The CLOSED Avengers International Fan Forum

darren · Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:00 pm Post subject: 3.03 - The Nutshell

Written by Philip Chambers

Directed by Raymond Menmuir

Production completed: 10 May 1963

cyberrich · Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 1:50 pm Post subject:

9/10. Terrific episode. Brilliant set, and beautifully filmed. Viewing this episode it's hard to imagine it was filmed only a few months after season 2, as it looks so ahead of it's time. As do many season 3 episodes. While there are some good episodes in season 2, they do look very dated when compared to the following season. Rich.

Frankymole · Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 1:31 am Post subject:

Lhbizness's review (http://suddenlyashotrangout.wordpress.com/2014/05/11/the-avengers-the-nutshell/) makes me want to seek this one out again... it's also got four bowlers over at The Avengers Forever, so hopefully it'll be a rewarding experience!
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MikeR · Epic Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 1130 Location: UK

A very underestimated epsiode. I did enjoy this one very much when I watched it about three years ago.

Timeless A-Peel · Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:43 am Post subject:

It's a great episode, one of my favourite Cathys. Nice and tense, and lots of great moments for both Steed and Cathy. And what's not to love about a boss named DISCO? Wink

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Lhbizness · Guest

darren · Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 8:34 am Post subject:

Yeah, the Ministry comes across as quite dark in this episode, it's an interesting touch. You don't want to get on the wrong side of it. The Wringer has the same quality and it's also there in Man With Two Shadows.

Rhonda · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 2:02 am Post subject:

6 from me. It's quite an exciting one with a little glamour. I like the use of technology and it has interesting locations to liven it up.
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Allard · Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 2:13 am Post subject:

Excellent episode. Better paced than most video-taped era episodes. The viewer gets thrown in quite deep in an intriguing plot and setting from the beginning. Steed is at the top of his game here, playing a double game and comes out on top only at the very end. Although its low on Avengers eccentricity, its one of the best episodes. The (counter)espionage theme could be straight out of the later filmed episodes. Its constructed so well that you don't even bother to think of inconsistencies or the like. Because of the confined setting of the underground base the lack of outdoor filming or large sets (which is noticeable in the videotaped era) isn't an issue at all here.

mousemeat · Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 3:40 am Post subject:

Frankymole · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 4:22 pm Post subject:

John Cater, Patricia Haines (again!), Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Edina Ronay (again!). A cast to delight the heart of any telefantasy fan. I know the producers promised in their series publicity material to have the most beautiful women in the series but I didn't think they'd run out so quickly and have to reuse them. Not that I am complaining as I think Patricia Haines is the most beautiful woman to have existed on Earth and if Michael Caine agreed then who am I to argue.

Bud Tingwell though. What a legend.

Another 10/10 to be honest. The threat is real, some great innovations like the "Pindar" bunker (look it up - it's real) and the only credible "Steed is a traitor" plot. I'd loved to have seen Cathy on a donkey at the end, I think Honor would've, too.
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mousemeat · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 8:29 pm Post subject:

GREAT overall episode...and even today, still holds up well...that's the beauty of good writing and scripts...

Frankymole · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:48 am Post subject:

I have a feeling that if the escapologist (who we only see struggling to get out of a chained sack!) is Valentine Musetti as claimed on Piers's cast list, perhaps that should read Valentino Musetti?

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615651/

says

"His stuntman activities began with judo - he was British Junior Champion in 1958 and a black belt two years later - and has worked in various films, from The Italian Job in the late '60s to Superman II. In 1967 Val started racing, having taken a course at the Motor Racing Stables school at Brands Hatch. He raced a school Lotus 51 and later, equipped with a Titan, became one of the formula's front-runners, competing in Europe and the 1970 Brazilian series as well as in Britain. By 1972 Musetti decided he wished to move up the ladder, purchasing a Formula 3 Royale RP11.

"Musetti was ambitious in 1976, contesting the MCD Formule Libre Championship (which he ultimately won), the ShellSport 5000 series and selected Formula 2 races - as well as filming stunts in The Avengers television series! ... In 1977 Val's Dave Price Racing-prepared V6 March was a leading contender in the ShellSport Group 8 series. ... He led the points table until July, but filming commitments in Canada meant he had to miss several rounds and he finished third behind Tony Trimmer and Guy Edwards."

Were his Avengers stunts car-based ones, driving, or fighting (judo) or both? Again, IMDB lists:

The New Avengers (TV Series) (stunt coordinator - 4 episodes, 1977) (stunt driver - 1 episode, 1976)
- Emily (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Forward Base (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- The Gladiators (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Complex (1977) ... (stunt coordinator - as Val Musetti)
- Three Handed Game (1976) ... (stunt driver - uncredited)
1963 The Avengers (TV Series) (stunt double - 1 episode)
- Six Hands Across a Table (1963) ... (stunt double: Philip Madoc - uncredited)
I remember that last one, it's not made clear it's Madoc's character that attacks Cathy. In fact that would make a mockery of his role in the plot.
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dissolute · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:41 pm Post subject:

Credits for Val are pretty equally divided between calling him Valentine and Valentino - and sometimes just Val. I think I went with the name used first in other Avengers episodes.
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Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.

Frankymole · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 3:01 pm Post subject:

Denis will probably find the name on his birth certificate next Smile

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dissolute · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:36 pm Post subject:

They're obviously the March 752 cars from David Price Racing that appear in Three Handed Game. - I need to correct their designation, I picked it up from IMCDB which called them March 75B F2 1975 racing cars (at the time) but having now researched that, the Formula 2 cars made in 1975 by March were March 752 cars, the 75B were for Formula Atlantic (i.e. UK Formula B). I see IMDCB have since update their description.
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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.