Reviews

Steed goes undercover to discover how two elderly attorneys routinely get their obviously guilty clients acquitted, by plotting to have Mrs. Gale murdered. This is the first episode of series three and there is an updated opening theme as well as a marked improvement in the film and sound quality over the previous series, which gives the production value a more polished feel, although there are still the annoying extreme closeups. One of the best episodes of the Cathy Gale era, with a solid well paced plot and plenty of dark humor sprinkled throughout courtesy of stand out performances by John Laurie an d Harold Scott as the elderly defense attorneys. Humourous bit during the courtroom sequence where Steed is asked to try on an oversized bowler hat, presaging the OJ Simpson trial. It was good to see a predominently "dark" side of Steed for a change.

Steed is put in charge of protecting a foreign diplomat attending a security conference while the Ministry attempts to discover who among several suspects - including Steed - is a mole. Good straight forward plot with many suspects, but no red herrings. Solid performance by Patrick Macnee and Jon Rollason as Dr. Martin King in his second of three appearances. Mention to Arthur Hewlett as Steed's superior One Twelve.

A stamp shop and auction house are the cover for an international neo Nazi movement. Well done, if wellworn, despite containing several plotholes and suspensions of faith. The episode is notable for Steed being waylaid twice: once in his apartment by two police impostors and the second time in a dentist office reminescent of Marathon Man. Numerous evil bad guys in the episode, foremost of which was Sylvia Langova as the German accented Miss Gray in the aforementioned dental scene. Several poorly choreographed fight sequences, one involving Cathy Gale disposing of an opponent with one wimpy karate chop.

Steed and Dr King must retrieve a microfilm of defense plans from an actress aboard a cruise ship. The first appearance of Jon Rollason as Dr. Martin King who carries the bulk of the action; Steed makes his first appearance midway through the episode, as a Steward, in a secondary role. Fast paced screenplay and goood production values, not a given in the early episodes, and good performances by Patricia English and the supporting cast.

Steed is put in charge of protecting a visiting Balkan leader who is trying to extort money from the West. Typical confusing and non-circuitous plot emblematic of the early episodes. No Cathy Gale in this episode. Julie Stevens was effective as Steed's assistant Venus Smith, who contributed two musical numbers. The members of the Balkan delegation were stereotypically arrogant, brutish and corrupt. Too many wrestling sequences slowed the progression of tge plot.

When a courier is murdered, Steed and Mrs. Peel wrangle an invitation to a rally car race in hopes of finding the missing dispatches. The clues are included in the race map and instructions causing several humourous moments between Steed, Emma, and their respective partners. Ivor Dean, who portrayed Inspector Claude Eustace Teel in many The Saint episodes, guest stars as the butler Bates. Valerie Van Ost steals every scene as the ditzy blonde whose numerous past fiancees had all met with tragic and comic ends.

Clement Armstrong's brother resurrects the Cybernauts to achieve world domination and get revenge on Steed and Mrs. Peel. Nothing original here, but a decent fast paced plot nonetheless. Peter Cushing guest stars as Beresford.

Mrs. Peel is invited to meet an eccentric old bridge player. Steed is incapacitated so he can't go. This episode has many of the same elements as "The House That Jack Built" from season 4: Mrs. Peel is lured to a desolate house by an enemy bent on revenge, no Steed to help her, Emma the only onscreen character for much of the episode without dialogue. The original was good, so was this episode, but it would have been better with more original plot twists.

Dana Andrews plays a returning Korean War POW who learns that his public polling partnership was sold out from under him during his captivity. During the course of the film, he comes to realize how his partner was murdered by Communist sympathizers who turn the the firm into a public relations lobbying firm for subversive left-wing causes. We see the intricate web of scientists, intellectuals and fellow travelers who use K Street lobbyists for their plans for destroying America's defenses.

This 1958 film exposes how public relation and lobbying firms manipulate public opinion to meet their aims and how a gullible public can be coerced. Fifty years later, this was successfully executed to perfection during the 2008 Presidential campaign.

This film is ripe for a remake, although sadly the fifth columnists portrayed in this film, now firmly control Hollywood and would spin a tale about Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, FOX News and other fair and balanced voices.