"ANYTHING" with the remarkable Nigel Green is worth watching!
9 Reviews
Nigel Green
marklaw-3780612 January 2021
Literate Moments Highlight The Avengers' Mastery Of A Dangerous Situation.
rsoonsa23 July 2009
Filmed in December 1966, this enjoyable episode from the initial season shot in colour (number five) of The Avengers is a well directed and adroitly performed affair, in addition to being one of the most favoured from the entire series with Avenger devotees, due in large part to its link with another popular medium, that of comic books, and additionally for being the source of the "EEE-URP" outcry that has become an oral signature distinguishing fans of secret agents John Steed and Mrs. (Emma) Peel. Each session of Season number five is noted for its cleverly inscribed "Mrs. Peel, we're needed", an announcement that directly followed the episode title, in this instance appearing within a corner of a canvas upon which an artistic Emma (Diana Rigg) is daubing. Steed (Patrick Macnee) then describes the mystery to which the two must find a solution: several obviously related killings of prominent business executives under bizarre circumstances. Corpses continue to appear with regularity, and it becomes a matter of great urgency that the pair of Avengers renew their polished means of detection in order to send death upon a holiday. Esteemed British cartoonist Frank Bellamy created panels for the storyline that dramatically segue into live action, while tribute is made to the contemporaneous United States based comic book and television hero, Batman, and included is some purloined Batman themed riffing within the Laurie Johnson score. Since a comic book featuring "The Winged Avenger" is conveniently discarded near one of the homicide victims, the connection is clear. As is generally the case with Avengers films, magnificent estates serve as scenario settings; for this chapter, Stanmore Hall in South Shropshire, as well as High Canons in Well End, near Saint Alban's in Hertfordshire. John Steed's quarters, at "3 Stable Mews", also placed in Hertfordshire, hosts a good deal of the planning for Avenger strategy. A top-flight performance from Rigg gains for her the acting laurels here, as is her custom, she ad libs to good effect, and treats viewers to her fetching Head Upon A Steed Shoulder at one point. Albeit that continuity is inconsistent, the climactic moments, when the Forces of Evil face defeat, are of above Avengers standard quality, and the duo's battle cry is born herein: EEE-URP!
The Bird-man Attacks!
Tweekums14 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Somebody is killing ruthless businessmen; the first two we see were in locked rooms and their injuries suggest attack by a giant bird of prey! While Steed and Mrs Peel don't know it we see a man in a giant eagle costume which matches that of the comic book character 'The Winged Avenger'. Early suspects include an author who was badly treated by the dead men and an inventor who has made a pair of boots that enable the wearer to walk up walls or even in the ceiling! Once they learn of the comic connection three more suspects emerge; the writer, the illustrator and the man who poses in the Winged Avenger suit for the illustrator.
This episode is delightfully bonkers but well executed. The way the action matches the comics is fun and the number of suspects will keep the viewer guessing I was convinced it was going to be the somewhat sinister butler right up to the moment he was killed! Highlights included seeing Mrs Peel and the villain fighting on the ceiling and the villain being struck with large panels from the comic with 'Bam' and suchlike written on them accompanied by music that sounds suspiciously like that from the classic '60s 'Batman' series. The Winged Avenger wasn't the only interesting costume; I couldn't understand why Mrs Peel was wearing a hat that completely hid her hair until the ceiling fight scene it was there solely so we wouldn't see that her hair wasn't falling the wrong way! Overall an enjoyably silly episode.
This episode is delightfully bonkers but well executed. The way the action matches the comics is fun and the number of suspects will keep the viewer guessing I was convinced it was going to be the somewhat sinister butler right up to the moment he was killed! Highlights included seeing Mrs Peel and the villain fighting on the ceiling and the villain being struck with large panels from the comic with 'Bam' and suchlike written on them accompanied by music that sounds suspiciously like that from the classic '60s 'Batman' series. The Winged Avenger wasn't the only interesting costume; I couldn't understand why Mrs Peel was wearing a hat that completely hid her hair until the ceiling fight scene it was there solely so we wouldn't see that her hair wasn't falling the wrong way! Overall an enjoyably silly episode.
Nigel Green and Jack MacGowran
kevinolzak19 March 2011
"The Winged Avenger" is the best yet this color season, one of the most elaborate episodes of them all, depicting scenes as they happen in comic book form, with a finale echoing America's popular BATMAN series. Ruthless businessmen are being murdered in locked rooms atop high rise buildings, apparently by a large bird of prey. Steed and Emma are a particular delight as usual, the two stars at the peak of their form, playing with warmth and affection, and an ad lib or two ("EEE URP!" indeed!). Nigel Green, later seen in "Fog," heads a fine cast, with Jack MacGowran as a highly eccentric scientist who has devised a pair of gravity defying boots that allow the wearer to walk up walls and stand on the ceiling (for those who like to hang around). The main suspects are played by Neil Hallett ("Dead of Winter" and "Get-A-Way!") and Colin Jeavons ("A Touch of Brimstone"), with smaller roles essayed by John Garrie ("Fog"), Donald Pickering ("Homicide and Old Lace"), A. J. Brown ("Small Game for Big Hunters"), Hilary Wontner ("Silent Dust"), and John Crocker ("Propellant 23" and "The Medicine Men").
A SATIRE ON THE WORLD OF COMICS
asalerno101 June 2022
Several unscrupulous businessmen are being murdered in a bloody way. Emma and Steed try to solve the mystery since all the victims were killed on high floors of buildings. Both focus their suspicions on a comic book character called The Winged Avenger and a crazy inventor obsessed with birds. In this chapter, which is a satire on superheroes, we have a grand finale that pays homage to Adam West's iconic Batman series, which was an unprecedented success in those years.
On the hunt for The Avenger. Ee-urp!
Sleepin_Dragon18 July 2022
Several ruthless businessmen are killed, the one thing they all have in common, is that they all appear to have been killed by a large bird of prey.
For me, this is the first time that an episode has felt entirely like a cartoon strip, there have been snippets, bit this began, and ended in that fashion. Indeed we were even treated to a Batman homage.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's bags of fun, and once again under all of the smoke and mirrors, is a really good storyline, sure the boots are a futuristic idea, but they played their part in the episode.
That's one of the show's best ever opening sequences, it really worked well, I loved the horror vibe.
Jack MacGowran is an absolute joy as Professor Poole, he has to be one of my favourite characters from the show so far, wonderfully zany, outrageously bonkers.
I liked this, a lot, 8/10.
For me, this is the first time that an episode has felt entirely like a cartoon strip, there have been snippets, bit this began, and ended in that fashion. Indeed we were even treated to a Batman homage.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's bags of fun, and once again under all of the smoke and mirrors, is a really good storyline, sure the boots are a futuristic idea, but they played their part in the episode.
That's one of the show's best ever opening sequences, it really worked well, I loved the horror vibe.
Jack MacGowran is an absolute joy as Professor Poole, he has to be one of my favourite characters from the show so far, wonderfully zany, outrageously bonkers.
I liked this, a lot, 8/10.
Hilarious episode
coltras3522 April 2022
Steed and Mrs Peel fly into action when a mysterious avenger - apparently with the ability to fly - murders evil, ruthless businessmen. A deliciously hilarious episode, especially one scene where a scientist is out in the field flapping his artificial wings, trying to become airborne. The Avengers has always been out there, off the wall, and this colour episode lives up to that. It also has a who-done-it feel with some good number suspects which all ends with an upside feeling.
The Winged Avenger
guswhovian22 August 2020
When prominent businessmen begin to be killed (does that plot sound familiar?) by what is apparently a bird, Steed and Mrs Peel investigate.
This was a very good episode, one of the most entertaining in a while. The script is excellent, but there are some continuity issues. There's a rather boring bit early in the episode with Donald Pickering that has no bearing on the plot.
There's a wonderful guest cast including Nigel Green and Jack MacGowran, and a great performance from Colin Jeavons as a nervous comic book writer. There's many great scenes throughout the episode, including Steed drawing a diagram of a building on a shoebox, "eee-urp" and the comic panels predicting events. Great stuff.
This was a very good episode, one of the most entertaining in a while. The script is excellent, but there are some continuity issues. There's a rather boring bit early in the episode with Donald Pickering that has no bearing on the plot.
There's a wonderful guest cast including Nigel Green and Jack MacGowran, and a great performance from Colin Jeavons as a nervous comic book writer. There's many great scenes throughout the episode, including Steed drawing a diagram of a building on a shoebox, "eee-urp" and the comic panels predicting events. Great stuff.
The Avengers hunt the 'avenger'!
canndyman13 November 2018
I know this episode is popular among some fans, but I've always found it to be another one of the somewhat tamer stories from the early part of the Rigg color season.
It starts off well - with a bizarre attack by a clawed assassin who has literally scaled a tower-block to murder his chosen victim, with a well-paced climbing scene (where we only really see the attacker's clawed hands) emphasizing the point.
Steed and Emma are called in - but the killings continue, and soon a link to the 'Winged Avenger' comic-book character is established and, from there, they gradually close in on the culprit.
This is a suitably daft story - much in the mold of 'The See-Through Man', and is played more for the comedy factor than any real tension or suspense. Having said that, it's high on ingenious gimmicks - what with an upside-down room, comic-book stills, and gravity-defying shoes. But, despite the fun, it seems to run out of steam - and ultimately feels more like an affectionate send-up than a serious story.
Definitely an oddity, and a bit low on location filming - but a nice way of getting the word 'avenger' into an episode of The Avengers and trying to do something just a little bit different with the usual format.
Steed and Emma are called in - but the killings continue, and soon a link to the 'Winged Avenger' comic-book character is established and, from there, they gradually close in on the culprit.
This is a suitably daft story - much in the mold of 'The See-Through Man', and is played more for the comedy factor than any real tension or suspense. Having said that, it's high on ingenious gimmicks - what with an upside-down room, comic-book stills, and gravity-defying shoes. But, despite the fun, it seems to run out of steam - and ultimately feels more like an affectionate send-up than a serious story.
Definitely an oddity, and a bit low on location filming - but a nice way of getting the word 'avenger' into an episode of The Avengers and trying to do something just a little bit different with the usual format.
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