3.03 - The Nutshell

[Frankymole]

John Cater, Patricia Haines (again!), Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Edina Ronay (again!). A cast to delight the heart of any telefantasy fan. I know the producers promised in their series publicity material to have the most beautiful women in the series but I didn't think they'd run out so quickly and have to reuse them. Not that I am complaining as I think Patricia Haines is the most beautiful woman to have existed on Earth and if Michael Caine agreed then who am I to argue.

Bud Tingwell though. What a legend.

Another 10/10 to be honest. The threat is real, some great innovations like the "Pindar" bunker (look it up - it's real) and the only credible "Steed is a traitor" plot. I'd loved to have seen Cathy on a donkey at the end, I think Honor would've, too.

[mousemeat]

GREAT overall episode...and even today, still holds up well...that's the beauty of good writing and scripts...

[Frankymole]

I have a feeling that if the escapologist (who we only see struggling to get out of a chained sack!) is Valentine Musetti as claimed on Piers's cast list, perhaps that should read Valentino Musetti?

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615651/

says

"His stuntman activities began with judo - he was British Junior Champion in 1958 and a black belt two years later - and has worked in various films, from The Italian Job in the late '60s to Superman II. In 1967 Val started racing, having taken a course at the Motor Racing Stables school at Brands Hatch. He raced a school Lotus 51 and later, equipped with a Titan, became one of the formula's front-runners, competing in Europe and the 1970 Brazilian series as well as in Britain. By 1972 Musetti decided he wished to move up the ladder, purchasing a Formula 3 Royale RP11.

"Musetti was ambitious in 1976, contesting the MCD Formule Libre Championship (which he ultimately won), the ShellSport 5000 series and selected Formula 2 races - as well as filming stunts in The Avengers television series! ... In 1977 Val's Dave Price Racing-prepared V6 March was a leading contender in the ShellSport Group 8 series. ... He led the points table until July, but filming commitments in Canada meant he had to miss several rounds and he finished third behind Tony Trimmer and Guy Edwards."


Were his Avengers stunts car-based ones, driving, or fighting (judo) or both? Again, IMDB lists:

The New Avengers (TV Series) (stunt coordinator - 4 episodes, 1977) (stunt driver - 1 episode, 1976)
- Emily (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Forward Base (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- The Gladiators (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Complex (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Three Handed Game (1976) ... (stunt driver - uncredited)
1963 The Avengers (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- Six Hands Across a Table (1963) ... (stunt double: Philip Madoc - uncredited)
I remember that last one, it's not made clear it's Madoc's character that attacks Cathy. In fact that would make a mockery of his role in the plot.

[dissolute]

Credits for Val are pretty equally divided between calling him Valentine and Valentino - and sometimes just Val. I think I went with the name used first in other Avengers episodes.

[Frankymole]

Denis will probably find the name on his birth certificate next

[dissolute]

They're obviously the March 752 cars from David Price Racing that appear in Three Handed Game. - I need to correct their designation, I picked it up from IMCDB which called them March 75B F2 1975 racing cars (at the time) but having now researched that, the Formula 2 cars made in 1975 by March were March 752 cars, the 75B were for Formula Atlantic (i.e. UK Formula B). I see IMDCB have since update their description.

[dissolute]

I have to say I'm struggling with the dense scripts from this series as I rerwrite them, but I have noticed a common theme where it's revealed later on that Cathy was in on Steed's plan earlier than you think.

[darren]

Were his Avengers stunts car-based ones, driving, or fighting (judo) or both? Again, IMDB lists:

The New Avengers (TV Series) (stunt coordinator - 4 episodes, 1977) (stunt driver - 1 episode, 1976)
- Emily (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Forward Base (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- The Gladiators (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Complex (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Three Handed Game (1976) ... (stunt driver - uncredited)
1963 The Avengers (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- Six Hands Across a Table (1963) ... (stunt double: Philip Madoc - uncredited)
I remember that last one, it's not made clear it's Madoc's character that attacks Cathy. In fact that would make a mockery of his role in the plot.

He did more than just those episodes. Either as a silent heavy or having a fight - He appears in:

The Decapod (body guard alongside Doug Robinson)
Killer Whale - boxer
Concerto
The Undertakers
Death a la Carte -
The Secret Broker
The Outside-In Man (fight with Honor in the cottage accompanied by Christopher Lee's stunt double Eddie Powell)
Lobster Quadrille

[dissolute]

Twelve *acting* appearance in my guide https://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avenge ... inder.html - pages 16-17
The one in The Nutshell is based on the eyebrows seen through the sack but it just *might* be Eddie Powell.

The Decapod
Valentino Musetti - Czarko (billed as Valentine Musetti)
Six Hands Across a Table
Valentino Musetti - stunt-double for Philip Madoc
Killer Whale
Valentino Musetti - boxer (billed as Valentine Musetti)
Concerto
Valentino Musetti - Thug (billed as Valentine Musetti)
The Nutshell
Valentino Musetti - escapologist
The Golden Fleece
Valentino Musetti - Gangster
Death à la Carte
Valentino Musetti - Ali (billed as Valentino Musetti)
The Undertakers
Valentino Musetti - Pallbearer (Frank Harper) (billed as Valentino Musetti)
The Secrets Broker
Valentino Musetti - Bruno (billed as Valentino Musetti)
The Outside-In Man
Valentino Musetti - Guard (billed as Valentino Musetti)
Lobster Quadrille
Valentino Musetti - Jackson (billed as Valentino Musetti)
Forward Base
Valentino Musetti - Diver (billed as Val Musetti)

I need to at least add Three Handed Game but should do the rest as well!

[Frankymole]

The lads watch and discuss this episode.