The Avengers (TV Series) Love All (1969) User Reviews

The Computerised Casanova!

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 2 April 2009]

Another great 'Avengers' episode by Jeremy Burnham.

There is a major security leak at The Ministry. Sir Rodney Kellogg, in charge of Missile Coordination, is passing secrets to...er, his cleaning woman. Why? Because he loves her. He is hopelessly infatuated with Martha and will betray his country for her even though she rivals Nora Batty of 'Last Of The Summer Wine' in the looks stakes. So what is going on?

When Tara is attacked ( yet again! ) in her flat, a major clue is found - a ring bearing the inscription: Casanova Ink. It is the name of a publisher that specialises in romantic fiction, particularly that of Rosemary Z.Glade. Steed pops along to their offices where he meets Thelma ( Patsy Rowlands ). Glade does not actually exist. Thelma writes the books with the help of a piano-shaped computer, programmed with every romantic fiction cliché imaginable...

What's to say about this? Its wonderfully daft, and has some great jokes at the expense of slushy Mills & Boon-style fiction. That suave cad Terence Alexander is the main villain, with dear Patsy Rowlands on hand, and Veronica Strong is particularly good as the chain-smoking cleaning woman able in seconds to transform herself into a picture of loveliness. Peter Stephens is seen briefly; he was the 'Chairman of The Board Of Governors' of St. Swithins hospital in both 'Doctor At Large' and 'Doctor In Charge'.

The villains have impregnated the Glade books with microdots that send out subliminal messages such as: 'You Will Fall In Love With The Next Person You See'. Tara falls for this herself at one point and Steed has to rescue her when she tries to jump out of a window.

Directed by Peter Sykes, who also made the delicious Frankie Howerd comedy 'The House In Nightmare Park'.

The book of love

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 18 July 2015]

Secrets have been leaking from a government ministry so Steed and Tara are called into investigate. They speculate who might be responsible and why; Tara suggests the motive might be love but Mother is unimpressed. For some reason the men there have fallen for Martha Roberts, the less than glamorous cleaner whose requests for secrets they just can't refuse. She initially deflects suspicion onto one of the men but Tara recognises her perfume. One clue leads to another and Steed is soon at the doors of Casanova Ink; a publishing company that specialises in romantic fiction penned by a computer! It turns out these are no ordinary books; a select few contain microdots which bear a subliminal message causing the reader to fall in love with the next person they set their eyes on.

This episode is fairly silly even by the standards of The Avengers… and that is what makes it such fun! It was interesting to see the men had fallen in love with a dowdy cleaner rather than some glamorous beauty… especially when we see that this was just a disguise and she really is beautiful! Veronica Strong did a fine job in the role. Terence Alexander also puts in a solid performance Nigel Bromfield; the charmer behind the plot. Despite the enjoyable silliness there are moments of danger; most notably when a thug attacks Tara in her apartment and later when the evil Bromfield forces an infatuated Tara to climb onto a high ledge after she fell victim to his microdots. The finale is as delightfully silly as the rest of the episode as Steed learns that being loved is frightening when too many people love you!

Very surprising plot

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8/10 · 11 April 2019]

The main unusual element which I appreciate the most, and also surprised me is the moment when Tara is about to commit suicide, you have here a very tense moment, the kind of one we are not used in the show. And just after you have a funny scene that I won't spoil. So, to summarize, the contrast between those two scenes is a good surprise for the series.

We love Veronica Strong!

[kevinolzak · 10/10 · 10 May 2011]

"Love All" is one of the last classics, third of 5 episodes scripted by veteran actor Jeremy Burnham and second directed by Peter Sykes ("Noon Doomsday"). Veronica Strong excels as Martha Roberts, a frumpy, chain smoking charwoman working at the Ministry, extracting top secret information from woman hating civil servants who inexplicably fall in love with her. Tara is the only one to notice the symptoms (and perfume), but also the one that unknowingly succumbs herself, led to attempt a despondent suicide. The climax reveals all, and Steed is the lucky beneficiary! The plot is certainly nothing new, but the execution makes all the difference, with a distinctive music score quite unlike any other done for the series. The final appearance for veterans Terence Alexander ("The Town of No Return" and "The Correct Way to Kill"), Brian Oulton ("The Charmers"), Frank Gatliff ("One for the Mortuary," "The Sell-Out," "A Chorus of Frogs"), and Norman Pitt ("A Change of Bait").

A definite classic.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 12 September 2022]

Officials at The Ministry are given secrets to a frumpy, chain smoking cleaner, Martha Roberts.

I really did enjoy this episode, something of a classic in my opinion, it's well imagined, well paced, and full of intrigue and suspense.

I won't give anything away, but the transformation when it comes, is quite a startling one.

The production itself is rather excellent, it has the look and feel of an espionage thriller, it looks terrific, and the music is totally on point. The whole thing feels incredibly well made, it's an immaculate fifty minutes of drama.

Three performances stood out for me in particular, Terrence Alexander, Patsy Rowlands and of course Veronica Strong, the latter really does deliver a knockout showing as Martha.

Thought very highly of this one, 9/10.