Discuss, review and rate Small Game for Big Hunters, produced c. Thursday 16th September 1965 to c. Friday 1st October 1965.
Teleplay by Philip Levene
Directed by Gerry O'Hara
4.17 - Small Game for Big Hunters
-
darren
- Diabolical Mastermind
- Posts: 2113
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:31 pm
- Location: UK
- Has thanked: 35 times
- Been thanked: 26 times
Simon Trent fires a shot and Steed grabs the gun.
Steed: "you've shot your single barrel" (or words to that effect).
[the gun fires again]
Steed: My arithmetic's shocking.
Macnee's delivery is so funny.
When other shows did an African jungle episode, it was an African jungle but The Avengers does one set in a house in Hertfordshire.
Shame it's not more fun. It's quite atmospheric in places. Gerry O'Hara's direction isn't bad but not as interesting as his other episode (Hour That never Was). The lighting by Lionel Banes is excellent as is the design from Harry Pottle.
The plot is rather vague in places and doesn't really hold the interest. The reveal of the mastermind is very un dramatic. Shame Paul Danquah's character is so hastily dispatched once he becomes interesting.
It's watchable but definitely amongst the weaker season 5 outings.
5/10
Steed: "you've shot your single barrel" (or words to that effect).
[the gun fires again]
Steed: My arithmetic's shocking.
Macnee's delivery is so funny.
When other shows did an African jungle episode, it was an African jungle but The Avengers does one set in a house in Hertfordshire.
Shame it's not more fun. It's quite atmospheric in places. Gerry O'Hara's direction isn't bad but not as interesting as his other episode (Hour That never Was). The lighting by Lionel Banes is excellent as is the design from Harry Pottle.
The plot is rather vague in places and doesn't really hold the interest. The reveal of the mastermind is very un dramatic. Shame Paul Danquah's character is so hastily dispatched once he becomes interesting.
It's watchable but definitely amongst the weaker season 5 outings.
5/10
-
rob2bob
- Nutshell
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:21 pm
- Location: UK
- Has thanked: 42 times
- Been thanked: 20 times
Re: 4.17 - Small Game for Big Hunters
Scores a 5 from me. I see I am in line with the typical scoring here.
Not seen this one in years. Realised probably why… dare I say it… it is a little boring.
Lacks a certain sparkle.
Not seen this one in years. Realised probably why… dare I say it… it is a little boring.
Lacks a certain sparkle.
“agreeable, well-rounded, and a little on the flinty side”; some say “venerable, devious, and a little ambivalent”
-
Frankymole
- You Have Just Been Posting (a lot)
- Posts: 6528
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:33 am
- Location: Carmadoc Research Establishment
- Has thanked: 323 times
- Been thanked: 251 times
Re: 4.17 - Small Game for Big Hunters
I wrote about this one for a chapter of Rodney's "Bright Horizons" book. I wanted a challenge, as I never found it a very memorable episode. At least it breaks Clemens' "rule" of not having any black people in Avengerland.
It has a similar vibe to the first season's The Yellow Needle, though with that being a missing episode, not many people get a chance to experience it in any form these days. I think it comes from the British guilt and paranoia about colonialism and "giving up the Empire", which is something The Avengers doesn't address very often but other 1960s shows use much more. It only works as a motivational factor for villains, and The Avengers is not a show that can easily address the issues within its format.
It has a similar vibe to the first season's The Yellow Needle, though with that being a missing episode, not many people get a chance to experience it in any form these days. I think it comes from the British guilt and paranoia about colonialism and "giving up the Empire", which is something The Avengers doesn't address very often but other 1960s shows use much more. It only works as a motivational factor for villains, and The Avengers is not a show that can easily address the issues within its format.
Last watched: "Mandrake"