'The Avengers': possible moments of influence...

Shady TreeShady Tree London, UKPosts: 2,998MI6 Agent
edited March 2015 in The James Bond Films
I'm gradually re/watching 'The Avengers' - the 'bowler hats and kinky boots' 60s TV series, not the Marvel Comics franchise - and I'm curious to see if there are specific moments in the series which may have influenced the Bond filmmakers, further to the obvious influence of the casting choices of Honor Blackman (Cathy Gale > GF) Diana Rigg (Emma Peel > OHMSS) and Patrick Macnee (John Steed > AVTAK).

So far I have two possibles, from Diana Rigg's first season, Season 4 (1965/66)... moments which bring to mind scenes in DAF:

From 'The Town of No Return'. A fisherman on a beach (played by future M, Robert Brown) looks on as a shapeless waterproof covering emerges from the sea. A man rips his way out of the covering and strolls casually across the beach - dry, dressed in jacket and tie. This scene instantly makes me think of the manner of Bond's arrival at Blofeld's oil rig in DAF... but may in itself have been influenced by the PTS of GF.

From 'The Murder Market'. The shot of Jonathan Stone's face against a tank of exotic fish in the opening scene, when he's assassinated by a femme fatale, brings to mind the image of Bond through the water bed aquarium in DAF.

I'll post any other 'possibles' I spot.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.

Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Colin Firth was certainly channelling John Steed in The Kingsman. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Shady TreeShady Tree London, UKPosts: 2,998MI6 Agent
    Again from Season 4, in 'Death At Bargain Prices'...

    During a scrape in a department store, Steed tricks and overcomes a villain (Allan Cuthbertson) by posing as a mannequin in a line-up of bowler-hatted menswear dummies... a possible influence on the ruse by which Bond defeats Scaramanga in TWTGG.
    Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I'm sure there must have been a crossover of influences, as Both series
    Liked to dream up odd situations and characters. :)
    I can't remember the name of the episode but I remember Steed reading
    a post card to Mrs Peel from Cathy Gale ( Honour Blackman)
    " Seems she's at Fort Knox, of all places " ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Gala BrandGala Brand Posts: 1,172MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I'm sure there must have been a crossover of influences, as Both series
    Liked to dream up odd situations and characters. :)
    I can't remember the name of the episode but I remember Steed reading
    a post card to Mrs Peel from Cathy Gale ( Honour Blackman)
    " Seems she's at Fort Knox, of all places " ;)

    It may have been "Too Many Christmas Trees" one of the best episodes. It featured psychics and Solataire was a psychic and so . . . no, I don't really think so.
  • Shady TreeShady Tree London, UKPosts: 2,998MI6 Agent
    edited August 2015
    Gala Brand wrote:
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I'm sure there must have been a crossover of influences, as Both series
    Liked to dream up odd situations and characters. :)
    I can't remember the name of the episode but I remember Steed reading
    a post card to Mrs Peel from Cathy Gale ( Honour Blackman)
    " Seems she's at Fort Knox, of all places " ;)

    It may have been "Too Many Christmas Trees" one of the best episodes. It featured psychics and Solataire was a psychic and so . . . no, I don't really think so.


    The episode was indeed Season 4's 'Too Many Christmas Trees', and Cathy's card from Fort Knox was a Christmas card. Pressing further with the GF connection, it's during Season 4 that Steed starts to use a steel-rimmed bowler hat as a weapon, an idea obviously picked up from Oddjob (though Steed clobbers villains with it to knock them out rather than flinging it at them to break their necks!)

    My interest in this thread is in detecting possible moments of influence of 'The Avengers' on subsequent Bond movies, although there's no way of proving any influence so this is as much whimsical speculation as anything else. My focus is on specific visual and stylistic business, more than on dialogue.

    Gala Brand's clearly not convinced, but there IS a whiff of LLD about the psychic villains in 'Too Many Christmas Trees', dealing their Steed cards while plotting to probe the hero's mind. There's even a proto-Solitaire among their number. And as Steed and Mrs Peel drive to the psychics' country manor, there's a sudden close-up on a gargoyle of the scary Father Christmas who has been haunting Steed's nightmares - similar to the alarming reveal of the voodoo head which freaks out Rosie Carver in LLD. Furthermore, the creepy Santa's repeated moments of robust, gloating laughter, amidst his surreal forest of 2D Christmas trees, anticipate Christopher Lee's laugh as the projected Fun House Scaramanga in TMWTGG. Not to mention the Fun House-style hall of mirrors shenanigans at the climax of the episode.

    I'm going to venture a little theory here - that if anyone in particular on the Bond team was steeped in Avengerland aesthetics and a close familiarity with the TV series it was either Guy Hamilton and Tom Manckwiecz or both.
    Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    There have been so many episodes of The Avengers which cover lots of different scenarios and off beat situations that crossing paths with the Bond films in certain ways would very likely happen naturally. Although I would have thought The Avengers and similar shows from that era would be quite influential at the time to certain directors.
    I myself am enjoying the re runs of The Avengers and spotting future Bond actors. In tonight's episode Steven Berkoff -{
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    When I was a teenager The Avengers was my spy fix.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    You beat me to the punch with this thread, Shady.

    Influences abound, but they are minor. Yes, the odd inflatable rotund floating object sprung to mind... In last night's episode they had those big round concrete international spy HQs seen in the pts of YOLT. What the hell are they? Do they still exist? Are they listed?

    A lot of cast members reappear in Bond films. Julian Glover is a regular, and seemed to have thinning hair even back then. Christopher Lee. The bloke who plays Fekkish in Spy Who Loved Me. Of course, Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg and Macnee. Lumley was in OHMSS. Only Tara King missed out.

    Really, the Bond team were filchers par excellence, be it Hitchcock or little known exploitation films like Diabolique. Plus they had to be aware of what was out there, unless one of their writers accidentally or on purpose duplicated an idea for them.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Just watched an Avengers episode and Steed did a 'Tarzan yell' whilst swinging on a vine in the jungle!!!!! :))
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) Come on who wouldn't ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    :)) Come on who wouldn't ;)

    :)) True. It would be hard not to.
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Anytime I have to jump across stepping stones, I always
    Imagine they're really alligators. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Any time I ride my bike off a cliff and board a free falling aeroplane I think I am Bond. Jeez that morning commute to work is tough! I will probably just get the bus tomorrow :D
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) only wimps get the bus ! ;)
    Although, you could skid it and then take the roof off, with a
    Low bridge ! ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Not to mention the fact that there was an episode called 'From Venus with Love' that starred Philip Locke of Thunderball as a villain who delighted in torturing a strapped-down Emma Peel.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Well once again who hasn't thought of doing that ! ;) :D
    I watched one on Sunday morning about a Scottish castle
    With Russians, hiding submarines ? .... Obviously where they
    Got the idea for TSWLM. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Well once again who hasn't thought of doing that ! ;) :D

    Yes, I recall a show on the Avengers saying Miss Peel was subjected to all sorts of perverts and sadists! :))
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    :)) only wimps get the bus ! ;)
    Although, you could skid it and then take the roof off, with a
    Low bridge ! ;)

    :)) Good idea TP. I hope the other passengers don't mind. :))
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    edited August 2015
    "perverts and sadists". You make it sound a bad thing, SM. :p :))
    You could drive a small light aircraft, instead. Only one passenger
    To worry about ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    "perverts and sadists". You make it sound a bad thing, SM. :p :))

    Well, as a would-be lawyer, it is if you end up in court! :))
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Well once again who hasn't thought of doing that ! ;) :D
    I watched one on Sunday morning about a Scottish castle
    With Russians, hiding submarines ? .... Obviously where they
    Got the idea for TSWLM. :))

    Was that the episode 'Castle Dea'th' with Gordon Jackson? B/W?

    I have some episodes on DVD come to think of it. I really must dig them out and watch them! :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    These days under the European human rights act etc...
    You could get off by saying, torture was just a form of
    Self expression and so " your human right" ;)

    Yes, The great Gordon Jackson -{ , I was thinking while watching it
    That in a few years you'll be bossing Bodies and Doyle about. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    edited July 2016
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    These days under the European human rights act etc...
    You could get off by saying, torture was just a form of
    Self expression and so " your human right" ;)

    Yes, The great Gordon Jackson -{ , I was thinking while watching it
    That in a few years you'll be bossing Bodies and Doyle about. ;)

    Torture is prohibited under an Article of the Bill of Rights 1689, a very important Act of Parliament that among other matters prohibits torture under the words "cruel and unusual punishments". Human rights (brought into our domestic law under the Human Rights Act 1998) do not have the power therefore to overrule the UK's statute law. EU law however can as was seen in the Factortame cases starting in 1988.

    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2/introduction

    I'm also writing something about the condoning of illegal state torture in the Bond films soon. Torture is never a good state policy (it produces unreliable evidence for one thing) and many human rights are conditional rather than yours "as of right". There are a good few myths about that don't hold water on closer inspection. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed, torture, just makes people say whatever they think you want to
    hear , to stop the torture. :#
    I'm sure a skilled interrogator could get much more relevant information
    out of a suspect. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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