The Avengers International Fan Forum

Rodders · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:31 am Post subject: Roger Marshall

This message is to share the sad news that my father passed away this afternoon, after a long, wretched battle with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia. He had been very unhappy and confused for a long time. Thankfully, despite the current global lockdown, my mother was able to be there at the end and hold his hand. The Avengers remained one of his proudest professional memories.
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The Avengers: a product of the sixties and a timeless piece of sublime art

Frankymole · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:47 pm Post subject:

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this, Rodney. I have been wondering how he and you were getting on these days. I hope it would've given him some joy and solace in his less-stricken times to know that his work goes on and on giving new joy to new audiences, in the past few months Public Eye and Rooms have been shown on Talking Pictures TV here to great interest and particular acclaim given to his scripts - a guarantee of quality, as many have said. Especially me.

There's no consolation I can offer really, I can only say that I'll never forget the humanity of his work, and his great insight into drama, including critical judgements of the way shows went with and without him! The effect he has had on my imaginative life has been enormous.
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Last watched: Tunnel of Fear.

Sam · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:15 pm Post subject:

My condolences. May he rest in peace!

denis · Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:44 pm Post subject:

My deepest condolences.
Roger Marshall was always the symbol of good writing whenever I watch an episode of The Avengers.
I am going to watch one of his episodes in memory.
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Le Monde des Avengers

denis rigg · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:47 am Post subject:

I offer my condolences to Rodney and his family. Sad

The Great Loss not only for Avengers fans, but for fans of an entire era of British television from the late 1950s to the mid-1990s (not to mention Roger writing scripts for movies).

Curiously, that for a certain reason, Roger Marshall has been the main favorite writer of the group Steedumbrella and some individual Russian and Ukrainian Avengers fans, too.

The reason was as follows:
When Avengers episode The £50,000 Breakfast with Russian soundtrack transmited on Russian and Ukrainian television in 1990s, then Dmitry Matveev who voiced for John Steed and the credits said the following: "по мотивам рассказа Роджера Маршалла и Джереми Скотта" (based on a novelette by Roger Marshall and Jeremy Scott) Very Happy

instead "Based on a story by Roger Marshall and Jeremy Scott". Well then, in the 1990s, some Russian and Ukrainian viewers did not understand the exact meaning "Based on a story by".
I watched this episode for the first time in early February 1996 and decided that there was a real literary work on the basis of which this episode was shot. I became obsessed with finding Roger Marshall books about The Avengers. Why didn’t I look for Roger Marshall and Jeremy Scott, but only Roger? Because he listed as the scriptwriter of this episode in closed titles and on the basis of this, I came to the conclusion that it was Roger who is the main writer! Very Happy

My brother and some other people whom I met and who saw this episode thought in this way too. Very Happy

I recall how I went to one of the libraries in Moscow, and said that I was looking for a rare writer. The librarian I came across very convincingly began to convince me that she knows all the books and without any problems will tell me any information about the authors I'm looking for. This self-confidence scared me off, but I'm curious and I said that I was looking for any works by Roger Marshall. She looked at me curiously, thought, then asked: "Roger Marshall? And in what genre does he write? Name at least one of his works." I replied: "He writes in different genres. One of their works is probably called The £50,000 Breakfast". She began to study the library catalog and when her searches did not lead to anything, she went to check the shelf stands. She returned with a bewildered look. Nevertheless, she was clearly interested in finding Roger Marshall and took note of him. Very Happy

As an early Steedumbrella group, we often talked about Roger Marshall. Sometimes referring to him as the main screenwriter of The Avengers. Here is an excerpt from the cult humorous work of Alexei Arsentyev in 2000:

"Steed went to the door and rang. The door was opened by a middle-aged, tired-looking man. Steed introduced himself: "My name is Steed, I’m Mother’s friend". The stranger’s face became noticeably kinder and, holding out his hand, he said: “My name is Roger Marshall, I work for television and I am writing the series The Avengers.”

Exactly so. We loved Roger Marshall, with his name there were many related things and memories. Greatest writer and person.

I feel empty. Crying or Very sad

I am going to write news in The Avengers group in VK.

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Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
https://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

cyberrich · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:41 am Post subject:

Sorry to read this Rodney. Your Dad was a very talented writer and wrote some great episodes, including Hour that never was, which is often cited as a fan favourite of the entire series. Best wishes to you and your family. RIP Roger.

MikeR · Epic Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 1106 Location: UK

Roger was an extremely talented writer who wrote on various different television series. I remember talking to him on the telephone years ago about various things he had worked on and when I published Action TV, he kindly did me an extensive interview. More communications followed and he was very informative regarding his time on The Avengers and this all went into my book Bowler Hats and Kinky Boots. A great loss and my condolences go to his family.

dissolute · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 3:30 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear that Rodney, your father was a great script writer. My condolences to you and your family.
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Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.

darren · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 2:41 pm Post subject:

RIP Roger. Thank you. xxxxx

My sincere condolences to You and Your Family, Rodney.

What a great legacy he's left us with. So many top quality episodes across many series!

So many of my favourite Avengers episodes from his typewriter:

The Removal Men, Conspiracy of Silence, The Golden Fleece, Mandrake, Dial a Deadly Number and The Hour That Never Was.

Allard · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:33 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about your loss, my condolences to you and your family and wishing you strength in these difficult days. He will be remembered for some of the quintessential Avengers episodes and contributing his insights and memories with Avengers fans, but of course most a father, husband, family member and friend. May the memories last a long time and carry you through the sorrow.

Rhonda · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:04 am Post subject:

I'm sorry to hear about your father. It was very kind of him, a while back, to so thoughtfully consider our questions about his episodes. I remember often looking to see "who wrote that one I just enjoyed" and finding - Roger Marshall.
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Ron
Last Watched : Castle De'Ath

hatpeg · Little Wonder Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 127

Sorry to hear the news about your father Rodney.
When his name appeared as a writer, it was sure sign that it was worth watching.
Travelling Man sparked in interest in Boating holidays which I have continued to this day, all thanks to your Dad.
May he RIP.

J.Mac3 · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 5:23 am Post subject:

So sorry to hear that. He was one of the very best. "Dial a Deadly Number" is arguably THE best Avengers episode, capturing beautifully the wit, goofiness, and charm of the show. A masterpiece.

His work will live on and on. Condolences to the family.

Rodders · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 9:53 am Post subject:

Many thanks for all the kind messages.
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The Avengers: a product of the sixties and a timeless piece of sublime art

mrs_emma_peel · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 11:26 am Post subject:

My sincere condolences, Rodney.

Roger wrote intelligent, serious, riveting scripts -with razor-sharp dialogue, some of the best in Avengers history. In addition to Roger's delightfully crisp dialogue -
his scripts gave the opportunity to be classically interpreted in pure visual style by some beautiful striking poses by Diana Rigg - particularly in
The Dangers Makers with the 'walking -the plank' trial by electricity scene. (My favourite of Roger's scripts) -
I also love the wine-theme, deftly crafted action scenes and terrific dialogue in Dial A Deadly Number and, in The Hour That Never Was we have one of the finest episodes of the entire Avengers canon.

In The Girl From Auntie Diana Rigg features briefly but highly memorably, caged and auctioned as The Girl in A Gilded Cage wonderfully recreating in the style and effect of Josephine Baker's famous exotic act at the Moulin Rouge in the 1920s.
I would have loved to have seen Roger's original script for A Funny Thing Happened... filmed as he intended - a tense railway assassination thriller - a Hitchcockian homage.

RIP Roger Marshall - one of Britain's finest ever script-writers.
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James/Mrs Emma Peel

RayRay · White Dwarf Joined: 19 May 2019 Posts: 3

Rodney, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences to you and your family. What a gift that your mother was able to be with him, given the current circumstances.

-Ray

Big Bear · Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 12:27 am Post subject:

My sincere condolences, Rodney.

Every year I go back to The Avengers and always start by picking out an episode written by Roger. I will do the same this year.

RIP Roger Marshall your legacy of work will live on for many many years

Peter Motte · Little Wonder Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 159

My condoleances.

It's a pity he got such an unpleasant disease in his old days.
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Prrr......
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Peter Motte, translator English/French to Dutch