Written by Rex Edwards
Directed by Kim Mills
Production completed: 19 July 1963
3.08 - The Grandeur That Was Rome
- Allard
- The Ministry
- Posts: 2295
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:10 pm
- Location: The Netherlands
- Has thanked: 188 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Saw this one last Sunday, seemed appropriate as its about the threat of a virus, but it was also the 15th the Ides of March.
I liked it, a bit of weird Steed undercover action, diabolical if mad mastermind. Sadly falls completely flat at the end the last minutes feel rushed and without any point or charm.
I liked it, a bit of weird Steed undercover action, diabolical if mad mastermind. Sadly falls completely flat at the end the last minutes feel rushed and without any point or charm.
- dissolute
- The Ministry
- Posts: 3122
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:03 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Has thanked: 196 times
- Been thanked: 209 times
- Contact:
CALPURNIA (in a thick Bronx accent)
I told him, Julie, don't go. Don't go Julie, I said. Don't go, it's the Ides of March.
FLAVIUS
Now look, Mrs. Caesar, I'd ---
CALPURNIA
If I told him once, I'd told him a thousand times, Julie, don't go ...
FLAVIUS
Please, don't upset yourself.
CALPURNIA
Julie, don't go, I said. It's the Ides of March. Beware already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR_5h8CzRcI
I told him, Julie, don't go. Don't go Julie, I said. Don't go, it's the Ides of March.
FLAVIUS
Now look, Mrs. Caesar, I'd ---
CALPURNIA
If I told him once, I'd told him a thousand times, Julie, don't go ...
FLAVIUS
Please, don't upset yourself.
CALPURNIA
Julie, don't go, I said. It's the Ides of March. Beware already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR_5h8CzRcI
Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
- Frankymole
- You Have Just Been Posting (a lot)
- Posts: 6568
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:33 am
- Location: Carmadoc Research Establishment
- Has thanked: 345 times
- Been thanked: 271 times
- Frankymole
- You Have Just Been Posting (a lot)
- Posts: 6568
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:33 am
- Location: Carmadoc Research Establishment
- Has thanked: 345 times
- Been thanked: 271 times
Re: 3.08 - The Grandeur That Was Rome
Just watched it again (at least I stayed awake this time thanks to copious amounts of coffee). The most tedious thing about it is its ineptness. If I listed everything wrong with it, the list would probably never end...
I can't see any redeeming features, though Honor Blackman is professional throughout. The only bit that raised a smile was Steed offering a statue of "Mars The Avenger".
- Messed-up Latin, made even worse by not explaining what the English translations were meant to be, hence unintelligible gibberish at the end.
- Public relations officer knows nothing about science until the final scenes when he is the expert on toxins and vaccination. He was also the obvious "hidden" villain throughout.
- Microscope slide is the picture from a textbook shown seconds earlier.
- Wooden(!) water pipe used as a weapon against a sword, Steed loses the fight then in the next scene he's suddenly free with no explanation (apparently there were angry memos at ABC about this massive cheat).
- Everyone is very sweaty - presumably this was made in high summer (though it is set in February). You'd think they would factor in a rapid towelling-down after a quick costume change, with some other shot - oh hang on, it's Kim Mills directing.
- Drab sets.
- Cathy sneaks around even though she wants to be captured. The villains are so rubbish she has to make a ruckus to get noticed.
- The fascist party is poised to take over the world, then just vanishes, even though the leader they planned to supplant dies exactly when they expected. The nasty Octavia and Marcus seem to get away. Why didn't Steed arrange some backup?
- There is some swapping of the poisoned chalice which doesn't make sense. Why even risk having two drinks at that point?
- An upright, very non-Roman coffin in the cell (why?) the obvious hiding place yet the guy looking for Steed never goes near it.
I can't see any redeeming features, though Honor Blackman is professional throughout. The only bit that raised a smile was Steed offering a statue of "Mars The Avenger".
Last watched: "The Outside-In Man"
- Frankymole
- You Have Just Been Posting (a lot)
- Posts: 6568
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:33 am
- Location: Carmadoc Research Establishment
- Has thanked: 345 times
- Been thanked: 271 times
Re: 3.08 - The Grandeur That Was Rome
The brothers view this episode... one of the worst in the series in my opinion, but let's see what they think!
Last watched: "The Outside-In Man"