The Avengers International Fan Forum

dissolute · Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 1:39 pm Post subject:

When I covered the episode in Rodney's book I came to the same conclusion. A good basic concept that seems okay on paper, it just isn't that good on screen (and it exhibits some trademark Terry Nation laziness). The tunnel really needed better special effects. It's the "that'll do" approach to filming which does it in for me.
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MikeR · Epic Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 1106 Location: UK

Spaceship Dispatcher · Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 2:32 am Post subject:

Well, Invasion of the Earthmen is an episode that I absolutely love! The visuals are indeed a bit ropey, and I can't quite put my finger on why I enjoy watching it quite as much as I do, but the casting connection with Terry Nation's Survivors (Lucy Fleming) plays a part and so does the Doctor Who type 'cavern of peril' setting near the end...

Rodders · Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 2:20 pm Post subject:

Barely Avengerish at all. Not convinced that Terry Nation 'got' The Avengers.
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Sam · Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 4:53 pm Post subject:

I pop this one in and re-watch it from time to time. Definitely not the worst episode ever done. I would like to see the "Director's Cut" if it could be found somewhere.

darren · Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 7:21 am Post subject:

It's interesting that Clemens decided to keep this one as he felt that Nation got the Avengers. Despite not quite feeling right, there's a good thriller aspect to this one and the addition of tension that had been lacking in the show.

I think that when they did the reshot scenes to explain the Tara wig, they should have done the scene in the agent's hotel room as it makes Tara an amateur (Steed - "there's no reason you should know, it's regulations").

It think a more appropriate director would have handled this better. Don Sharp just isn't an Avengers director. John Hough does some lovely second unit location footage like around the hotel scenes.

Avengerholic · Epic Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 1241

I know it's bad, but I absolutely love it. From the junior school craft lesson 'make a snake' to the 1960's silk Christmas tree decorations it's just pure fun all the way. Tara in the blonde wig, tan leather outfit and puff sleeve shirt looks like shes straight out of an old Errol Flynn swash buckling movie, but she looks amazing ! A totally unique episode, that is (for whatever reason good or bad) more entertaining than many other episodes.

Mona · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2016 1:21 pm Post subject:

I enjoy this episode.

While it is odd to have an electrified desk, Steed's jumping at touching it, and his sudden embarrassment at his reaction and his pulling his jacket down as he regains his English composure is cool to watch and well acted by Macnee.

Of course, I also like seeing Steed pass through the obstacle course so well.

It's not much to write home about, sure, but I'm not using The Avengers to write an in-depth PhD on the technilogical methodology of creating a television show. I just like Steed.
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Ian Wegg · Have Fingers... Will Type! Joined: 15 Sep 2011 Posts: 355

Last week I belatedly remembered to tune into ITV4 for their run of series 6. Unfortunately a snooker tournament had overrun. I stayed watching in the hope that the game would end and The Avengers would start but to no avail. 60 minutes of my life that I'll never get back.

Last night I sat down for another go and watched "Invasion of the Earthmen". By the half way point I was yearning for snooker, I can't really give a more damning indictment than that.

2/10 (mostly for the opening scenes).

Brugeoise · Nutshell Joined: 29 Oct 2016 Posts: 32

Today I had the chance to watch this episode again after a long time. Even though I agree it’s definitely not one of the best Avengers episodes, I find the behind-the-scenes stories that surrounded and influenced its production quite interesting and that keeps me driving towards it.

Many of you have pointed out here, and quite correctly if I may say so, that Don Sharp’s direction isn’t exactly great and that set me thinking: what if John Bryce’s ill-fated tenure at this stage of the show had more to do with direction that what we normally tend to attribute to? On one hand, and judging from the surviving bits that made it to Homicide and Old Lace, we could also argue that Vernon Sewell’s direction for The Great, Great Britain Crime wasn’t first class either (I don’t remember the name of the original director for Invitation to a Killing, but the footage that made it to Have Guns Will Haggle looks better that the other two Bryce episodes).

On the other hand, Don Sharp would go on directing The Curious Case of the Countless Clues (which was already in production as The Murderous Connection when Clemens & Fennell were brought back in), but that episode is visually more interesting than Invasion ever was. This may suggest of course that Clemens & Fennell had a different approach (and, perhaps, involvement in the whole process?) than Bryce had.

dissolute · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2020 6:42 pm Post subject:

Invitation to a Killing was directed by Robert Asher & John Hough, with Ray Austin & Harry Booth doing the new footage.
John Hough was also working with Don Sharp on Invasion of the Earthmen which seems to be a,low point for both of them. I've alway felt that it's not so much the director as the producer that's the issue with these early episodes - everything is rushed and cheap and there are rarely retakes for obvious flaws; it's like they didn't bother with watching the rushes at all.
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http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.

Brugeoise · Nutshell Joined: 29 Oct 2016 Posts: 32

Thank you for reminding me about the directors! I agree with you about there being a general lack of attention, in the Bryce episodes, to the overall quality of the whole thing.

About that, I never cease to be amazed by that sequence from the original footage of The Great, Great Britain Crime where Cartwright is shot and buried by the Orpheus Tours gang. It looks as if they’d just planted the camera there and let it film whatever happened in front of it, with a complete disregard to angles or to any kind of visual narrative at all. I wonder why Clemens chose to keep that sequence in Homicide and Old Lace when, perhaps, they could have reshot it and rescue other bits from the original (if any were salvageable). But I’m afraid we might never know

Allard · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 4:30 am Post subject:

Invasion... is by far superior to Homicide and Old Lace. The former to me feels a lot like any other of the late sixties ITC spy-fi series, the latter doesn't feel like anything.

darren · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:29 pm Post subject:

Allard · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 1:35 pm Post subject:

I gave this a another viewing, hadn't seen it in years.

The main problem is how un-Avengerish it feels. There is no sense of urgency, no eccentricity and there is no build up - we almost don't get off that blasted campus.

It lacks the playfulness that is typical of the Avengers. Its just investigating and the baddie being bad, not diabolical or a mastermind. No sleuthing just entering and battling.

Those green and purple walls also don't help.... Sad