Good sweet God!
Those wonderful people at Imprint have answered your and my prayers and allowed us a look at the most hotly anticipated boxset of the end of 2022. Yes, The Avengers: The Emma Peel Collection (1965-1967) or Series 4 and series 5 of THE AVENGERS featuring everyones favourite lady of leathal legend, the late, great Dame Diana Rigg.
Now we all know the series and what to expect. Extraordinary action, dubious criminals, awful crimes against the people and the very machine of the state. All have to be avenged by agents who are both extraordinary and a little sexy, obviously.
In to this poinsoned web steps our heroes John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and his partner, Emma Peel (Rigg). Both are talented, both ready to resolve all criminals. They are The Avengers. Their remit is to strike back and hard. With a lethal bowler hat and menacing umbrella at hand. Superbly British, swinging killer fashion and kung fu feet. These secret agents will investigate bizarre and colourful adventures. Solving everyone with a wit that only true British style can pull off! Massively popular in the United States and still today, a cult obsession for one and all, this long-running show has proved popular spawning a sadly average film in the 90s but enough wit from its original release to see it home. Emma Peel made the series what it is and this 16-disc (yes thats right…16 DISCS!) Blu-ray set brings together every episode with Emma Peel at the helm, all in high-definition
So where to start. Imprint have released the set of last year. I could say this is THE DEFINITIVE set to be honset. Because it is. This is what people mean, when they say PERFECTION. Its hard work in the physical media world. Criterion are kings. Then Imprint have gained second spot, just behind them, BFI and Arrow. This set proves this point. It excels at showing a really feel for the subject and the buyer.
From the box that houses this adorable set its self (lovely high quality hardbox that it is.) To the even more lovely printed material inside, with my favourite thing, the box 120-page booklet featuring essay by Dick Fiddy of the British Film Institute and Story Information. This covers everything that matters about each episode and the fourth and fifth series. Fiddy is so skilled at his observations and historic detail that you feel you need no more to know. You know everything. Then transfers of every episode (All are 1080p yes but all are VERY high quality indeed.) They are lush, surviving colour palletes of the 60s without bleaching or dampening the lovely richness. Add the comprehensive extras. Some have been around before, most however are new enough to be worth that price tag (£160 at the moment in the UK). On the set my favourite thing is Armchair Theatre episode “The Hothouse”. This is something others would have waved away. However, it shows why Rigg won the role and made us delight in her as Peel. Well done Imprint. Wear that crown…
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- 1080p high-definition presentation from the original 35mm elements
- Collectable double-sided Hardbox packaging LIMITED to 1500 copies
- 120-page booklet featuring essay by Dick Fiddy of the British Film Institute and Story Information for every episode taken from the original studio files
- Original ‘as broadcast’ mono audio tracks (LPCM)
- Original ‘as broadcast’ “The Avengers in Color” opening slate on Series 5 episodes
- Audio Commentary on “The Town of No Return” by producer / writer Brian Clemens and director Roy Ward Baker
- Audio Commentary on “The Master Minds” by writer Robert Banks Stewart
- Audio Commentary on “Dial A Deadly Number” by writer Roger Marshall
- Audio Commentary on “The Hour That Never Was” by director Gerry O’Hara
- Audio Commentary on “The House That Jack Built” by director Don Leaver
- Audio Commentary on “The Winged Avenger” by writer Richard Harris
- Audio Commentary on “Epic” by guest actor Peter Wyngarde
- NEW Audio Commentary on “The Joker” by filmmakers Sam Clemens and George Clemens (sons of writer/producer Brian Clemens) (2022)
- Audio Commentary on “Return of The Cybernauts” by Diana Rigg’s stunt-double Cyd Child
- Audio Commentary on “Murdersville” by producer / writer Brian Clemens
- Filmed introductions to eight Series 5 episodes by producer / writer Brian Clemens
- Filmed introduction to “The ₤50,000 Breakfast” by guest actress Anneke Wills
- Brief audio recollection from guest actor Francis Matthews on filming “The Thirteenth Hole”
- “THE AVENGERS AT 50” – Footage captured from the 50th anniversary celebration of the series, held at Chichester University in 2011. Includes: video message from Patrick Macnee, interviews with producer / writer Brian Clemens, director Don Leaver (never before released), director Gerry O’Hara (never before released), stunt co-ordinator Raymond Austin, guest actress Carol Cleveland, guest actress Anneke Wills, writer Roger Marshall, and Patrick Macnee’s biographer Marie Cameron
- “Dame Diana Rigg at the BFI” – 2015 on-stage interview and Q&A held at the British Film Institute in London to celebrate 50 years of Emma Peel
- “The Series Of No Return” – audio interview with actress Elizabeth Shepherd, who was originally cast as Emma Peel
- Granada Plus Points featuring actor Patrick Macnee, composer Laurie Johnson, writer Roger Marshall and stunt-double Cyd Child
- Bonus Series 6 episode “The Forget-Me-Knot” – Emma Peel’s final story and the introduction of Tara King
- “K Is For Kill” – excerpt from The New Avengers episode featuring appearances by Emma Peel
ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
- Armchair Theatre episode “The Hothouse” starring Diana Rigg (the performance that led to Rigg’s casting as Emma Peel in The Avengers
- Chessboard Opening Title sequence used on US broadcasts for Series 4
- German and French title sequences
- Series 4 UK Commercial Break Bumper slates
- Alternative titles / credits / end tag of select Series 4 episodes
- Series 4 Commercial Break Bumpers
- Production trims from select Series 5 episodes
- “The Strange Case Of The Missing Corpse” – Series 5 teaser film
- German television interview with Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg by Joachim Fuchsberger
- Colourisation test footage for “Death At Bargain Prices” and “A Touch Of Brimstone”
- Reconstructed John Stamp Series 4 trailer
- “They’re Back” Trailers, Series 5 Trailer and Series 5 German Cinema Trailer
- Extensive Photo Galleries from the studio archives
- 1973 Interview with Diana Rigg discussing her US sitcom Diana, and leaving The Avengers
- Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1, b&w / colour
- Audio English LPCM 2.0 Mono
- English subtitles for the Hard of Hearing (Series 4 & 5 episodes only)
BONUS DISC 1: ADDITIONAL SPECIAL FEATURES
- More interviews from “THE AVENGERS AT 50” including composer Laurie Johnson, writer and guest actor Jeremy Burnham, stunt-double Cyd Child, and a screenwriters’ panel discussion featuring Brian Clemens, Richard Harris, Richard Bates and Terrance Dicks
- “Brian Clemens In Conversation” – on-stage interview at the British Film Institute in London discussing his early writing career
- Diana Rigg German Super8 films: “Das Diadem”, “Minikillers”, “Der Goldene Schlüssell”
- Extensive Photo Gallery from The Avengers Fashion Show
- Diana Rigg Photo Gallery
BONUS DISC 2: THE ORIGINAL EPISODES FILE
- Featuring the 4 original episodes from the Cathy Gale era of the series which were remade in Series 5: “Death Of A Great Dane”, “Don’t Look Behind You”, “Dressed To Kill” and “The Charmers” (Standard Definition)
- Audio Commentary by writer Roger Marshall on “Death Of A Great Dane”
- Audio Commentary by actress Honor Blackman and UK presenter Paul O’Grady on “Don’t Look Behind You”
- Filmed introduction by Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman to “Don’t Look Behind You”
- “Tunnel Of Fear” – a full-length, previously lost episode from Series 1, recovered in 2016
- “THE AVENGERS AT 50” – interview with Honor Blackman by Paul O’Grady
https://viavision.com.au/shop/the-avengers-the-emma-peel-collection-1965-1967-imprint-television-3/
