Peter Hammond Movies

Producer-writer Brian Clemens was in top form with this episode, which originally aired on February 15, 1964. Cathy Gale adds to her already impressive leather wardrobe when she joins a motorcycle gang. No, she hasn't "gone punk," she's merely trying to help Steed find the location of an insidious electronic jamming device. As for Steed himself, he has quite a time with a pair of "old witches," namely the Peck Sisters (Athene Seyler and Nora Nicholson). "Build a Better Mousetrap" made its American cable TV debut on April 1, 1991, arousing amusement over the episode's depiction of "typical" 1960s British teens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Invited to visit the country estate of a renowned historian, Cathy discovers that her host has vanished and that his highly suspicous ward (Janine Gray) has taken his place. Before long, Cathy finds herself being stalked by a shadowy assassin. Will Steed arrive in time to save Cathy from a grisly fate -- and just who is her mysterious assailant? Written by Brian Clemens, "Don't Look Behind You" was first telecast in England on December 14, 1963. American viewers who saw the episode for the first time on March 19, 1991 would recognize guest star Janine Grey for her appearance on two other "cult" spy series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steed searches high and low for Mister Lo (Robert Lee), an infamous gold smuggler. His investigation leads to a group of disgruntled military men who use their ill-gotten gains for a surprisingly worthy cause. Elements essential to the plot include a mysterious check for 5,000 pounds, a Chinese restaurant, and a suddenly militaristic Cathy Gale. Written by Roger Marshall and Phyllis Norman, "The Golden Fleece" was originally telecast on December 7, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cathy poses as a journalist to find out why a circus clown (Robert Rietty) is trying to murder Steed. It turns out that the clown is a functionary of the Mafia, and that Steed is getting too close for comfort to the "organization's" American drug-smuggling operation. It also turns out that the clown wants to escape the clutches of the Mafia himself. . .or does he? Originally telecast in England on March 2, 1963 (and finally shown in America on February 27, 1991), "Conspiracy of Silence" was written by Roger Marshall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After lapsing into a comatose state, a rocket scientist suddenly disappears from view. Investigating the situation, Steed and Cathy discover that the missing scientist was deeply influenced by the occult. When the man is found dead, the Avengers immerse themselves in the world of Black Magic to uncover the killer. Intended as Cathy Gale's introductory episode, "Warlock" had to be extensively re-edited when it was decided to delay its telecast until January 26, 1963, by which time Cathy was firmly established on the series. Written by Doreen Montgomery, the episode didn't make it to American television until February 20, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

Having recently left The Avengers, Ian Hendry (aka Dr. Keel) is conspicuous by his absence in this episode. Going it alone this time around, Steed is assigned to a spacecraft center where radiation shields are being manufactured. One of the scientists has somehow been exposed to radiation, and it is up to Steed to determine whether this was by accident or design. Videotaped several months before its telecast, "Dragonsfield" was written by Terrence Feeley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

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

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

X the Unknown is a well-crafted imitation of the Quatermass British sci-fi pictures of the 1950s. A group of soldiers on maneuvers in Scotland stumble across a gravel pit which emanates an unusual amount of radiation. Several deaths occur before the radioactive material is mysteriously stolen. Researcher Dr. Adam Royston (Dean Jagger) speculates that the thief is some sort of inhuman monstrosity dwelling at the Earth's core. He points out that past radioactive disturbances have been occurring at 50-year intervals, each followed by sudden deaths and the disappearance of the material. Royston suggests that the unknown monster has been resuscitated by humankind's recent atomic experiments. Sure enough, the monster manifests itself as a huge slab of glowing radioactive mud (laugh now if you must -- you won't laugh when you see it). X the Unknown works well within its limited budget; unfortunately, many TV prints have been truncated, robbing some of the best horrific moments of their full impact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Faith Domergue is the sweet-faced villainess in the murky British melodrama Spin a Dark Web. Domergue plays Bella Francesi, who with her brother Rico (Martin Benson) runs practically all illegal activities in London. The parallels between the Francesi and the Borgias are underlined at every possible opportunity, in the manner of the 1931 gangster flick Scarface. The erstwhile hero, one Jim Bankley (Lee Patterson), is the catalyst for Bella's ultimate downfall. Spin a Dark Web was based on Wide Boys Never Work, a novel by Robert Westerby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A fine upstanding wife finds it difficult to keep her sordid past as a criminal a secret from her husband and neighbors. The trouble begins when someone robs a neighbor. As the wife suddenly vanishes thereafter, the police immediately label her the prime suspect. Meanwhile, her husband searches the city in hopes of proving her innocent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide