The Avengers International Fan Forum

I'm sure the series couldn't but help be influenced by Hitchcock in it's early days.

But then you get to Brian Clemens and he makes no secret of the fact that he is a massive fan of Hitchcock and definitely included aspects of the man's work (Clemens' first series after The Avengers 'Thriller' is very Hitchcock).

Then there's a direct link with stunt arranger and later director Ray Austin having been Hitchcock's chauffeur!

Clemens loved the suspense and the thrills and suggestion in Hitch's work.

Spot on, the show is larded with Hitchcock references - even down to camera angles and directing styles at times.

Yes absolutely Lhbizness, The Avengers is definately very Hitchcock influenced!

dissolute wrote:Spot on, the show is larded with Hitchcock references - even down to camera angles and directing styles at times.

exactly....Hitch was a huge influence...and even more so in the U.S.
for many directors etc

Hitchcock and Clemens share a lot in common. Both produce 'films' where there is a brutally dark humour alongside the dramatic menace. I think that in using Hitchcock as a major influence on the filmed Avengers it points to a desire to combine a very British sense of humour with a wish to create mini-films which combine subversion with sparkle or champagne.
What better man to use as a role model?

Rodders wrote:Hitchcock and Clemens share a lot in common. Both produce 'films' where there is a brutally dark humour alongside the dramatic menace. I think that in using Hitchcock as a major influence on the filmed Avengers it points to a desire to combine a very British sense of humour with a wish to create mini-films which combine subversion with sparkle or champagne.
What better man to use as a role model?

Would you say that Hitch had a sense of humour? IMHO, In a perverse sense of the meaning but nothing as brilliant as TA. But his subversive elements I think show he was the master of suspense and horror that are just incomparable even to this day.

Rodders wrote:Hitchcock and Clemens share a lot in common. Both produce 'films' where there is a brutally dark humour alongside the dramatic menace. I think that in using Hitchcock as a major influence on the filmed Avengers it points to a desire to combine a very British sense of humour with a wish to create mini-films which combine subversion with sparkle or champagne.
What better man to use as a role model?

hard to say...of course, there's only one HITCH....but these were good points to ponder over

"Cat Amongst The Pigeons" draws very heavily from "The Birds" - one of the characters even refers to the film!

anti-clockwise wrote:Would you say that Hitch had a sense of humour? IMHO, In a perverse sense of the meaning but nothing as brilliant as TA. But his subversive elements I think show he was the master of suspense and horror that are just incomparable even to this day.

Yes, it is a sick/perverse sense of humour but then so too is Clemens' at times. Look at Murdersville, for example, when the henchmen are discussing what they would like to do to Mrs. Peel.

Rodders wrote:

anti-clockwise wrote:Would you say that Hitch had a sense of humour? IMHO, In a perverse sense of the meaning but nothing as brilliant as TA. But his subversive elements I think show he was the master of suspense and horror that are just incomparable even to this day.

Yes, it is a sick/perverse sense of humour but then so too is Clemens' at times. Look at Murdersville, for example, when the henchmen are discussing what they would like to do to Mrs. Peel.

quite right Rodney. And The joker is a great example with the stalking of Mrs. peel. I guess Honor in Don't Look behind you might qualify as well.