NBCUniversal-owned digital broadcast subchannel network Cozi TV-
and perhaps others- are showing reruns of the UK spy series,The Avengers. For those who can't get the re-runs, here's a strange alternative: Inspired by the show's success, a German producer cast Diana Rigg in a
series of 4 interlocked Spain-setsilent spy shorts.
Though not exactly playing Emma Peel ("M Appeal" = "Man Appeal"),
Rigg somehow frequently winds up in mini-skirts, bikinis, and less,
between the requisite judo skirmishes and mayhem.
Re: Diana Rigg Silent Film
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:16 pm
by Rick Lanham
Great fun. Nice to see her in such fine form. I miss the witty repartee with Steed of course.
I'll add her to my list of favorite silent actresses.
Rick
Re: Diana Rigg Silent Film
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:01 pm
by Gagman 66
JFK, Rick,
Wow! Truly Awesome! THE AVENGERS/NEW AVENGERS is my favorite series ever! This is like finding some long lost AVENGERS Episodes. Of course she's Emma Peel in the South of France. Who else could she possibly be? Even the graphics design scream THE AVENGERS! Now what about that un-aired 90 minute series pilot of THE NEW AVENGERS with Joanna Lumley as the long haired "Charley". Before the Mushroom Bob, and she had not yet been renamed Purdey, after Steed's Favorite Shotgun! I would love to see that.Thanks so much for posting this! What a treat! Incidentally, THE AVENGERS Season 5 coming out on Blu-ray shortly!
Re: Diana Rigg Silent Film
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 2:27 am
by Spiny Norman
Gagman 66 wrote:JFK, Rick,
Wow! Truly Awesome! THE AVENGERS/NEW AVENGERS is my favorite series ever! This is like finding some long lost AVENGERS Episodes. Of course she's Emma Peel in the South of France. Who else could she possibly be? Even the graphics design scream THE AVENGERS! Now what about that un-aired 90 minute series pilot of THE NEW AVENGERS with Joanna Lumley as the long haired "Charley". Before the Mushroom Bob, and she had not yet been renamed Purdey, after Steed's Favorite Shotgun! I would love to see that.Thanks so much for posting this! What a treat! Incidentally, THE AVENGERS Season 5 coming out on Blu-ray shortly!
There is an unaired pilot for that?
Wow, TV Pilots really are a strange, mystifying, and exciting parallel universe. There was this program once, The Best TV Shows That Never Were, that talked about lots of pilots and showing some hilarious clips. But I guess even that only scratched the surface. For example I think there could be a similar show featuring just the US pilots of UK shows, there's dozens of those alone that you've never heared of!
I don't suppose anyone here ever saw the pilot in this clip, one of the few ones that were actually any good?
Been trying to find it for ages.
Re: Diana Rigg Silent Film
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:02 am
by didi-5
Ah, for a minute there I thought you had finally found the pilot of Jake's Journey, Spiny!
Re: Diana Rigg Silent Film
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 12:01 pm
by Spiny Norman
didi-5 wrote:Ah, for a minute there I thought you had finally found the pilot of Jake's Journey, Spiny!
The library of congress has it, and a few private individuals. I've been trying to get one to donate a copy to the BFI (because at least that is closer than Washington). But no luck.
Anyway, Rigg and The Minikillers. I've heared of it before. Was it supposed to be silent / without dialogue?
Re: Diana Rigg Silent Film
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 12:25 pm
by andybenz
To the best of my knowledge, these silent films were produced for the German Super 8 home-movie market. They turn up from time to time on German eBay. Legend has it, that some German Diana Rigg fan, reportedly a butcher by profession, paid a small fortune to persuade Diana Rigg to star in these films. If I remember correctly there was even a short TV documentary about these films.
Here's similar information about these films: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuk ... AIXNGNQTWc" target="_blank" target="_blank
Wow! Truly Awesome! THE AVENGERS/NEW AVENGERS is my favorite series ever! This is like finding some long lost AVENGERS Episodes. Of course she's Emma Peel in the South of France. Who else could she possibly be? Even the graphics design scream THE AVENGERS! Now what about that un-aired 90 minute series pilot of THE NEW AVENGERS with Joanna Lumley as the long haired "Charley". Before the Mushroom Bob, and she had not yet been renamed Purdey, after Steed's Favorite Shotgun! I would love to see that.Thanks so much for posting this! What a treat! Incidentally, THE AVENGERS Season 5 coming out on Blu-ray shortly!