"Six Hands Across a Table" finally presents Cathy Gale (essentially working solo yet again) in a more emotionally involved situation than we've seen before. Spending several days at the country estate of an old schoolmate, Cathy becomes somewhat close to the girl's father, Oliver Waldner (Guy Doleman), who is later said to be in love with Cathy. Unfortunately, Waldner is involved with a corporate takeover of a rival shipbuilding firm that has proposed doing business with the French. Patriotism takes a back seat when the firm's owner is killed in a suspicious car crash, particularly since he was revealed to be an excellent driver. While Steed casts aspersions on Cathy's newfound relationship, Brian Collier (Edward de Souza, "The Curious Case of the Countless Clues"), son of the late owner, is also being victimized by a series of near fatal 'accidents.' Philip Madoc, previously seen in "The Decapod," is his usual dependable self, carefully weighing his options on both sides, with solid contributions from other series veterans like Campbell Singer ("Who's Who???"), John Wentworth ("The Master Minds"), Frank Sieman ("Fog"), and Ilona Rodgers ("The Bird Who Knew Too Much").
4 Reviews
Great episode.
Sleepin_Dragon8 February 2024
Cathy spends some time with friends, but her break turns into tragedy when there's a death, which appears to be an accident, Cathy investigates.
I'd go so far as to say, this is perhaps my favourite episode from the second series, it's a really interesting and intriguing storyline, I loved the mix of characters, and I think that this gave us the best of Cathy so far.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the episodes where Cathy is given the lead, and Blackman shines through once again, I know I shouldn't comment, but she looks sublime throughout, but her acting performance is terrific.
A really nice supporting cast here, top notch performances from Edward De Souza and the wonderful Philip Madoc.
Really good this one, the penultimate episode of Series two is a bit of a classic.
8/10.
I'd go so far as to say, this is perhaps my favourite episode from the second series, it's a really interesting and intriguing storyline, I loved the mix of characters, and I think that this gave us the best of Cathy so far.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the episodes where Cathy is given the lead, and Blackman shines through once again, I know I shouldn't comment, but she looks sublime throughout, but her acting performance is terrific.
A really nice supporting cast here, top notch performances from Edward De Souza and the wonderful Philip Madoc.
Really good this one, the penultimate episode of Series two is a bit of a classic.
8/10.
The Sinister Ship-Builders
profh-13 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
3 partners in a ship-building firm consider murdering a 4th who refuses to go along with their plans. When the 4th man has a fatal car accident, the question isn't so much, was it an accident or not, but more like WHO was responsible? Cathy, a longtime friend of the family, just happens to be in a position to investigate... though we're never quite sure if that was pure luck or Steed suggesting she "invite" herself over for a friendly visit. One of the partners is falling in love with her... which makes her particularly annoyed when Steed climbs in her window at one point to ask if she's gotten anywhere.
As with most stories from this period, this one's extremely talky & technical, though it does get more "personal" for Cathy, who's got the bulk of the screen-time. The opening sequence, where the board members are seen from above, from the back, visually reminds me of the style of some of the later filmed episodes. The show continues to evolve, as in the last act, Cathy is seen wearing an all-leather outfit of the kind she would favor in season 3. There were also around 5 different lines flubbed, but being these were shot "live-on-tape", they just kept plowing through. (People in real life don't talk perfectly, why should fictional people in stories have to? Heh.) What really makes this one is the guest-cast.
Guy Doleman is "Oliver Waldner", very serious, intense, and determined when it comes to business, but somehow doesn't hesitate to lay his cards on the table to Cathy once he finds her looking into what's going on. I first noticed him as the very 1st "Number One" on THE PRISONER, and have also seen him as a member of SPECTRE in THUNDERBALL, and Michael Caine's cold-blooded boss in all 3 "Harry Palmer" films. Watching this episode some years back, it crossed my mind Doleman would have made a good James Bond, if the 007 producers had ever wanted to follow the books (which, frankly, they almost never did).
Campbell Singer is "George Stanley", the 2nd partner, who's much more openly aggressive when it comes to his business ambitions. I've also seen him as Dr. Watson (THE MAN WHO DISAPPEARED, 1951), as the best of the 4 different Inspector Teals on the Roger Moore SAINT series, and as one of Steed's superiors in a later AVENGERS episode ("Who's Who?").
John Wentworth is "Sir Charles Reniston", the 3rd partner, and the only one who seems to have any sense of morality, which runs at odds with his admitted greed for money. He later played Patrick McGoohan's intended father-in-law on THE PRISONER ("Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling"), and I've also seen him as a parson in the film THE OBLONG BOX.
Edward De Souza is "Brian Collier", the son of the 4th partner who was killed, who elects to stick with his late father's plans, and soon after becomes the target of several "accidents". I've seen him in Hammer's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1963), THE KISS OF THE VAMPIRE, and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. In a recent audio commentary, he was joking about the idea that he might have made a good James Bond back when. I can sort of see that, but more the mid-50s novels than the later ones.
Philip Madoc, one of my favorites, is "Julian Seabrook", the ambitious accountant, who just can't help seeming sinister or suspicious, even when he isn't. Of course, I mainly know him from no less than 5 different roles he played on DOCTOR WHO, including the 2nd feature film.
As the details of this somewhat dense mystery begin to reveal themselves in the last act, it struck me that this story would be very timely in reference to how business is conducted in America right now, with corporate CEOs manipulating workers and stock prices to achieve expansion via company take-overs. It's a good thing the writing and acting on the show tends to be as good as it is, otherwise stories like this might be just putting viewers to sleep.
At the end, we can see Cathy fighting back a lot of emotions, and I was hoping Steed might drop his callous joking attitude for once. But that might not be honest for him, so at least he found a way to make her laugh, which is something.
I'm afraid the 2009 Region 2 DVD had inconsistent picture quality, grainy, streaks, jumps, but at least, mostly-clear sound. It looks to me like it was a combination of broadcast problems plus a somewhat-used film print! I'm still thrilled to be able to watch these, especially now that they're UNCUT.
As with most stories from this period, this one's extremely talky & technical, though it does get more "personal" for Cathy, who's got the bulk of the screen-time. The opening sequence, where the board members are seen from above, from the back, visually reminds me of the style of some of the later filmed episodes. The show continues to evolve, as in the last act, Cathy is seen wearing an all-leather outfit of the kind she would favor in season 3. There were also around 5 different lines flubbed, but being these were shot "live-on-tape", they just kept plowing through. (People in real life don't talk perfectly, why should fictional people in stories have to? Heh.) What really makes this one is the guest-cast.
Guy Doleman is "Oliver Waldner", very serious, intense, and determined when it comes to business, but somehow doesn't hesitate to lay his cards on the table to Cathy once he finds her looking into what's going on. I first noticed him as the very 1st "Number One" on THE PRISONER, and have also seen him as a member of SPECTRE in THUNDERBALL, and Michael Caine's cold-blooded boss in all 3 "Harry Palmer" films. Watching this episode some years back, it crossed my mind Doleman would have made a good James Bond, if the 007 producers had ever wanted to follow the books (which, frankly, they almost never did).
Campbell Singer is "George Stanley", the 2nd partner, who's much more openly aggressive when it comes to his business ambitions. I've also seen him as Dr. Watson (THE MAN WHO DISAPPEARED, 1951), as the best of the 4 different Inspector Teals on the Roger Moore SAINT series, and as one of Steed's superiors in a later AVENGERS episode ("Who's Who?").
John Wentworth is "Sir Charles Reniston", the 3rd partner, and the only one who seems to have any sense of morality, which runs at odds with his admitted greed for money. He later played Patrick McGoohan's intended father-in-law on THE PRISONER ("Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling"), and I've also seen him as a parson in the film THE OBLONG BOX.
Edward De Souza is "Brian Collier", the son of the 4th partner who was killed, who elects to stick with his late father's plans, and soon after becomes the target of several "accidents". I've seen him in Hammer's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1963), THE KISS OF THE VAMPIRE, and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. In a recent audio commentary, he was joking about the idea that he might have made a good James Bond back when. I can sort of see that, but more the mid-50s novels than the later ones.
Philip Madoc, one of my favorites, is "Julian Seabrook", the ambitious accountant, who just can't help seeming sinister or suspicious, even when he isn't. Of course, I mainly know him from no less than 5 different roles he played on DOCTOR WHO, including the 2nd feature film.
As the details of this somewhat dense mystery begin to reveal themselves in the last act, it struck me that this story would be very timely in reference to how business is conducted in America right now, with corporate CEOs manipulating workers and stock prices to achieve expansion via company take-overs. It's a good thing the writing and acting on the show tends to be as good as it is, otherwise stories like this might be just putting viewers to sleep.
At the end, we can see Cathy fighting back a lot of emotions, and I was hoping Steed might drop his callous joking attitude for once. But that might not be honest for him, so at least he found a way to make her laugh, which is something.
I'm afraid the 2009 Region 2 DVD had inconsistent picture quality, grainy, streaks, jumps, but at least, mostly-clear sound. It looks to me like it was a combination of broadcast problems plus a somewhat-used film print! I'm still thrilled to be able to watch these, especially now that they're UNCUT.
Thoughtful, well done ep
bobforapples-401468 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Superb acting. This ep fleshed out the character of Cathy Gale a little more. Steed had less than usual to do in this ( though he still figures in well). There is the question as to whether Cathy's current involvement with the shipping exec and his family is a coincidence or not . Since Steed is involved heavily in the investigation it is probably on purpose.
This ep is short on violence. Just one scene where Cathy fights a prowler. I do not believe who the prowler is is ever explained in the ep. Or what became of him. Similar to other Avengers eps ( see my reviews of others eps in this series).
This ep is short on violence. Just one scene where Cathy fights a prowler. I do not believe who the prowler is is ever explained in the ep. Or what became of him. Similar to other Avengers eps ( see my reviews of others eps in this series).
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