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- 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
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
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
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
- 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
Keel investigates when the roommate of one of his female patients mysteriously disappears. It turns out that the girl was spirited away by a prostitution ring operating out of a "respectable" hotel. At Keel's behest, another of the victim's girlfriends agrees to pose as a call girl, while John Steed prepares a trap for the head of the ring, whose identity comes as quite a surprise. Written by Bill Strutton, "Toy Trap" was originally telecast July 22, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Steed investigates when African leader Sir Wilbuforce Lungi (Andre Dekar) is nearly assassinated during a diplomatic visit to London. Heading to Lungi's homeland, Steed discovers that the person behind the plot is the leader's "trusted" female assistant. Dr. Keel is brought into the proceedings when the villains attempt to infect Lungi with a deadly yellow fever virus. Written by Patrick Campbell, "The Yellow Needle" originally aired June 10, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
The "nick" in this standard prison farce is a modernistic, forward-looking jail without bars. At its core of staff are dedicated young psychologist Dr. Newcombe (Anthony Newley) and tough-minded but fair overseer Chief Officer Williams (Harry Andrews). Their jobs are made that much more difficult when four hardened criminals are inexplicably sent to the minimum security prison. The leader of this gang of four is Spider (James Booth) whose main job is to rally his cohorts into defeating a rival gang and lording it over other inmates. Their tactics and the efforts of the good doctor to reform them provide the comic fodder for the film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Newley, Anne Aubrey, (more)
- 1959
Conrad Phillips, who has starred as William Tell in a popular British TV series produced by the same crew responsible for The Invisible Man, is here seen as military demolitions expert Barry Finch. While demonstrating a new and extremely sensistive bomb, Finch is trapped in a sand pit a few feet away from the explosive--which will instantly detonate if a shadow falls upon it. The only man in the world capable of rescuing Finch and defusing the bomb is also the only man who casts no shadow--namely, the invisible Peter Brady. This episode was cowritten by The Avengers' Brian Clemens, pseudonymously billed as Tony O'Grady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Ruthless young working-class Englishman Laurence Harvey takes a job in a North Country village controlled by millionaire Donald Wolfit. Harvey resents Wolfit's class consciousness and vows to rise to the top by wooing the millionaire's daughter, Heather Sears. Meanwhile he has an affair with Frenchwoman Simone Signoret. Though he regards Signoret as a mere self-gratifying conquest, she takes their romance seriously enough to kill herself when Harvey impregnates Field. Only as he leaves the chapel after marrying the millionaire's daughter does Harvey that his "smart" marriage, coupled with the guarantee of a fabulous business career, has been attained at the cost of his soul. Based on the novel by John Braine, Room at the Top was one of the most successful films of the British angry-young-man school; it later spawned two sequels, as well as a weekly TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, (more)
