Episode 81: Emma Peel Era
Page 81 of 192
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Tag
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Stats ?
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A.K.A.
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On the Radio |
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Other Viewpoints
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Meutre par téléphone
Vorsicht bei Anruf
Doppio gioco
Discar Un Numero Mortal
De dood telefoneert
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Produced: 11 January to c 22 January 1965
UK Premiere (London, Season 4): 3 December 1965
US Premiere (New York, Season 1): Scheduled for 21 July 1966,
moved to 24 July
Key businessmen are dropping dead from heart
failure, causing tremors in the world of high finance. The trail twists its way via
bankers and brokers with "bleepers" to an extremely creepy "back room
boy" named Fitch, a man with a fetish for clocks... and killing.
IMHO |
Sharp and clever, with some of the best dialog of the series, this is a rare episode in that Steed carries a gun—and uses it. There's wine tasting, power moves and promiscuous bankers' wives. And did you notice the very curious scene with a short series of close-ups of a large stuffed fish? "It was quite a killing..."
Trivia |
"Bleepers" are the early incarnation of the modern pager. They are shaped like a thick pen and, out of the plot's necessity, worn in the jacket breast pocket—right over the heart. (Good thing all the victims were men...)
You'll note the odd US airdate for this episode. Normally the show ran on Mondays at 10 PM (replacing Ben Casey). This episode was moved to Thursday at 10 PM, replacing The Baron for reasons unknown.
Steed's Aunties: Steed remarks of his watch, which was a bequest from an uncle, that the case was dented during the battle of the Somme in W.W.I. Emma: "German bullet?" Steed: "Canadian mule." (Wonder if this was Uncle Joe, who left him a solid gold toothpick in "The £50,000 Breakfast"...)
Best Scene |
Not to be missed is the wine tasting competition, one of the all-time best scenes, and source of the best line. More tension here with two glasses of plonk than any pistol duel ever filmed.
Best Line |
After Steed finally nails the wine's identity in the wine tasting "duel," he adds, "From the northern end of the vineyard." (Cue the opponent's monocle to fall out.)
Essential Reading |
- Mrs. Peel... We're Needed by Piers Johnson