Hot Snow (The Avengers)
"Hot Snow" | |
---|---|
The Avengers episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Don Leaver |
Written by | Ray Rigby based on a story by Patrick Brawn |
Produced by | Leonard White |
Featured music | John Dankworth (theme) |
Production code | 3365[1] |
Original air date | 7 January 1961 |
Guest appearances | |
"Hot Snow" is the debut episode of the 1960s cult British
Plot
Dr. David Keel's (Ian Hendry) fiancée and surgery receptionist Peggy (Catherine Woodville) is murdered by a ruthless gang of drug dealers. By accident he receives a consignment of heroin at his surgery. Believing it to have been sent by the gang who killed his fiancée, he seeks revenge and with the help of a mysterious figure John Steed (Patrick Macnee) they hunt the gang down. They find the gang leader Spicer and set a trap for him but he escapes and is finally caught in the next episode. Keel decides he enjoys playing amateur detective and decides to form a duo with Steed.
Cast
- Ian Hendry as Dr. David H. Keel
- Patrick Macnee as John Steed
- Philip Stone as Dr. Richard J. Tredding
- Catherine Woodville as Peggy Stevens
- Godfrey Quigley as Spicer
- Murray Melvin as Charlie
- Charles Wade as Johnson
- Alister Williamson as Detective Superintendent Wilson
- Moira Redmond as Stella
- Astor Sklair as Detective Sergeant Rogers
- June Monkhouse as Mrs. Simpson
- Robert James as The Big Man/Ronnie Vance
Production
The episode was originally intended as a direct follow-up to
The episode is usually considered to have been written by
Catherine Woodville, who plays Dr Keel's fiancée, later became Patrick Macnee's second wife.
Reception
The episode and series is described by
The episode has been described as "dark, realistic, and, because it was shot on videotape and live-on-camera, very stagy. Its subject matter was most unAvengers like, dealing with drug-smugglers, bereavement, and the seedy underside of British crime."[9] The Avengers Forever! website technically regards the episode as at least as good as any Cathy Gale episode, with some "excellent camera work, including very creative special-effects", but spotted deficiencies in the "repetitive use of certain music cues, and a slightly awkward sequence when Dr Keel's fiancée is shot."[7] They remarked that the episode shows a "high degree of professionalism and skill: good writing, good acting, great direction (no surprise, really, with Don Leaver at the helm), and, in particular, a fine lead. Ian Hendry demonstrates exactly why Sydney Newman was so very anxious to get him in front of television viewers: he is a natural. His acting is easy, smooth and captivating."[7]
Other media
In January 2014 Big Finish Productions released an audio adaption of "Hot Snow" as the first part of a series of audio reconstructions of the missing stories from season 1, following the original scripts as closely as possible.[10]
References
- ^ Johnson, Piers. "Hot Snow". The Avengers. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-86064-383-5. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-86064-753-6. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ Rogers, Dave (25 April 1983). The Avengers. ITV Books in association with Michael Joseph. p. 14. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-8093-2417-0. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-903053-18-8. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ a b c "The Avengers Forever:Hot Snow". The Avengers Forever!. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-415-80126-3. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-1123-8. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "'The Avengers' lost '60s episodes to be remade for audio". Digital Spy.