Ian Hendry Movies
British character actor Ian Hendry launched his career with little fanfare as a "fall guy" for a prominent circus clown. Learning his theatrical rudiments at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, Hendry logged in a number of respectable stage and TV credits. In 1961, he was Patrick MacNee's first co-star on TV's The Avengers, but was quickly dropped from the series when it was decided that a male-female co-starring team would have more audience appeal. Hendry was cast to good advantage in such films as Live Now Pay Later (1962), The Beauty Jungle (1964) and Repulsion (1965), and in such TV series as The Lotus Eaters. In 1971, Hendry won a BFA award (Britain's equivalent to the Oscar) for his performance as low-life hoodlum Eric Price in Get Carter. From 1963 to 1971, he was married to actress Janet Munro. Alas, after his final screen appearance in The McVicar (1980), Ian Hendry became ill and died of undisclosed causes at the age of 53. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1972
When three old acquaintances are thrown together after several years, they are shocked to realize that they are looking at each other from different sides of the law. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1973
The all-purpose title Assassin was trotted out for this 1973 thriller. Ian Hendry stars as an M15 agent, licensed to kill in the name of the Crown. His assignment: seek out and liquidate an elusive enemy agent. Hendry's target is one of several people working in the British Air Ministry. Hint: Edward Judd looms large (as he always did) in the supporting cast. Assassin was released minus a producer credit, so if you don't like it, we haven't the slightest idea whom you can blame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Ian Hendry made his final appearance as Dr. David Keel in this episode, which originally aired on in the December 30, 1961. Steed and Keel go after unscrupulous businessman Lemuel Potts (John Bailey), who has a habit of crushing those less powerful than he. The latest victim is an elderly packager who was cheated out of a shipment of bananas. In true Avengers fashion, the good guys beat the villain at his own game -- several times over. First telecast December 23, 1961 (though it was videotaped several months earlier), "A Change of Bait" was written by Lewis Davidson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
While investigating a series of mysterious fires, Steed's assistant Carol takes time off for a hairdressing appointment. When she is nearly killed by an exploding hair drier, Carol deduces that the owners of the beauty salon are the brains behind an arson ring. Steed and Keel close in on the villains, only to risk immolation themselves. Written by Peter Ling and Shelaigh Ward, "Ashes of Roses" was originally telecast live on March 4, 1961; the following week, the series switched to videotape. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Still on the trail of drug kingpin Ronnie Vance, Dr. Keel goes undercover to join Vance's gang at the suggestion of secret agent, John Steed. Threatened with death from a narcotics-laden hypodermic, Vance confesses to the murder of Keel's fiancée. Much to Steed's delight, Keel agrees to remain as his permanent partner. This episode introduced Ingrid Hafner in the semi-regular role of special agent Carol Wilson. Written by series stalwart Brian Clemens, "Brought to Book" was originally telecast January 14, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Suspecting that he has been slated for murder by his avaricious wife, Caribbean dictator General Mendoza fakes his own death. To keep his daughter Carmelite (Bandana Das Gupta) out of harm's way, Mendoza arranges for her to be kidnapped. Steed and Keel are brought into the case when Carmelite is kidnapped for real, and the motive behind it all turns out to be political rather than monetary. Originally telecast live on February 4, 1961, "Crescent Moon" was written by Geoffrey Bellman and John Whitney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Accused of murdering one of his patients, Keel turns to Steed for help. The latter suspects that the real culprit is the dead woman's business partner. Unfortunately, the killer is on the verge of striking again, using his favorite modus operandi: a radio "accidentally" tossed in a bathtub. Written by Peter Ling and Shelaigh Ward, "Dance with Death" was videotaped on April 13, 1961, and telecast two days later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A frozen body is discovered in a shipment of beef -- and it's all the handiwork of a neo-Nazi group called the Phoenix. Assigned to infiltrate the organization, Keel discovers that one of its members has perfected a method of cryogenics. Alas, his true identity is revealed, whereupon Keel is scheduled for the next "freezing session." Though videotaped on September 7, 1961, "Dead of Winter" would not be telecast until December 9, 1961; the episode was written by Eric Paice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A British secret service agent is killed near a nuclear submarine dry dock. Hoping to solve the murder, Steed poses as a metalurgist and heads to the shipyard himself. Here he comes face to face with his old enemy Kolchek (Peter Arne), whose plans go far beyond simple one-on-one murder. Nyree Dawn Porter, who according to several sources was the producer's original choice for Cathy Gale (the character played by Honor Blackman during The Avengers' second and third season), guest-starred as Liz Wells. Written by James Mitchell, "Death on the Slipway" was originally telecast June 24, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Posing as a crooked airline steward, Steed is able to join an international diamond smuggling ring. After arriving in New York, he is accused of killing a girl in a traffic accident and cannot account for his actions during the tragedy. Suspecting that Steed has been drugged, Keel investigates, thereby uncovering an insidious and wide-ranging blackmail scheme. Written by Max Marquis, "Diamond Cut Diamond" was originally telecast live on February 18, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
While ministering to the wounds of a dying diamond thief, Dr. Keel sets a trap for his patient's partner. The plan backfires when the accomplice, convinced that Keel knows where the stolen diamonds are hidden, kidnaps the doctor's assitant Carol Wilson. Meanwhile, John Steed is conspicuous by his absence, until the final thrill-packed scenes. First telecast July 8, 1961, "Double Danger" was written by Gerald Verner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Treating a girl who has ostensibly attempted to jump into the Thames, Dr. Keel discovers that the girl is not the person who was reported to have jumped. Hoping to determine the girl's true identity, Keel and Carol Wilson follow the trail of clues to an East European circus. Figuring largely in the proceedings is one Zibbo the Clown (Kenneth J. Warren), whose jolly face belies his sinister intentions. One of the few Avengers episodes not to feature Patrick Macnee as John Steed, "Girl on the Trapeze" was written by Dennis Spooner and originally aired live on February 11, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Originally telecast January 7, 1961, this very first episode of The Avengers was one of the few that "justified" the series' title. When his fiancée is murdered by drug couriers, Dr. David Keel becomes frustrated by the police's inability to solve the case. Enlisting the aid of secret agent John Steed, who is likewise trailing the drug dealers, Dr. Keel lays a trap for the "brains" of the outfit, Ronnie Vance (Robert James). Kate Woodville, later the wife of series star Patrick Macnee, was seen as the murder victim. Scripted by Ray Rigby from a story by Patrick Brawn, "Hot Snow" was videotaped, like most of the first 78 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Originally scheduled as a live telecast on March 18, 1961, this Avengers episode was instead committed to videotape and broadcast on April 8. Steed and Keel put a tail on recently released convict Frank Preston, hoping that he will lead them to the money that he stole. But before Preston can reach his destination, he is waylaid by a gang of crooks, who likewise want to get their hands on the stolen lucre. The episode comes to a nailbiting climax as a wounded Preston forces Keel to help him retrieve the loot, which is secreted in a slimy sewer. "Hunt the Man Down" was written by Richard Harris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In London to close an oil deal, middle-eastern potentate King Tenuphon (played by Burt Kwouk of "Pink Panther" fame) is targetted for assassination. Assigned to protect Tenuphon, Steed suspects that the would-be killers are sequestered in a seedy suburban London flat. The climax involves a low-flying helicopter -- but who's at the controls? Written by James Mitchell, "Kill the King" was taped on August 30, 1961, and telecast on September 2. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Dr. Keel investigates the disappearance of one of his patients' husbands, a noted scientist working on a hush-hush government project. Suspecting that there's dirty work afoot, Steed convinces Keel to impersonate the missing scientist. Complicating matters is the fact that one of the villains' accomplices is an anesthetist at the hospital where an injured Keel is brought for treatment. Written by Terrence Feely, "Nightmare" was originally telecast live on January 28, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Unbeknownst to Keel, Steed uses him as the courier for a new medical formula, printed on a tiny microdot. Arriving at a Swiss medical convention, Keel hands over his conference card (containing the microdot, of course) to a young lady of his acquaintance. Thus the girl finds her life in danger, while Keel comes face to face with the person who framed him for murder in the previous week's episode. First telecast April 29, 1961, "One for the Mortuary" was written by Brian Clemens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
After six weeks of live telecasts, The Avengers went back to videotape with this episode, which was originally broadcast on April 1, 1961. Suspecting that a civil servant has been blackmailed into passing secret information to the enemy, Steed allows himself to be blackmailed by the seedy owner of a Soho nightclub. Ordered to drop off a valuable package at the monkey house in a private zoo, Steed watches with a mixture of amazement and amusement as a monkey picks up the parcel and delivers it to the head of the blackmailers. He is even more amazed (and not amused) when he discovers the identity of the "brains" of the outfit. "Please Don't Feed the Animals" was written by Dennis Spooner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Hoping to break up a counterfeiting ring, Steed takes the place of a forger who is about to be released from prison. Steed's partner Dr. Keel remains in the sidelines awaiting further instructions, which may never come if Steed is unable to elude the other counterfeiters, who hover around him constantly. Heron Carvic guest-starred as Five, an associate of Steed's ubiquitous colleague One-Ten. Written by Richard Harris, "Square Root of Evil" was originally broadcast live on January 21, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Steed and Keel investigate when tests of an experimental vaccine result in a deadly disease. The two agents learn that a scientist, jealous of the inventor of the vaccine, is responsible for the biological disaster. Believing that Steed has been infected by it, Keel races against time to find an antidote -- but the "real" climax occurs after Steed has been given a clean bill of health. Written by Lester Powell, "The Deadly Air" was originally broadcast on December 16, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
While returning from a vacation in Chile, Dr. Keel tries to help the victims of a cyclone in Mexico. He soon stumbles onto a particularly nasty example of industrial pollution. Another doctor swears vengeance against the wealthy financier responsible for this ecological outrage, forcing Keel to put his return-to-England plans on hold and to prevent a brutal (if somewhat justified) murder. Written by John Lucarotti, "The Far Distant Dead" was originally broadcast August 19, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
This episode was originally telecast May 27, 1961. The title refers to an organization that specializes in "persuading" people to do their bidding via brutal beatings. The head of the crooks is a man called The Deacon (Willoughby Goddard). The current target for the Frighteners is a man who disapproves of his daughter's fiancée, a man who specializes in marrying wealthy women in order to square his debts. As Steed tries to establish a link between the fiancée and the Frighteners, Dr. Keel goes undercover in hopes of exposing the Deacon, or at least to beat him at his own game. "The Frighteners" was written by Berkley Mather. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Steed swings into action when the janitor (Geroge Pravda) at a medical research lab steals a vial of radiactive material. The search becomes even more intense when Keel discovers that the stolen vial will soon kill the janitor and everyone else with whom he comes in contact. Meanwhile, the thief and his girlfriend arrange to leave for Europe, but the contact man making the arrangements has murder on his mind. Originally telecast live on February 25, 1961, "The Radioactive Man" was written by Fred Edge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Several prison convicts escape within a short space of time, leading Steed to conclude that someone is running an organization specializing in "springing" inmates ahead of schedule. Going undercover as a prisoner, Dr. Keel traces the clues to a finishing school for young women. Another of Steed's assistants, Caroline Evans (Margo Andrew) enrolls in the school, and as expected, both she and Keel fall into the clutches of the villains before the final fade-out. Written by John Whitney and Geoffrey Bellman, "The Springers" first aired May 13, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Keel discovers that vital government secrets are being smuggled out of a seedy funhouse at Southend. Taking a job at the funhouse, Steed is captured and placed aboard The Ghost Train, the method of transportation used by the enemy. As Keel rushes to Steed's rescue, the latter calmly manages to hoodwink his captors by utilizing a bogus "secret weapon." First broadcast August 5, 1961, "Tunnel of Fear" was written by John Kruse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
