Series 3 — Episode 9
The Undertakers
by Malcolm Hulke
Designed by David Marshall
Directed by Bill Bain
Production completed: 2 August 1963. First transmission: 5 October 1963
Production Schedule
Episode 61
Production Number : 3608
VTR/ABC/2899
Teddington Studio 1
Thursday 1st August 1963
| Camera rehearsal | 10.00-12.30 |
| Lunch break | 12.30-13.30 |
| Camera rehearsal | 13.30-18.00 |
| Supper break | 18.00-19.00 |
| Camera rehearsal | 19.00-21.00 |
Friday 2nd August 1963
| Camera rehearsal | 10.00-12.30 |
| Lunch break | 12.30-13.30 |
| Camera rehearsal | 13.30-15.20 |
| Tea break, line up, normal scan, make-up |
15.20-16.05 |
| Photo oall (Pat/Honor) | 16.05-16.15 |
| Dress rehearsal | 16.15-17.30 |
| Notes | 17.30-18.00 |
| Line-up | 18.00-18.30 |
| VTR | 18.30-19.30 |
Running time
Expected: 51'25" + 2 commercial breaks 2.05
Actual running time with bumpers: 51'41"
The bumpers between the acts are generally 10 seconds from fade in to the “End of Act” bumper to the end of audio before the commercial, a 10 second still without audio, then cut to the next act bumper. This would play with the theme for around 10 seconds. Accordingly, with the episodes being in 3 acts, the running time of the action is approximately a minute less than listed above, minus the opening and closing credits (normally 0'16", with a 2" fade, and anywhere from 0'41" to 1'20", hard cut or 1" fade or mix, respectively).
Equipment
| Cameras: | 5 Pedestals |
|---|---|
| Sound: | 3 booms, lazy-arm (Laboratory), 5 pract. telephones (Madden’s Living Room, Adelphi Park Office, Renter’s Living Room & Adelphi Park Hall (extension), Funeral Parlour Office (to ring only)), grams, tape, possible echo, distort stand mic. (outside Cathy’s Kitchen). |
| Telecine: | ABC symbol, 4 35mm. specially shot sequences (1 mute, 2 s.o.f.), 1 slide, caption scanner. |
Transmission
| Broadcaster | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ATV London | 5/10/1963 | 10.05pm |
| ABC Midlands | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| ABC North | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| Anglia Television | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| Border Television | 5/10/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Channel Television | 5/10/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Grampian Television | 6/10/1963 | 10.35pm |
| Southern Television | 5/10/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Scottish Television | 5/10/1963 | 10.25pm |
| Tyne Tees Television | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| Ulster Television | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| Westward Television | 5/10/1963 | 10.05pm |
| Television Wales & West | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| Teledu Cymru (WWN) | 5/10/1963 | 9.50pm |
| ABN2 Sydney | 12/05/1964 | 8.00pm |
| ABV2 Melbourne | 10/12/1964 | 7.30pm |
This episode was broadcast in Italy on 1st December 1965 (9:15pm, RAI 2) under the title of “I filanthropi”. It had originally been scheduled for 10pm on 26th August 1965 but with The Removal Men being pre-empted the week before, that episode took the 26th August slot. It was one of a limited run of ten episodes from series 2 and 3 that were broadcast on RAI intermittently throughout 1965 and 1966 under the title “Agente speciale”. (see above)
TV Times listing
10.5 The Avengers
starring
Patrick Macnee
Honor Blackman
in
The Undertakers
By Malcolm Hulke
Cast in order of appearance
| Green | Howard Goorney |
| Madden | Patrick Holt |
| Catherine Gale | Honor Blackman |
| John Steed | Patrick Macnee |
| Mrs. Renter | Lally Bowers |
| Lomax | Lee Patterson |
| Wilkinson | Ronald Russell |
| Paula | Jan Holden |
| Daphne | Mandy Miller |
| Mrs. Lomax | Marcella Markham |
| Mrs. Baker | Helena McCarthy |
| Reeve | Denis Forsyth |
Settings by David Marshall
Directed by Bill Bain
Produced by John Bryce
In which Steed meets an undertaker and Cathy joins the millionaires
ABC Television Network Production
Murders
| Victim | Killer | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Madden | Green | Shot (faked) |
| Mrs Lomax | Green | Shot |
Continuity and trivia
Time codes here include the Studio Canal logo from the remastered 2010 set, which runs for 18 seconds.
- 0:00 - The episode starts with a new “ABC presents” telecine
- 2:15 - The episode title super is black instead of the usual white.
The opening credits feature a cut under the titles, from the empty coffin to the gun left on the table. - 10:19-11:02 - Mix telecine (B) - Steed arriving at Ade1phi Park - 0 '48"
- An unusual episode for the season, with a lot of exteriors and location footage, especially the climax gun battle in the grounds of Adelphi Park. The location used for Adelphi Park was Twickenham Town Hall and its gardens.
- 10:30 - This episode also has a car in it, an old Rolls-Royce split-windscreen hearse, XV 6015 - which almost certainly appeared in Don’t Look Behind You as well.
- 16:30 - picture breakup
- 19:15 - the shadow of the crane passes over Steed’s face just before the change of shot to Mrs Lomax in the coffin
- 30:28 - minor distortion
- 31:30 - the lens of the camera is covered in spots
- 38:31 - the boom mic. dips into clear view when Daphne asks Wilkinson where her father is.
- 45:11 - a boom microphone appears in to top right of the screen as Steed runs up the steps after Madden and Green. You can also catch a glimpse of a crew member through the open door.
- 45:20-45:53 - TELECINE (c) - 1st half of chase - ending with Madden & Green running over bridge _ 0'40"
- 46:09-49:29 - TELECINE (D) - 2nd half of chase + gun fight - 3' 20"
(Last shot on T/C: Steed patting statue & climbing down) - 50:47 - Steed says Madden’s trila is “a couple of week ago” then corrects himself and says “ahead” (the script reads: “Two weeks off”)
- 51:07 - the cameraman isn’t ready for the change of shot to the MS and sways his camera around alarmingly to get Steed & Cathy in shot.
- 51:10 - Macnee is sweating profusely in his last CU
- This episode was later remade (after a fashion) as the Tara King episode Bizarre.
 |
 |
