Avengers Revisited: yet another creative idea

[Rodders]

And you could always add a prequel in our Gale era book later on!

[Rodders]

Yet another Arizona Avengers fan as well. I remember visiting some of those amazing canals built by the Hohokam people across the desert. Amazing!

[Rodders]

We are getting some exciting 'last minute' ideas for this groundbreaking book. Just a few weeks until 'ideas time' closes.

[Rodders]

With Christmas approaching I'm now closing the suggestions for our final volume. I am looking for someone to write on guidelines and censorship:

Brian Clemens’ Season 4 written directive to the writers and directors regarding censorship matters, a “heavily-condensed version” of the American Television Code:
• Words such as ‘idiot’ and ‘damn’ were banned
• Mrs. Peel was forbidden to fight dirty
• Firearms could not be aimed at someone’s head or directly at the camera

• No killing of women
• No blood
• No police officers
• No black characters
These rules ‘could be broken if it helped to create a good storyline’

• No extras in background shots
• Avengerland should be unpopulated
• The Avengers would deal exclusively with the upper classes
The first group of rules was created with an eye on potential American sales. The others were to ensure that the show could “steer clear of social realism”.
Michael Richardson, Bowler Hats and Kinky Boots, p. 134.
Scenes ended up being censored/cut:
A Touch of Brimstone: 38 seconds of whipping scene removed in UK; episode omitted in the original US run.
Honey for the Prince: back scratching with a stuffed leopard’s paw; Dance of the Seven Veils was re-shot as the Six Veils.

How did these guidelines fit into the general philosophy of The Avengers?
How did writers and/or directors manage to circumvent these ‘rules’? e.g. blood on the invitation to Steed in Dead Man’s Treasure?

[mousemeat]

With Christmas approaching I'm now closing the suggestions for our final volume. I am looking for someone to write on guidelines and censorship:

Brian Clemens’ Season 4 written directive to the writers and directors regarding censorship matters, a “heavily-condensed version” of the American Television Code:
• Words such as ‘idiot’ and ‘damn’ were banned
• Mrs. Peel was forbidden to fight dirty
• Firearms could not be aimed at someone’s head or directly at the camera

• No killing of women
• No blood
• No police officers
• No black characters
These rules ‘could be broken if it helped to create a good storyline’

• No extras in background shots
• Avengerland should be unpopulated
• The Avengers would deal exclusively with the upper classes
The first group of rules was created with an eye on potential American sales. The others were to ensure that the show could “steer clear of social realism”.
Michael Richardson, Bowler Hats and Kinky Boots, p. 134.
Scenes ended up being censored/cut:
A Touch of Brimstone: 38 seconds of whipping scene removed in UK; episode omitted in the original US run.
Honey for the Prince: back scratching with a stuffed leopard’s paw; Dance of the Seven Veils was re-shot as the Six Veils.

How did these guidelines fit into the general philosophy of The Avengers?
How did writers and/or directors manage to circumvent these ‘rules’? e.g. blood on the invitation to Steed in Dead Man’s Treasure?

wow, the above restrictions, made for interesting material...and probably made doing the material, much harder...

[Rodders]

Here is the current state of play for our ‘ultimate guide’, Avengers Revisited.
14 chapters successfully submitted:

Foreword: the ‘Timeless Appeal’ of The Avengers by JZ Ferguson
Preface: Avengerland Revisited by Rodney Marshall
Television, Avengers & Cultural Revolution by Rodney Marshall
Subversive Champagne & The Art of Murder by Rodney Marshall
The Country House Trap by Rodney Marshall
Main Title Sequences by JZ Ferguson
Teasers by Rodney Marshall
Cars by Piers Johnson
Mother by Piers Johnson
Purdey by JZ Ferguson
Patrick Macnee: “The World’s Favourite English Gent” by Alan Hayes
An Insider’s View by Roger Marshall
Afterword: Monochrome versus Colour; Emma versus Tara; New Avengers or New Avengers: eternal debates by Rodney Marshall
Appendix: And Soon the Darkness/See No Evil: Brian Clemens’ post-Avengerland by Rodney Marshall

18 chapters in the pipeline:
The Avengers and the Cold War by Dan O’Shea
Graveyards & Churches by Sunday Swift
Tag scenes by Piers Johnson
Set Design and Locations by Darren Burch
Fashions by Sunday Swift
Music by JZ Ferguson
Script-writers by Jaz Wiseman
Direction by Darren Burch
John Steed by Lauren Humphries-Brooks
Emma Peel by Sunday Swift
Tara King by Frank Hui
Mike Gambit by JZ Ferguson
Diabolical Masterminds, Henchmen and Eccentric Guest Characters by Margaret J Gordon
Gender by Sunday Swift
Martial Arts in The Avengers by James Speirs
Chapeau Melon et Bottes de Cuir by Eric Cazalot
Publicity and Promotion by Jaz Wiseman
In Search of Patrick Macnee by Mona Morstein

If any (potential) contributors have last minute inspirations for a further chapter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

[denis]

I'm looking forward to the release of the book. Especially the chapters written by Eric Cazalot and Margaret J Gordon on ' diabolical masterminds '. I'm sure she will talk about sex as usual.
I remember some names among the writers who have written very interesting things in previous books. Good luck to all of you.
What is the release date of the book?

[Rodders]

December 18th, Denis.

[Rodders]

Just to let people know that Ray Austin - stunt man, stunt-co-ordinator and director - has penned an essay with his recollections of the different eras of the show for our forthcoming book.

[denis]

Great