Written by Dennis Spooner
Directed by John Hough
1.06 - Cat Amongst the Pigeons
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Frankymole
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My review:
http://www.theavengers.tv/forever/newave-5vr.htm#3
An interesting title: it doesn't really make sense until the end. This is "The Hidden Tiger" done right.
The Avengers?: Some lovely echoes of the past: "Pussy Galore" (Cathy/Hidden Tiger), the revamp of Emma's whispered "Weren't you the man who...?", with Gambit similarly proving his identity to Purdey: "Definitely the real gambit. And no." There's nice symmetry in the story too... the pet shop owner who loses all his birds at the beginning, sells all his cats at the end. Steed and Gambit's dumb-play as they both unpack the cats is outstanding.
Epic?: Tons of atmosphere... the shattered specs, the noon-doomsday plane trip, the weird charm-flute, the looming shadow of a bird of prey from the fanlight in Zarcardi's eerie hallway, the bird table of carrion in the overgrown conservatory. Glorious summer lanes and Purdey on a motorbike... her garter is over-the-top but never has an off-the-shoulder number looked so breathtaking!
Diabolical Masterminds?: Zarcardi... his first scenes have him hovering over his bleeding prey (Turner), alert twitches of the head, his words soft but incisive and with odd pauses like an owl's call as he describes the terror of an oil-soaked gull... If a hawk or falcon ever took human form then it would surely assume Vladek Sheybal's aquiline features and piercing eyes. Zarcardi speaks of the world's birds as his "army" and is prepared to send them to their deaths rather than see their numbers kept low by future breeding control (a cull is ruled out).
Bizarre?: With a strong dose of tension in many scenes, and this is great fun. Two bit-parts are notable: Kevin Stoney has his eyes obscured (pecked out?) which is a shame as his features are quite striking, and Hugh Walters as the forensic investigator terrorised by Purdey: he is so like Charles Hawtrey (whom he once played) that his enjoyable scenes seem like a Carry On film!
On Target? (Score): It doesn't get much better than this. Deduct half a bowler for tired sexist remark "birds... the feathered variety." Three-and-a-half bowlers (out of four). 9/10.
http://www.theavengers.tv/forever/newave-5vr.htm#3
An interesting title: it doesn't really make sense until the end. This is "The Hidden Tiger" done right.
The Avengers?: Some lovely echoes of the past: "Pussy Galore" (Cathy/Hidden Tiger), the revamp of Emma's whispered "Weren't you the man who...?", with Gambit similarly proving his identity to Purdey: "Definitely the real gambit. And no." There's nice symmetry in the story too... the pet shop owner who loses all his birds at the beginning, sells all his cats at the end. Steed and Gambit's dumb-play as they both unpack the cats is outstanding.
Epic?: Tons of atmosphere... the shattered specs, the noon-doomsday plane trip, the weird charm-flute, the looming shadow of a bird of prey from the fanlight in Zarcardi's eerie hallway, the bird table of carrion in the overgrown conservatory. Glorious summer lanes and Purdey on a motorbike... her garter is over-the-top but never has an off-the-shoulder number looked so breathtaking!
Diabolical Masterminds?: Zarcardi... his first scenes have him hovering over his bleeding prey (Turner), alert twitches of the head, his words soft but incisive and with odd pauses like an owl's call as he describes the terror of an oil-soaked gull... If a hawk or falcon ever took human form then it would surely assume Vladek Sheybal's aquiline features and piercing eyes. Zarcardi speaks of the world's birds as his "army" and is prepared to send them to their deaths rather than see their numbers kept low by future breeding control (a cull is ruled out).
Bizarre?: With a strong dose of tension in many scenes, and this is great fun. Two bit-parts are notable: Kevin Stoney has his eyes obscured (pecked out?) which is a shame as his features are quite striking, and Hugh Walters as the forensic investigator terrorised by Purdey: he is so like Charles Hawtrey (whom he once played) that his enjoyable scenes seem like a Carry On film!
On Target? (Score): It doesn't get much better than this. Deduct half a bowler for tired sexist remark "birds... the feathered variety." Three-and-a-half bowlers (out of four). 9/10.
Last watched: "Mandrake"
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Frankymole
- You Have Just Been Posting (a lot)
- Posts: 6537
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:33 am
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- Been thanked: 257 times
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Lhbizness
I like the plot, but the execution is a bit lackluster. It's a bit too much of a rehash of The Hidden Tiger, but without the pop or chemistry. Some great moments - Steed jumping into the pool with his suit and bowler on, Purdey's dialogue with the forensic man, Steed slinging polite insults at the over-confident Ministry man. But it never really flies for me.