Rodney's Reviews
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Rodney's Reviews |
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How To Succeed....At Murder The webmaster and I disagree markedly on this one. For me, malevolent clowns, toys and puppets are effectively deployed in numerous episodes of The Avengers. In this one, Henrietta IMHO makes a fantastic (albeit fake) deadly mastermind. The basic idea is wonderful: intelligent, efficient, female secretaries bumping off their male bosses and taking over. The feminist slant is, ultimately, partly undermined by the fact that they are all working for a wimpish man. Nevertheless, Henry's goal remains a feminist one: to revenge his wife's demise which he blames on her exploitation by male businessmen. This has to go down as one of the most zany Mrs. Peel episodes: the perfumist Mr. Hooter is a fabulously mad, wild creation; the final fight scene in which Emma throws her female attackers around like rag dolls is equally surreal. However, for me the funniest moment is Steed performing torture by tickling in order to get his deadly secretary to "spill the beans." Despite the off-beat humour and the OTT opening murder (straight out of a Road Runner cartoon), there is still room for disturbing undercurrents, not least the evil face of Henrietta herself. A four bowler, for me. |
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