way trip to the past, where they can lose themselves in history. Philip Levene's smart script and Avengers designer Wilfred Shingleton make the time-transport scenes convincing in a very economical way--travelers go to sleep in a room at an opulent, old country house and awaken in that same room furnished in the style of the Georgian or Elizabethan ages, etc. When Mrs. Peel takes a trip back to what she believes is going to be 1790, and is confronted by a masked executioner from an older era, it's yikes time. Levene also wrote the second episode on this tape, "The See-Through Man," in which a discredited inventor (the delightful Roy Kinnear) sells his formula for invisibility and Steed and Emma believe enemy agents may be using it. Not one of the pantheon episodes, "The See-Through Man" is still quite enjoyable, particularly in its tag scene, which finds our hero and heroine pushing Steed's old Rolls after it fails to start. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Emma Carries A Plush Toy - Steed Carries the Day
Unfortunately, the wonderful episode "Escape Through Time" is paired with the clunker "The See-Through Man," but, well, you can't have everything. They're nicely paired in one regard, which is that they're both faux sci-fi pieces about bad guys playing on the credibility of others with elaborate frauds. "See-Through Man" is too see-through plot to maintain the suspension of disbelief, where "Escape Through Time" is far more cleverly done. "See-Through" is largely an intentional comedy, which makes matters worse, since it's painfully unfunny - it's idea of humor is a comic-opera Russian idiot, who, ironically enough, is the same Russian idiot used in one of the previous season's equally spectacularly unfunny scripts. What it does have is Diana Rigg charming her way nicely through the mess that is "See-Through Man's" script.

"Escape Through Time" is by far the better piece, with Steed and Mrs. Peel trying to find out why several of England's most notorious criminals are being found dead of wounds inflicted by archaic weapons. Seems someone is selling them the perfect escape - an escape into the past. True time travel? Or an elaborate get-rich-quick scam? Emma goes through the elaborate plush-toy entry ritual, to find out.

Delightful escape for fans of the Avengers
This episode has one of the few scenes of Mrs. Peel and Steed embracing- to foil the villains of course. Criminals are absconding with millions to England! Emma and Steed begin tracing a route that involves carrying a stuffed animal. Emma repairs one for him and Steed says admiringly I didn't know you could sew. After all, she says crisply, our relationship hasn't been exactly...domestic, has it The viewer can ponder that remark! One of the villains that raves Emma deserves appre-ciation. I appreciate your- appreciation, she says dryly. Steed's attempted rescue. Can't you give me any more than that, asks a harassed colleagaue. I was blindfolded, he says defensively. One of the clues to the villains hideaway is a turkey farm. Witty, satirical and clever. One of the best of the color episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Sleuthing out something I saw in this Video
In the scene where the blonde lady whose husband is up for the job and he tells her how VERY important it is to him, as a result of which she consents to the rather distasteful proposal of the horrid little man who apparently has the power to see that her husband gets it, she is wearing a blue sweater of intricate cable design. I want to get a picture of it. this is not my first endeavour (is that really Morse's first name?) but I have had no luck, so while this is perhaps the wrong forum, I am posting it in the hope that someone out there shares my fascination with this pattern and will contact me.

Eaton is now his producer
The worst thing to happen to the Inspector Morse series was to have Rebecca Eaton of WGBH in Boston come on board to meddle with the production of these superlative series. She has a singularly unique grasp of the superficial that defies any but the best to add depth and subtlety to storytelling. Nearly alone, she justifies cutting the funding for Public Broadcasting.
In nay case, the main crime she perpetrates here is to excise the detail that Morse, in the course of the book, learns that he has diabetes, and in Colin Dexter's hands, the great detective manages to turn sombre news about himself into a key way to solve the mystery of the murders herein, much as he attacks the crosswords or leaves a brilliant clue as to his Christian name. eaton will have none of that subtlety and plays it straight like Angela Lansbury's "Murder, She Wrote."
More's the pity for the cast assembled here deliver an acting performance of consummate skill and finesse. The character, Clixby Beam, is as evil a character as ever encountered in Morse, and he is not the murderer! Whately and Thaw are positively brilliant all the way through. Morse finally manages a successful love affair with Adele Cecil, who will inspire him through these epochal episodes of his career.
There is less of a reference to classical music in this story, except for Adele's tacit preference for Wagner, which pleases Morse terrifically. This was in fact the episode woven with the fabric of Wagner's TRISTAN AND ISOLDE, but to expect Eaton to have picked that up would have been thoroughly unrealistic. She got the point of the importance of PARSIFAL to THE REMORSEFUL DAY, but how could you miss with Dexter's direct references to Hans Knappertsbusch.
Anyway, this is a great story that rises above the interference by an American producer. It is always interesting to observe how the Morse series portrayed the Americans. The shoe fits so compellingly. Adds a bit of irony to how wrong Eaton and her lot missed the subtle details in Dexter's stories and thereby in Morse's thinking.
I'd highly recommend this DVD, as I would all in the series. Certainly television has rarely risen to this standard, and when you consider how empty the bloated calories of current public and commercial TV are these days, this is a drama to be savoured and mulled over for ages.

Mystery and Love
Inspector Morse shines in this film, as always. There is a slight twist at the end, and we have a rare glimpse of romance for Morse. The main characters have complicated love lives which all seem to intertwine and make the story very interesting. Morse is his staight-forward self, staying focused and solving the mystery at the end. very good viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

No the wonder church attendences are falling!
Morse travels out of the city of Oxford into it's suburbs to try to track down the murderer of a church warden inside the church. During the course of his enquiries he becomes attached to the part-time cleaner, Ruth Rawlinson, not realising at the time of her key role in the mystery.

This is a curious perspective on Morse. At the church he seems smitten by Ruth at first glance and in a way the episode is about Morse persuing Ruth until he apparently succeeds only to be thwarted.

Service of all the Dead has all of the trappings of Colin Dexter's Oxford - the central role of ritual, social class, and the little details which make these shows so good - in this case the idea that there could be tramps in Oxford ( a recurring theme), the cycle riding middle classes, volunteerrism and carers. All good ingredients.

This particular drama is one of the most gruesome with six deaths all together. Also novel is the fact that the opening scene is found to be a set up. A lot of the death's seem to be red herrings too, to throw us off the scent.

There is a particulary sensitive scene which has some relevance to contemporary events in a different church where Morse perceives the vicar as a paedophile. Later on the child in question is found murdered although the exhumation of the body is not filmed.

Service of all the Dead is a gripping thriller replete with issues of blackmail, infidelity, revenge etc. Throughout it all Morse holds true to his feelings for Ruth and, despite the revelation that she loved someone else, he offers her a helping hand which, if discovered, could cost him his livelihood and his liberty.

As one of the characters puts it, an alpha. ... Read more

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Is Venus about to attack Earth? Several members of the British Venusian Society think so, while other BVS devotees are being killed in a rather unearthly manner: hit by some kind of bright light that leaves them shock-white from head to toe. Steed and Mrs. Peel investigate and find, naturally, a larger conspiracy than meets the eye. The enticing mystery (written by Philip Levene) is aided by a nifty sound effect (a high-pitched whine that grows stronger just before the burst of light), and Steed's infiltration of the eccentric BVS group is highly entertaining. The second episode on the tape is another Levene script, "The Fear Merchants," in which businessmen are being reduced to babbling psychiatric patients after being subjected to their worst fears: spiders, birds, fast cars, etc. Steed has to do some fancy footwork to avoid being buried by a bulldozer, and Mrs. Peel--who apparently has no phobias--is nearly subjected to nasty surgical tortures. The satirical element, in which captains of industry are made demented by anxieties, is great fun. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Steed and Mrs. Peel deal with Venusians and Fear Merchants
It took five years for "The Avengers" to make it from British television to the United States, but once it arrived the spy "drama" became one of the first British television cult hits. With Patrick Macnee as the dapper John Steed and Diana Rigg as the implacable Emma Peel, this was a James Bond clone that provided its own eccentric collection of diabolical geniuses, improbable gadgets, and absurd villains. The only thing we took seriously were the two main characters and each week we eagerly awaited for Steed to find a way of telling Emma, "Mrs. Peel, we're needed." This videotape offers up two adventures from 1967:

"From Venus With Love" (First aired January 14, 1967; Directed by Roy Baker and Written by Philip Levene) finds Steed and Emma trying to solve the mystery of bizarre deaths: several men, while taking photographs of Venus in the night sky, suddenly drop dead with their hair turned white. The common denominator are the bizarre characters who belong to the British Venusian Society, who plan to send a spaceship to the planet. Either the Venusians are doing a pre-emptive invasion and targeting the BVS's membership, or somebody has a more earthly reason for wanting the group dead. To solve the matter Emma is racing around the British countryside trying to track down a fleeing bright light. "From Venus With Love" is one of those episodes where eccentric characters abound: my favorite is the retired brigadier who is dictating his memoirs on the war using a series of victrolas to produce the requisite sound effects.

"The Fear Merchants" (First aired January 21, 1967; Directed by Gordon Flemying and Written by Philip Levene) offers another connect the dot mystery as our heroes are confronted with a strange series of businessmen who have suddenly gone insane. This time the common denominator is the wonderfully competitive world of ceramics. But what makes this one interesting are the titular characters, a trio of researchers who find a person's worst fear and use it against them, and then want to prove their theory of Mrs. Peel. I was happy to see "The Fear Merchants" again (it was the second episode of "The Avenger" (in color) broadcast in the U.S.) because a photograph from it was my favorite cover shot on one of paperback novels featuring "The Avengers." The attraction was not just Diana Rigg as Emma Peel, but also the costumes designed by Alun Hughes, which took every opportunity to reveal large expanses of flesh (not to be confused with the famous "Emmapeeler" in the previous episode). This was the episode that hooked me on the series.

However, Emma Peel was more than just good looks. She was smart, had a dry sense of humor, and could kung-fu anybody stupid enough to cross her. But even more fun that watching her take out the baddies was the wry expressions that flittered over Diana Rigg's face as she bantered with John Steed. Before Muldar and Scully, there was Steed and Mrs. Peel.

Venus with Love definitely goes into orbit
From Venus with Love includes several delightful eccentrics. Steed and Emma are puzzled.What is killing young men and turning their hair white? Emma meets a charming, self-deprecating, elegant chimney sweep. "My name is Betram Fortescue Smythe,"he introduces himself to Emma. "Bert Smith," He can't use his aristocratic name because no one would hire him to sweep chimneys if he did. Unfortunately, the charming sweep, smitten with Emma, is zapped a few moments after they meet. Steed is given the most delightful eye examination ever. "Identify them!" orders his eye doctor. "Bowler, top hat..." In addition, a retired army general, a mock up of MOntgomery, is dictating his memoirs, using battle sounds, camouflage etc. until someone camouflages him! Fear Merchants uses irony to make amusing points about human fears. "The pound is sick so we're visiting the hospital," Diana Rigg's dry wit always delivers. A superhuman strong man smashes boards during his workout while a meek looking man struggles hopelessly to lift a barbell. Naturally "superman" is the one traumatized- by a mouse! The usual wit distinguishes this one. Emma and Steed are menaced by psychiatrists' henchmen who practice "deadly medicine." "Notice how fear makes him obey," says the villain coolly to Emma, pointing a gun at Steed, "his fear for you." Neat plot twists as Steed detects the cold blooded doctor's neurosis, and

Emma discovers Steed's secret fear in the tag scene. The first seven color episodes, with the exception of The See Through Man were a much stronger set of scripts than the final 7 of 1967. Viewing the weaknesses of such scripts as: 50,000 Breakfast, See Through Man one can understand why Diana Rigg left.

Avengers-Campy Sixties Laughable Fun, Don't miss out
I am a twenty-something who saw the Avengers only in sindication, (I was born in the early seventies) and I have loved it ever since. Only then could you get away with the zaniness and sexiness that Steed(MacNee) and Mrs. Peel(Rigg) so masterfully displayed. I just bought these new sets they've put out through A&E and all I have to say is BRAVO! Now others can experience all of the fun those of us who've already seen it have everytime we watch Steed and Mrs. Peel.

One of the greatest of the series
The new movie version doesn't come close to the original.I watched this show every week from the first episode to the last,without fail, And of all of them the "Fear Merchants" is the one that I remembered most. Diana Rigg is, without a doubt, The only Mrs. Peel. And Patrick MacNee will always be Steed.

"Mrs. Peel... We're needed..."
Amongst those who have seen last summer's motion picture "The Avengers", and had no idea what it was about (I never saw the show beforehand, but had a lot of background info to start with) now's your chance. It's also the chance for many fans of the original "Avengers" to cash in on the suspense series' first run on the video market. But this is just Volume 1, Trilogy 1. So far eight other volumes have been released from 1967, and inevitably other seasons will come. For now though, this is the place to start! ... Read more

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Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and Dr. John Watson (Edward Hardwicke) are brought to Hurlstone Manor by Reginald Musgrave (Michael Culver) to look into the disappearance of his butler, Brunton (James Hazeldine).Various clues (a crumpled piece of paper, a brass key, a peg of wood with string attached) suggest that Brunton's disappearance is somehow related to the "Musgrave ritual," an arcane practice compelling young Musgrave family members to recite an odd riddle that might have to do with buried treasure. Holmes's methodical approach to the problem is a lot of fun, and Brett and Hardwicke seem to be having a particularly good time outdoors, pursuing the solution under a bit of sunshine. Jeremy Paul, who adapted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story for this teledrama, won an Edgar Award for his script. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

We love it
When Sherlock Holmes drops in on an old school chum, Reginald Musgrave, he finds his visit anything but boring. When the butler disappears and the maid has an unexplained nervous breakdown, Holmes begins to investigate. The Musgrave family has been unwittingly keeping a secret for hundreds of years, and it lies at the very heart of this mystery!

Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! This fifty-minute episode, the Musgrave Ritual, was episode three of the third season, and originally aired on July 23, 1986. (By the way, if you like Jeremy Brett, you can see him in an entirely different role in My Fair Lady (1964) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill!)

I loved this tape and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too. My family and I highly recommend it to you!

A Keeper
I rate on several levels, and this episode rates excellent on 1)plot 2)acting 3)location and photography. The setting of the mystery is beautiful; the "new" side of Holmes' character is amusing (I had to laugh at his behaviour) and the Musgrave Ritual's reward after the wonderful suspense of the hunt was truly a unique treasure. I enjoyed Holmes' human side - Jeremy Brett's portrayal of him as almost embarassing Dr. Watson, and Edward Hardwicke's facial expressions - tolerant, weary, amused, forgiving - truly a "brick" and a friend to Holmes. I find his portrayal of Dr. Watson is convincing as a medical man, intelligent in his own right without any inferiority.

A Great Episode
This is a great episode. One of the best in the series. I definitely recommend it.

Glad it's here and we can watch it
This is one of my favorites! It is just like the conan Doyle book with the mysterious ritual. Brett's acting is perfect for the role! Edward Hardwicke is perfect for Dr. Watson. This is a treasure as it is imitated perfectly from the book. A great film!

Not Faithful But Fun
Poised between the early years of this series, which featured faithful and respectful adaptations of Conan Doyle, and the later years in which the stories were sometimes painfully altered (often to pad them out or to work around Brett's declining physical condition). The original story is a reminiscence of Holmes' early days as recounted to Watson afterwards; the adaptation puts Watson into the story and takes the further liberty of showing us Holmes high on cocaine. It's fun but not in the same class as the earlier episodes. ("The Musgrave Ritual" was adapted to rather better effect by Bertram Millhauser some 40 years earlier in Basil Rathbone's great "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death," which is unfortunately no longer available.) ... Read more

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"The Bird Who Knew Too Much" is a Brian Clemens story in which John Steed and Emma Peel find carrier pigeons equipped with tiny cameras used to photograph top-secret missile bases. The photography theme extends to some comic moments in which Steed and Emma both do a little posing for a fashion cameraman, but there is also some fun with a parrot named Captain Crusoe, who requests political asylum at one point. Also on this tape is "The Winged Avenger," a truly crafty piece of work by writer Richard Harris, with good tongue-in-cheek references to the influence of comic-book culture on '60s television. A number of ruthless men are being ripped apart and killed by an unknown assailant, the only clue being that their murders seem to have been predicted in recent comic strips featuring a Batman-like superhero named the Winged Avenger. The zippy climax finds Mrs. Peel and a killer each wearing magnetic boots that allows them to fight on a ceiling. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Steed Reads the Comics - Emma Gets the Bird
Of the episodes on this tape, "The Winged Avenger" is more famous and fun, though "The Bird Who Knew Too Much" is actually the better-made.

"Avenger" is flawed by the too-quick revelation that a bizarre series of high-rise locked room murders are being committed by a freaky man in a razor-taloned bird costume, which spoils the suspense (a mistake not repeated in the very similar later episode, "The Hidden Tiger"). But this one is still too much fun for words, featuring some of the more memorable English eccentrics the series was so famous for, and some of its best high camp. It's not spoiling anything to reveal that Steed discovers his quarry is in the comic book industry by finding recent murders perfectly depicted in a superhero monthly's pages, creating a fabulous sequence in the story where he races to Mrs. Peel's rescue because he sees her there about to be killed. The concluding scene pays homage to the then-current original Batman T.V. series, in humorous fashion.

Sticking with the feathered motif, "The Bird Who Knew Too Much" is - in theory - a more realistic story, though in many ways it's just as camp. Steed and Mrs. Peel find top secrets making their way out of the country via clever and unexpected avian means.

Winged Avenger delightfully spoofs American show
The Winged Avenger is crisply directed. An unseen force makes scraping noises, scales multi-story buildings, and savagely destroys ruthless business men who "downsize" by throwing everyone out of work! Steed and Mrs. Peel consult books trying to find an animal that matches the description. When they realize it is a human predator.. "I have a theory, "Steed relates, "He uses a trampoline, bounces up,scales it with a pick.."

And your other theory? "He bribes the doorman!" Steed says in frustration. As the duo close in on a logical explanation Mrs. Peel meets a dashing explorer, "Nothing like authenticity" assures her as they scale a tiny replica of a mountain with fake snow and simulated high winds. The usual wit pervades Winged Avenger. Mrs. Peel meets an eccentric inventor of boots enabling a person to walk up the side of a house, a building, and on the ceiling. "It'll ruin the carpet trade," she sighs. The fight scene, Mrs. Peel and her insane assailant, in mortal combat upside down on the ceiling, is a delight. A frantic Steed is driving to the rescue. "How are we doing?" he asks the only sane one left alive. "Not good!" Emma's murderous fate is prefigured in huge cartoon drawings. The Bird who Knew too much also features delightful eccentrics. "Twitter" "I don't do bird impersonation," Mrs. Peelsays. "Edgar J. Twitter," he introduces himself. Mrs. Peel's sluthing leads her to a daffy, bird loving professor (recognize the actor from the previous season's HOney for the pRince as QQF Businessman: fantasies, imaginary assassinations!) who trains highly intelligent birds to communicate and memorize- leading to the bird being stolen and British agents being murdered.

all around fun
well if your in the mood for a little james bond, meets austin powers, meets the batman tv series this is what you want to watch. all in all these are great episodes! :) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

At last -- Inspector Morse's first novel comes to video!
Inspector Morse is cerebral, almost an armchair decetcive in the Sherlock Holmes tradition. This video is based on the first Morse novel, but came about halfway through the series' run on ITV. John Thaw is notable in his performance because he almost underplays the role of Morse, and Kevin Whatley as Sergeant Lewis makes a good Watson, trying to understand Morse's thought process, and providing a lens through which us viewers of merely average intellect can comprehend how Morse's mind works. This will never appeal to a general audience, but it's very enjoyable to those at whom it's targeted. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fair episode, poorly designed DVD
As others have pointed out, Sgt. Lewis does not appear in this, the penultimate Morse. Apparently, it was because of a contract dispute between the studio/producers and actor Kevin Whately. Despite his absence, and Morse being bound to a hospital bed for most of the program, it's a decent and entertaining episode.

My real complaint is with the quality of the DVD. As with others in this series, the makers of this disk have done a poor job packaging Morse. It's almost comical that this is the only disk in the series for which they've included a photo of Lewis, yet it's the only episode he's not in! I gave up on buying these Region 1 disks long ago. Instead, I bought the complete series from the UK (an elegant package of the whole set is available through Amazon.co.uk) and picked up a multi-regional DVD player on which to watch them. The series and the player together cost about the same as the series would cost if you bought all of the U.S. editions.

A few comments on this episode
As others have pointed out, no lewis in this particular episode. But that's ok really, if you like the rest of the series. If you are a fan of the series, you are aware that the 33 total episodes are either loosely based on or slightly related to Colin Dexter's handful of novels, and are not meant to replace or represent fundamentally his work in anyway. Besides, in the book Lewis is an unimportant character, so his absence is no gaping a hole. At the time Kevin Whatley was working on other television programs and films. John Thaw was as well (Kavannagh QC) but you really really really can't have Morse without Morse. So, disregarding the absence of Lewis and the plot changes, this is still a great episode. Not the best, but its still better than watching Murder She Wrote or Diagnosis Murder.

Morse the Time Traveler
As junior XXX pointed out in his/her review, this episode features no Sergeant Lewis. He's nowhere to be found for whatever reason. But even in the novel, the character of Lewis is less than integral to the plot.

While you (we) can only guess at the film adaptation's dumping of Lewis, I found this a most enjoyable episode of Inspector Morse, as we flashback to the year 1859, complete with haunting period music. It's an interesting combination of Morse and "period piece." It not only foreshadows "what's to come" in "The Remorseful Day", it virtually sets up the "last Morse."

Lastly, I have not read all of the Dexter novels, but of the few I have read, this film adaptation strays farthest from the original novel. It ain't just Sergeant Lewis missing. There are other fundamental plot and character changes. Once you get over the substantial changes, you may find, like me, that this is one of the more enjoyable episodes of Morse.

the weakest Morse of all....where Lewis?
instead of sergeant lewis helping an ill Morse solve a case that is 140 years old, there is a new copper name kershaw. i forgot the name of the actor who played kershaw yet i don't care because he is so bloody awful. once kershaw enters the picture, THE WENCH IS DEAD goes downhill. as always, john thaw is fine as morse. hey, sgt lewis is in the novel. he is mentioned once in the tv movie but nowhere to be seen. perhaps kevin whately (as lewis) was too busy making another popular UK tv series "Peak Practice" where he plays a doctor. thankfully whately and john thaw reunite for the final Morse film THE REMORSEFUL DAY. see it instead and forget THE WENCH IS DEAD.

Wierdly wonderfull.
A wonderfull piece of work.His last ? Do not panic, do not fret,he's just gone down "The Trout" for a quick half. In England,we've already seen the next concocksion of murder,dry hummour,pubs and the ever present American tourists !!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Epic" is a spooky Avengers installment in which Mrs. Peel is kidnapped by a mad director who holds her prisoner in a studio while filming The Destruction of Mrs. Peel. Series coproducer Brian Clemens wrote the inventive script, which finds poor Emma in a movie-cliché nightmare, being shot at in a Western saloon, in a World War I setting, and by Indians and Chicago gangsters. Clemens was also behind "The Superlative Seven," which features some familiar faces (Donald Sutherland, Brian Blessed, Charlotte Rampling) in an Agatha Christie-like tale of seven people brought to an island, where one of their numbers is killing off the others. The slightly conventional plot is spruced up by an international conspiracy element, a surprise ending, and the dramatic arrival of Emma Peel onto the island--by parachute! --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Emma Takes A Screen Test - Steed Doubles Stunts
"Epic" is a love-it-or-hate-it high-camp series entry. Nothing in it is there to make sense - it's all just great fun. Emma is stalked by mad film director Z. Z. Von Schnark (portrayed a la Otto Preminger), who kidnaps her to an abandoned movie studio to film his greatest epic: "The Death of Mrs. Peele." Von Schnark is only half the fun - two out of work actors fanatically devoted to the director play the supporting roles, Peter Wyngarde particularly shining when he keeps replaying the same scene in different costumes and accents. Emma refuses to take any of it seriously, even when tied to a buzz-saw, and mocks them throughout.

"The Superlative Seven" is a well-done, atmospheric high melodrama, benefiting from stellar performances - including appearances from very young up-and-comers Donald Sutherland and Charlotte Rampling - and gorgeous costumes, sets, and color. It's Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians," with Steed one of the invited isolated party victims. The episode has only one great flaw, and that is that the game is revealed in the opening scene, ruining a great deal of the suspense. But it performs quite well, and is enjoyable even when you're a step or two ahead of what's coming.

These two make a nice pair on one tape, the former being an Emma-minus-Steed episode, the latter a Steed-minus-Emma one. Oh, the other half of the dynamic duo make their appearances, all right, in each one, giving them the chance to be each other's backup/bailout. That's all just part of the fun.

Superlative Seven retains mystery and spooky atmosphere
Clemmens wrote his best script of 1967 when he penned superlative 7. According to Avengers Dossier it was a rewrite- he was running out of ideas. I enjoyed it when I saw it -ouch more than 30 years ago. It is a send up of Agatha Christie's Ten LIttle Indians mystery and the movie The magnificent 7. Usual charming opening teaser of Emma and Steed. Sadly, Diana Rigg then vanishes until the last 10 minutes. I didn't enjoy seeing it again half as much as I thought I would. This episode would have worked better for Diana Rigg if Emma had been the one on the island with a group of 6 men and the announcment that 1 of them was a killer. The 6 coffins was a nice touch! It has a good cast, atmospheric dark house on a deserted island with the door always open and leaves blowing in. Emmma's arrival on the island by parachute saves the episode for me and the day! Epic was dull and weird. Diana Rigg infuses an otherwise dull, dumb script with her wit. Bound to a table with a pendulum coming closer she quips "I am in danger of becoming a split personality." The ending is the best part of the story. Steed has rescued Emma from torture and death and they try to find a film to attend. She enthusiastically reads about a film that features "unbridled passion- that won awards." "It closed yesterday," she says sadly. "Unbridled passion," smiles Steed. "Let's stay home." Anyone naive enough to object to Steed kissing Emma in the film and their attraction to one another must have missed every innuendo in the show. I wasn't that naive even when I was an innocent teenager. I never mistook Steed and Mrs. Peel for a boy scout and a girl guide!

Clemmens should have switched his cliches and had Steed trapped in Murdersville or Epic and Emma rescue him. It would have been a change. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Driven to the Wrong Conclusion
Like a lot of the Inspector Morse films, a big clue to cracking the case is contained in the title. Including Morse and Lewis, there is a third person who plays an equally significant part in the investigations in this film: DS Maitland, an expert on crimes against women, of which this case is. She just happens to be one, too. This is perhaps the most straightforward storyline, with only a few twists and turns, one of which crops up at the very end, turning the investigation upside down, and also causing everything to fall into place and make sense. Morse is adamant he has his man from the very start and his contempt for the individual, not only an arrogant car salesman but a blackmailer and convicted wifebeater to boot, blinds his judgment. There are many red herrings in this case and the general rule in writing a "whodunit" - i.e. make the last person the viewer would expect to have done it, do it - is employed cunningly. Overall, this is another shining example of the classy series, brilliantly written by Academy Award Winner Anthony Minghella and directed by Sandy Johnson. It is not difficult to see why this is one of the Morse films Colin Dexter selected as his favorites. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Love of His Life
How could any Inspector Morse fan resist this one for the ultimate in romantic poignancy? It begins with a startled look on Morse's face when he realizes the dead body belongs to the husband of his lover who broke his heart (and ruined his university career) by leaving him many years ago. It ends with Sergeant Lewis protecting his partner with a touching loyalty expressed through subtly phrased lines. Susan Fallon (Joanna David) is the lovely, accomplished blonde with whom we would imagine Morse falling in love (and surely never completely out of love.) Despite Morse's usual ill temper and irritation with the world, we forgive him his faults in those scenes when his blue eyes soften and tear with the pain of loving this woman. (Haven't we all loved and lost?) The script skillfully balances the dark side of human nature and its need for revenge with the hope that no matter how much we lose, love can still endure. This is a special episode to be savored many times for its intimate glimpses into our favorite detective's heart. And, yes, he wears it on his sleeve with a resonance only the late John Thaw could deliver.

Morse loves and loses... or does he?
This one, penned by the always reliable Daniel Boyle (who also wrote "Second Time Around" and "Deadly Slumber" among others), has to be one of the best Morse episodes. True, it would most certainly make Morse purists shudder because its plot developments are inconsistent with the Morse character as he is developed in the novels (in the novel "The Riddle of the Third Mile," which was later adapted for television as "The Last Enemy," refers to a character named Wendy who was Morse's lost love back at school; in "Dead on Time" this lost love of Morse's is named Susan). And true, the plot developments are at times illogical. But, this film's plot is only secondary; what is of primary importance is the character of Morse and the kind of sensitivity John Thaw gives this character when he is confronted with this, perhaps his most emotionally charged case. The plot: Morse is called to investigate the apparant suicide of Oxford don Henry Fallon. To make things complicated, the investigation leads Morse to suspect that the suicide was indeed murder set up to look like suicide. To make things more complicated, Henry Fallon was the husband of Susan Fallon, the woman Morse was engaged to so many years ago. To top off all these complications, there is a reemergence of feeling on the part of Morse, a rekindling of this love that he once had. You throw into the mix a bit of Shubert, some hard detective work by Lewis, an uneaten chocolate digestive in Strange's dest, and what you have is vintage Morse. Kudos to John Thaw, as always. He's a marvel and a skilled actor, capable of portraying a Morse that is both angry and tender. Buy this already. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

absence of virtue
This entry is excellent, especially since the key factors which identify the villain do not emerge until very late in the mystery. Absence of virtue could easily describe this mystery, as most of the principals in this story have significantly flawed characters and/or dark secrets. Morse's tendency not to suffer fools gladly is prominently displayed, as illustrated by his relationship with journalists who focus unusual attention upon him while covering multiple murders in the same wealthly family. Morse is also confronted with dealing with a temporary Chief Superintendant while his own boss is on vacation. The frustration level of Morse is palpable as he is faced with a vexing case, intrusive journalists, and a less than empathetic supervisor. In the end, however, the cerebral approach of Inspector Morse is vindicated. One thematic element which makes this story satisfying is that to one degree or another, all of the culprits get what they deserve. ... Read more

Description

THE AVENGERS featured Steed, the "top professional" and Mrs. Peel,the "talented amateur," avenging... what?British audiences apparently didn’t care.Butwhen THE AVENGERS was introduced to American audiences, producers felt a jobdescription was warranted:"Extraordinary crimes against the people and the state haveto be avenged by agents extraordinary." "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Station"First aired 22 March, 1967 When agents plan an assignation with assassination aboard a train, it takes quickengineering by THE AVENGERS to derail their nefarious plans.Watch for Steed’svaunted facility with electronics. Directed by John Krish, Written by Brian Clemens. "Something Nasty In The Nursery"First aired 2 April, 1967 When terror toys and nasty nannies drive a slew of British nobles into their secondchildhoods, Steed and Mrs. Peel realise that if they spare the rod they could spoil theentire nation.Dream sequences and lethal playthings make this episode a fan favorite. Directed by James Hill, Written by Philip Levene. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Funny Thing Happened is Fast-paced and witty
Roger Marshall, the writer who penned Silent Dust (1966), the witty Girl from A.U.N.T.I.E., and complex and witty Dial a Deadly Number, began this script. Due to creative differences he left and Brian Clemmens finished it.

Steed and Mrs. Peel set out to meet an agent. The only clue is his briefcase, left behind in the baggage car. The body count kept rising in 1967. The later episodes seem more violent than the black and white ones.

When Steed disappears Emma seeks the help of an elderly expert who dreams of buying abandoned railway stations. "I'd like you to listen to this umbrella." (Steed's umbrella conceals a recording device.) There are the usual ruthless villains- a manaical machine gun firing groom, his ruthless bride. There are great fight scenes- Emma and two china throwing baddies in a dining car, the groom and Emma in to the death battle as he tries to push her out the door, and a great steam- filled battle among assassins and the avengers.

Something Nasty in the Nursery get 3 stars. Secrets are leaking out and each man has the same baffling dream - it involves his childhood nanny. Philip Levene wrote the script that involves a nonplused Steed "Proud fatherhood sits upon you!" proclaims the head of a school for nannies. There is a gun firing jack in the box and the usual dastardly villains but little humor

Funny Thing Happened blends Peculiar and Humorous
Steed and Emma investigate some sinister goings on at a deserted train station. When Steed disappears Emma seeks the help of an elderly railway enthusiast. "I'd like you to listen to this umbrella." "Listen to the-"

The villains are a very killcrazy lot. There is a machine gun -toting murderer who goes about dressed as a groom, his "bride" and cokiller eager to dispatch others-

Humor abounds. Emma subdues the female assassin "A slight difference of opinion," she says breazily, having tossed the bride on the luggage rack.

Glorious fight scene in steam filled railway car, and a humorous dish throwing one in a dining car. Roger Marshall provided a good script. The later Avengers 67 scripts began to flatten out- less plot, no red herrings (unlike 65 scripts) and Emma and Steed seldom save anyone's life anymore. Something Nasty in the Nursery concerns ruthless killer spies, sinister toys - one gentle toy store owner is murdered by a shooting jack in the box. As the violence and body count escalated, the series lost much of its charm. Nasty does have a wonderful ending. Emma, masterfully played by Diana Rigg assumes a think accent as a fortune teller predicting their future adventures, "I see danger. We find a body." "It usually begins that way-" Steed murmurs. Emma "I see two- things." Steed "Do I take care of them?" "No, I do." Delightfully humorous ending after all the pitiless killings.

Irony sparks "funny thing"
Roger Marshall wrote "A funny Thing happened on the way to the station" The title is ironic- meaning peculiar. A middle aged man is chased by 2 younger men- he seemingly outwits them, only to be tricked into getting off at a deserted stop and murdered. Using a sinister, machine gun toting groom is grotesque. This episode has little humor. Emma to eccentric railroad lover, "I'd like you to listen to this umbrella." There is a china smashing battle in the dining car, and a marked deterioration in the 1967 scripts. No longer are there red herrings (Small Game, Murder Market, How to Succeed at Murder) the villains slay and slay. Perhaps the machine gun violence reflected too much of the violence of the 1960s. Something Nasty in the Nursery has a machine gun toting nanny, lethal toys- a jack in the box that fires a gun. AGain the villains kill and attack. One never has to wonder who the baddies are. The later episodes lack the wit and subtlety of earlier Philip Levene and Roger Marshall scripts. It is easy to understand Diana Rigg's observation that "Looking for Mr. Big wasn't very testing." Even the authors of The Avengers Dossier concede that when Brian Clemmens quarreled with writer Roger Marshall, who left, and then Philip Levene, who also quit writing the series became cartoonish and more shallow. Diana Rigg went on to make some quality films and star on Broadway and in London. The decline in scripts continues with the last batch: the redundant Murdersville, and You Have Just Been Murdered. As the writers killed off more and more characters it became off putting and boring. I preferred the 1965 scripts when Steed and Mrs. Peel actually saved lives: the economist in A Sense of History, accountant in How to Succeed at Murder. Stuffing the show with more and more murders made it less engrossing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In "The Living Dead," reports of a ghost seen in the chapel of a private estate, owned by the 16th Duke of Benedict, bring agents John Steed and Emma Peel into the British countryside to investigate. Another agent is killed while looking for evidence, and soon after, Mrs. Peel disappears. What Steed finds while searching for his partner is a particularly imaginative invention by writer-producer Brian Clemens, a nice blend of science fiction, conspiracy tale, and the usual unflappable charm of the two principals. In the second episode on this tape, "The Hidden Tiger," the villains within an organization called PURRR intend to overwhelm England with ordinary household kittens who are made savagely violent by radio transmitters altering their brain waves. The script by Philip Levene is a succession of clever little mysteries (How did a big-game hunter get mauled to death while he was inside a cage?), and the outrageousness of several scenes (a seemingly doomed Steed is tied to a chair, surrounded by furry kittens) is a hoot. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Living Dead has suspenseful prologue
Brian Clemons Living Dead captures the attention with a provocative prologue. A drunken man stumbles out of the pub and cuts through the graveyard. To his horror, a stone coffin begins to move and the cover slides open, revealing a white haired man in a white outfit who rises, enters the church, and begins tolling the bell. The drunk gibbers to the pub owner and others that he has seen the late, dead Duke Rupert. When they enter the church it is empty, but the bell continues to toll. Wonderful opening, more average script. Clemens repeated his plot , 1965 Town of No Return. It has a little humor FOG- Friends of Ghosts, and SMOG Scientific Measurement of Ghosts. Emma rescues Steed and for a refreshing change Emma and Steed save a few lives instead of everyone being murdered.

Hiden Tiger is hugely overrated. The teaser of Emma painting walls, tearing off paper and being confronted with "Mrs. Peel" printed on the wall, and Steed appearing and tearing paper off the opposite wall "we're needed" is delightful. The cat references are ubiquitous: cat among the pidgeons, quiet as a mouse (Steed to the cats!) I found watching everyone be clawed to death pitiless and redundant. Escape in Time by writer Philip Levene was a far wittier script. HIden Tiger is very overrated. Clemens'scripts the Joker, superlative Seven, Richard Harris The Winged Avenger, and Roger Marshall Something Happened on the Way to the Station were much better scripts. By 1967, midway thorugh the season, the Avengers scriptwise was missing the variety of writers: Roger Marshall, Tony Williamson , John Lucaroti etc. Clemens and Levene are beginning to run out of ideas. If the viewer is a cat lover he or she will probably enjoy HIden Tiger. I found it mundane. Delightful tag of Steed sketching a heart on Emma's wall with his initials. Before he can add hers she spies it and indicates she is not pleased! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful Fun
I love Inspector Morse and watch it everytime I get a chance. This episode of the series was the best because the story kept me guessing. Plus it had Sean Bean in it. He plays a fun charsimatic character. You will really enjoy this, I know I did.

Absolute Conviction
A perfect Morse adventure. Plenty of twists & puzzles with an unusal backdrop. A modern English prison with a female Governor; 3 partners, all in the same prison one of whom is murdered & Morse is called in. One of Colin Dexter's very best. ... Read more