Avengers - Sci-Fi & Fantasy Box Set [VHS] [1961]

The Venus and Cathy episodes being taped on videotape don't live up to the very good picture and sound quality of the Emma Peel episodes on this box set. The Emma Peel episodes were taped on film and that really shows on these video copies. Having this in mind, the overall picture and sound quality is quite good.

The Emma Peel episodes are my favourite episodes. A Surfeit of H2O features a diabolical mastermind who can control the weather. His name, of course, is Dr. Sturm. The Warner Bros Avenger Movie featuring Sean Connery as Sir August The Winter is definitely based on this truly great episode. Too Many Xmas Trees is also a top marks episode (the best episode included in this collection) in which Steed is disturbed by strange dreams. Quick-Quick Slow Death is quite enjoyable.

The Venus episodes are nice to watch, but Julie Stevens is not the best actress and she can never fill the shoes, or shall I say boots, of Cathy or Emma. And must she sing on every episode? Chorus Of Frogs is definitely her best on this set. "The Nutshell" is Cathy Gale's best episode included. It's a short James Bond film. Really superb! Mr. Teddy Bear is also a great one. Lobster Quadrille is only an interesting episode because it's the final episode featuring Honor Blackman.

This box set is the best way to get an idea what the Avengers was like in its early years. It contains some marvellous episodes. It's a must have collection for any Avenger fan. As a bonus there's the nice documentary "Avenging Avengers".

Edwin Meijster

The first episode on the tape is "Have Guns - Will Haggle". It's one of the earliest episodes to be made featuring the inexperienced Tara King. She is obviously still learning but is very watchable. The story concerns the theft of some sophisticated rifles that are sold for auction. The Avengers must prevent the rifles from falling into the wrong hands. This is not one of the better episodes but contains enough action to keep it entertaining.

The second episode is "My Wildest Dream". It features the debut of Robert Fuest as director, best known for his Dr. Phibes films. It concerns a group of business men who, after having some unusual therapy sessions, start killing one another. The Avengers have to discover who is behind these acts of therapy. This is very good episode thanks to it's original story and excellent direction. Tara gets to have a very stylish fight scene that really shows what she can do. Well worth a viewing.

The third episode is "Wish You Were Here". This is the most humourous of the episodes on this tape. It concerns Tara becoming trapped in a prison that masquerades as a hotel. Linda Thorson gets to display her ability for comedy is this very amusing episode. There are some ingenious ways of preventing the guests from leaving. This episode features Mother played by Patrick Newell, who makes his sole appearance on this tape. An undemanding but enjoyable episode.

The fourth and last episode is Take-Over. This is one of the very last episodes to be made of the original series. It concerns Steed's visit to see some old friends who are being held captive in their house. It contains very little humour but is all the better because of it. It gives an indication of the darker direction the series could have gone had it continued. Take-Over is a very strong episode which is very well written, acted and directed (by Robert Fuest). It provides a great contrast to the lighter episodes.

This tape shows that although the series was on its way out, it could still produce some very good, stylish episodes.