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The Avengers: Dead on Course (1962)
Up, up, and away!
Up, up and away: Shooting on the second season of the Avengers gets off to an uncertain start after the enforced 7-month break (due to a strike). Keel is gone, Carol is gone, so is Keel's "cosy" surgery base. Once again the Avengers are branching out abroad, this time only across the Irish Sea. Plenty of stereotypes: spirits in the breakfast coffee, "Shamrock Airport", lots of blarney about nuns. Sounds like a recipe for disaster but somehow this story provides enough intrigue to keep one awake.
The Avenged?: The crime is a variation on the old wreckers who used to lure ships onto rocks with false beacon fires. This time, passengers on jet liners have received the treatment, all for the sake of a case full of banknotes. Oddly, despite using petrol to ensure a post-crash fire, some of the survivors are kept prisoner. Why?
Diabolical Masterminds?: The machinegun-wielding Mother Superior who has hijacked the nunnery presages "The Eagle's Nest". Vincent had me convinced that he was a fleeing innocent, cleverly realising the gig was up when Steed arrived and so putting on an act as the only helpful informer - which even fooled Steed. Vincent's suspicious boss (Doyle) was the red herring in the mix. The twist worked well, though I began to suspect Vincent when he'd already packed a bag for Canada despite being told to rush to steed without delay. It was a good idea to have him run out on his companions in crime, taking the loot.
The Avengers?: Dr Martin King is an adequate replacement for Dr Keel. He has a certain cheerfulness that Keel didn't, less cynical but nevertheless wary of Steed's old tricks. His weary digs at Steed's early-morning perkiness speak of an old acquaintance, and they seem to trust and admire each other's skills.
Umbrella, Charm and a Bowler Hat?: Steed gets some kind of rustic walking-stick (not a shillelagh) and a rather affected cigarette holder which he insist on sporting every time he makes a 'phone call. He is turned out impeccably despite trotting around dusty cellars, an eerie nunnery-morgue and possibly a crash site. King looks a bit rumpled after having to sleep "swimmingly" in damp lodgings. Both are rather terse, although Steed perks up when around the air hostesses. He also talks on equal terms with the co-pilot's likely widow, the balance of professional urgency and respect is just right. Good acting.
Bizarre?: Possibly the only story where an act ends with Steed loudly proclaiming what a "jolly good idea" it would be to feign a visit to "the gents" (toilet)! This facility also forms a plot point later on as an alibi for wandering the cellars. Most odd. And one of the nuns has five o'clock shadow. The blinking corpse has already been remarked upon, but as it happens during the zoom in to his face just before the commercials, it's a very unfortunate glitch (but unintentionally hilarious).
Dr King is a cheerful fellow (wonder if he and Tara are related?). Reasonable use is made of the cramped sets. Some fun is to be had with the elderly crash analyst whom Steed disgruntles at the airport; peevishly he remarks that Steed will eventually take over the running of the airport - which he does, to the man's grim amusement! 7/10.
The Avengers: Mission to Montreal (1962)
The Avengers Afloat!
The Avengers Afloat! The unusual locations continue, this time with a splendid cruise ship, courtesy of some tremendously atmospheric sets and lighting. It all looks quite solid and expensive. There is barely a fluff in sight, and a rather good collection of characters to spice things up. Quite enjoyable is the superbly sinister John Bennett, as a "luxuriously" named bodyguard who spends the entire episode almost getting into fights, before being floored by a fairly docile old drunk. Lots of well-known faces in this one for nostalgic cult TV fans.
The Avenged?: A runaround after stolen microfilm, enlivened by the violent ring of enemy agents infiltrating the ship. Quite a good punch-up featuring Patrick Macnee, too.
Diabolical Masterminds? Indeed. Mark Eden and Alan Curtis as reluctant and murderous agents respectively. There is also a nice twist or two, whereby Eden's character is secretly the husband of the leading lady, and the masterspy in charge of the agents turns out to be quite a surprise. This latter twist is cleverly revealed by Steed who quotes the masterspy's recognition phrase, unaware that the character has already revealed their identity to the audience by its use.
The Avengers?: Murder mysteries on board ships rely on the cast of characters being temporarily cut off from the outside world. However, a new angle is tried: Dr King boards at the start; Steed comes aboard at the first port of call (France). Steed already has a helper called Sheila in place, and King brings his nurse. With at least three enemy agents, things start getting crowded, but it all works rather well.
Umbrella, Charm and a Bowler Hat?: All present and correct, once Steed sheds his servile steward rig. Some chuckles are to be had with his ribbing of King over the latter's chinoiserie dressing gown: "Don't let her see you in that dressing gown, old boy, it's death to the most rudimentary form of romance!" Steed gets rebuffed for a dance with the film starlet, and she takes quite a shine to Dr King for his integrity. Their growing regard for each other is well-handled, with the ring of truth: Carla: "Do you think that means I'd like to have an affair with you, subconsciously?" Dr King: "And how would you do that subconsciously?" Patricia English adeptly juggles neurosis, fear and hope.
Bizarre?: There are some rather nasty stabbings, usually just when it starts to feel like a jolly romp. The whole ship seems awash with alcohol, too, though Steed doesn't touch a drop until the end credits roll!
Very enjoyable. 9/10.
Beyond Paradise: Episode #1.2 (2023)
Good acting, solid plot, lovely weather
I'm sure it was never that sunny for that long on the coast of Devon, at least not when I've been there, but this is a nicely-directed slice of fun.
It's great not to have a murder every week (though episode 1 was an attempted murder) and opportunistic crimes are more refreshing than pre-planned convoluted "perfect" ones. That said, as with half the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, there isn't necessarily even a crime in this one (okay, hit-and-run maybe, but there are extenuating circumstances.)
The fellow playing Matt/Matty/Matthew did a good job in the final scenes and there was at least one genuine surprise for me, even as a grizzled old detective-show watcher/reader. I'm glad we got some relief from the "Will Humphrey and Martha split up" jeopardy, which could get quite old quite fast.
Special Branch: Assault (1973)
correction to the previous review
Angus McKay did not play the pawnshop proprietor. He played the rather posh Club Secretary. The fence/proprietor was played by George Moon.
The director of this episode was Douglas Camfield, and present are actors with whom he had worked before as Production Assistant at the BBC (e.g. Roger Avon, who had played Saphadin in Doctor Who on which Camfield had worked in 1965).
Camfield had also directed the only previous episode of Special Branch to feature Patrick Mower, who returns here as a "guest" but clearly provides the energy for the series as the maverick, arrogant newcomer - as Derren Nesbitt had for the previous two seasons as Inspector Jordan.
Shades of Darkness: Bewitched (1983)
don't get the wrong impression
The other reviewer was talking about the 1960s sitcom "Bewitched" starring Elizabeth Montgomery. This 1983 (or 1985) production is an episode in the UK series "Shades of Darkness", as the cast list reveals. It would be a lot more helpful if people actually checked first which version of a title they are commenting on! This was a ghost story fairly unsuitable for small children and contained little or NO humour!
I recall seeing this a year or two ago and was struck by the slow pace and gloomy atmosphere, though there was a hauntingly bleak seaside atmosphere and a Victorian setting.
Gareth Thomas as always gives a good beleaguered performance, and the plot revolved around someone whose wife-to-be had been killed early, I think. As usual with "19th century" ghost stories, evil and vengeful spirits were involved. However, the whole thing was directed in a fairly flat and uninvolving manner, not helped by the pace.
Perhaps nose-twitching Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Yorke would have pepped it up!
Screen One: A Very Polish Practice (1992)
A good follow-up and a new direction
Excellent to see the character development of Dr Stephen Daker (Peter Davison) continuing, and increasingly confident following the events of the last season of "A Very Peculiar Practice".
This TV film misses Rose Marie (Barbara Flynn) but her character was pretty much played out in the University stories already, whilst Bob Buzzard proves surprisingly versatile in the new setting. Altogether a nice, witty conclusion, perhaps slightly melancholy and not as surreal but with the added bonus of telling its story in a mere movie-length instead of over an entire season.
As always the acting from the main and guest cast is excellent. Joanna Kanska is now reportedly (according to "where are they now?") acting as receptionist to Michael Winner but I find that hard to believe as she's still acting.
On the basis of her early BBC roles, deservedly so! Peter Davison and David Troughton, both TV and stage veterans, spark amusingly off each other in this, as they have in their other productions together. See it if you can, but see the TV series first.
Tmavomodrý svet (2001)
supreme action, real emotion
This is a beautifully-made film, finely balancing the fragile human stories (both before and after 1945) and the indiscriminating combat of war. The use of outtakes from Battle of Britain (a film that does not nearly so well portray the 1940s!) enhances, rather than detracts from the whole. A deeply impressive work, this lived in my memory for the 2 years since I saw it, and I have just bought it to explore the making-of extras.
I highly recommend this film (movie). Like "Aces High", it alternates between viscerally exciting (or scary) air combat sequences, where the viewer might experience actual loss of characters they'd come to care about, but also unpredictable interactions on the ground, where skillful writers and real-life experiences inform some involving and moving events. This also underlines the fact that for many people, 1945 marked not just the end of one conflict but the beginning of another, and even today we still don't recognise the loss, bravery and sacrifice of so many nameless heroes, or even worse we venerate them from a distance without allowing them to be human beings with all the emotional weaknesses that entails - making their sacrifices all the more valiant.
Watching this movie is an experience which will take you from the heights of friendship to the depths of jealousy, and back to love that endures even beyond death. If all war films were like this, we'd never have to fight again.
Did I mention it's worth watching? ;-)
10/10
Merlin (1998)
Pure soap opera
Sadly dumbed-down, but the Welsh locations are beautiful (unlike the scrawny anorexic-looking actresses).
There's an awful lot of depth to the Merlin legends, and he has been the focus for stories for hundreds of years. There is evidence that Merdynn of Guenedotia was subject of his own myth cycle long before being merged with Arthur's story. Great writers like Mary Stewart in "The Crystal Cave" novels have explored this rich heritage. Even Excalibur, the John Boorman movie, featured a dangerous, edgy Merlin, the true sorcerer of the legends - practising magic makes one dangerous to know! Although Excalibur suffered anachronisms similar to this film (15th Century armour, jousting, none of which existed at the time the Arthur legends were widely told, let alone 600 years earlier when he is supposed to have existed!), it is recommended for at least having a Welsh/British Merlin as he would have been (and he needs a beard!).
I haven't seen the other 1998 Merlin TV movie with Jason Connery, but it can't be worse than this travesty. Why does everyone look like they've just stepped out of a shampoo commercial? One star.