Price: $36.00 as of 11/21/2009 01:02 EST
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: A&E
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
EAN: 9780767018692
Format: Box set, Black & White, DVD, NTSC
ISBN: 0767018699
Label: A&E Home Video
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
MPN: 70035
Number Of Items: 2
Picture Format: Academy Ratio
Publisher: A&E Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: August 31, 1999
Running Time: 400 minutes
Studio: A&E Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 1966
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Devotees of Diana Rigg's Mrs. Emma Peel will be especially thrilled by this two-volume collection of seven black-and-white episodes that closed out the fourth season of The Avengers in high and often provocative style. One Avengers Web site ranks "A Touch of Brimstone" among the 10 best episodes of the Mrs. Peel era; "What the Butler Saw" and "Honey for the Prince" rank among the top 20.
To these add "The House That Jack Built." This mind-bending tour de force finds Mrs. Peel at the mercy of a vengeful techno-obsessed mastermind who has rigged a mansion to drive her insane. Also included in this collection are "The Danger Makers," in which umbrella-toting gentleman spy John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Mrs. Peel uncover a secret society of thrill-crazed soldiers; "A Sense of History," about a deadly clique of university students; and "How to Succeed... At Murder," in which secretarial assassins take their orders from, yes, a puppet. The mysteries are intriguing, the villains suitably mad, and the banter between Steed and Mrs. Peel charged with erotic possibilities. With the ravishing, knee-weakening sight of Emma decked out as Robin Hood in "A Sense of History," as a harem girl in "Honey for the Prince," and--be still my beating heart--as the Queen of Sin in "A Touch of Brimstone," this Avengers collection boasts very potent Emma "a-Peel." --Donald Liebenson
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
A lot of reviews of this set were great, especially the episode that related to picture (Queen of Sin). I've been an Avengers fan since its original airings, & I've always found Miss Peel right attractive, but Queen of Sin is the worst episode I've looked at on DVD so far. Her outfit is not really that sexy, & the story to that episode was absolutely lousy (& loud). If you're buying individual sets & not the whole Emma Peel megaset, then skip this set; don't let the cover fool you. The rest of the episodes in this set are better however, so if you're making complete year purchases, then buy this set too....you decide.
Rating:  -
This is just a complete nostalgia trip. I remember being entranced by the "derring do" of the Avengers as a kid, and being captivated by Diana Rigg in the re-runs as a teenager. The series has aged very well and Mrs. Peel still captivates. In my opinion, (without splurging on the Megaset), this is the best compromise set for "Emma-watching", and has most of the episodes you will want or that you need as a fan of the divine Ms. Rigg. Given the age of the source material, the video and sound quality are very good and the packaging is standard fare.
Rating:  -
These are some of the best shows I've seen.I'm a big "Avengers" fan and have episodes back to the Honor Blackman days. No doubt that Mrs. Peel and Steed were the best duo to tdo the show. I recommend their episodes to anybody.
Rating: -
Seconds series 1966, still B & W has some really great episodes with Steed and Mrs. Peel. The gelling of Rigg's and Macnee's characters were well onto making
screen history, and with cause. Both of these fine actors brought these characters alive. Seven episodes this time.
1) "The Danger Makers" sees a high-ranking ex-serviceman seeking to feed their high threshold for adventure. The banter between Steel and Mrs. Peel sharpens to double entendres that trademarks their pairing.
2) "A Touch of Brimstone" lets Mrs. Peel take down her hair, or rather put it up, as Emma and John investigate a group resurrecting the infamous Hellfire Club. Mrs. Peel shows she looks just as stunning in corset, high-lace boots and spiked dog-collar, which she wears as the "Queen of Sin". The look was designed by Rigg, and ridiculously, because of her costume, the episode was banned from airing in the US!
3) "What the Butler Saw" has our pair of Britain's best out in search for missing defense plans.
4) "The House that Jack Built" has Emma receiving news her uncle has died and left her his country estate. When she gets to the manor, she soon finds herself drugged and trapped inside a house that is far from your normal house, as designed to end Emma's life.
5) "A Sense of History" Have Emma donning a merry man's costume in this Robin Hood adventure. A modern day Robin is found with an arrow in the back, pushing Steed and Emma to stop the neo-fascist Merry Men from achieving their devilish plans.
6) "How to Succeed at Murder" puts Emma and John on the trail of executives being executed, in a posh perfumerie where a woman "nose" best.
7) "Honey for the Prince" when a resort where you live out your fantasies turns deadly, our pair are sent to stop the evil doings. Emma goes harem girl! to save the day and up the ratings!
Many were written by Brian Clements with a variety of directors such as James Hill, Don Leaver, Peter Graham Scott and Charles Crichton.
Rating: -
These DVD's from A&E represent the best known and certainly the most popular era of the long running British TV fantasy-adventure series "The Avengers." Made between 1965 and 1966, all 26 episodes of the fourth season of the show are available here on four discs.
When Honor Blackman (Mrs. Cathy Gale) left the series after season 3 to take up the lead role in the Bond movie "Goldfinger," the producers had already made the decision to start filming the series, moving it out of the TV studio and giving it a much glossier and dynamic feel. John Steed (Patrick MacNee), the debonair British government agent stayed on and his new partner was devised by the production team to be another tough, all-action girl with "Man Appeal." M-Appeal (geddit?) Elizabeth Shepherd was cast as Mrs. Emma Peel and two episodes were filmed before it was mutually agreed that she didn't meet the expectations of the production team. A quick replacement was sought and in stepped Diana Rigg. A TV legend was born.
The relationship between Steed and Mrs. Gale had always been haughty to say the least. With the introduction of the widowed (or seemingly) Mrs. Peel, the relationship between the two leads became much closer. Mrs. Peel was as intelligent, quick thinking and emasculated as her predecessor, and initially at least shared her penchant for leather outfits, but she was also certainly softer and more readily prepared to act as Steed's partner in their adventures.
The stories were certainly becoming much more fantasy bound, and the use of diabolical masterminds and organizations with bizarre acronyms became the norm for the stories from this series on. The fantasy and sci-fi elements of the show were highlighted more than before and the fashions and design of the show took on a much more stylish and indeed `stylized' look. The success of these elements was immediate, and huge ratings in the UK followed, plus overseas transmissions of the show followed for the first time. Such was their success indeed that another 26 episodes were soon commissioned, this time to be made in color.
The stories have supposedly been digitally re-mastered for these DVD releases, and indeed the picture quality is pretty impressive, but there is still sparkle and dirt on the prints that may detract from the quality for some viewers. The 26 episodes are presented in the same order of their original UK transmission.
This for me is the very best season of the show, with great style and wit accompanying the excellent scripts, direction and production values. I'd certainly recommend this release to anyone.
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