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The Avengers: The Inside Story
Patrick Macnee tells all! The secrets of the hit TV series The Avengers are laid bare by the man who was John Steed.
Lavishly illustrated, with many unpublished stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and snaps from Macnee's private collection, this is a very personal portrait of the world's best-loved cult action-adventure series, and its classic sequel, The New Avengers .
In unflinching detail, Macnee reveals the true story behind the show, including his relationships with all four Avengers girls — Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson and Joanna Lumley — on and off the set!
Lavishly illustrated, with many unpublished stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and snaps from Macnee's private collection, this is a very personal portrait of the world's best-loved cult action-adventure series, and its classic sequel, The New Avengers .
In unflinching detail, Macnee reveals the true story behind the show, including his relationships with all four Avengers girls — Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson and Joanna Lumley — on and off the set!
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 22, 2018
A fine version of how they made The Avengers TV show, from "John Steed's" point of view.
Recommended to fans of the series!
Recommended to fans of the series!
February 21, 2023
I have loved the Avengers since a small child. this book gives good insights into the Patrick Macnee stories. (There have been more movies) It is written in his voice and sometimes rambles but if you liked the Avengers this is for you.
July 21, 2015
I go back and forth about my favorite TV show "Top Ten" list, that is numbers 2-10. The number one slot is always "The Avengers", the Diana Rigg years. It hasn't changed for me in decades and so the chance to learn more about the history of the show is always welcomed.
I'm glad I read this after reading the very disappointing biography of Diana Rigg. In this book Patrick Macnee forever known as John Steed pairs up with Avengers expert, Dave Rogers to detail the history of the show from the inside in all its incarnations from its evolution out of Police Surgeon to The New Avengers.
Macnee is forthright about his shortcomings as an actor and as a person unwilling to throw his weight around for himself, his show and especially his costars. He is clear that alcohol had been a problem for him that he struggles with that.
He admits in a wonderful passage toward the end of the book about his attraction to each of his leading ladies. It's in a sort of abashed manner and comes across very dear.
My biggest bittersweet revelation is Macnee admitting he should have spoken up on Diana Rigg's behalf when she said she was leaving the show to make things better for her. He couldn't shake his own personal issues to see someone else's pain. He confesses that years later she confided if he'd have spoken up and taken her side there would have been 2 more years of their shows.
Now that would have been glorious.
I'm glad I read this after reading the very disappointing biography of Diana Rigg. In this book Patrick Macnee forever known as John Steed pairs up with Avengers expert, Dave Rogers to detail the history of the show from the inside in all its incarnations from its evolution out of Police Surgeon to The New Avengers.
Macnee is forthright about his shortcomings as an actor and as a person unwilling to throw his weight around for himself, his show and especially his costars. He is clear that alcohol had been a problem for him that he struggles with that.
He admits in a wonderful passage toward the end of the book about his attraction to each of his leading ladies. It's in a sort of abashed manner and comes across very dear.
My biggest bittersweet revelation is Macnee admitting he should have spoken up on Diana Rigg's behalf when she said she was leaving the show to make things better for her. He couldn't shake his own personal issues to see someone else's pain. He confesses that years later she confided if he'd have spoken up and taken her side there would have been 2 more years of their shows.
Now that would have been glorious.
December 18, 2016
This is a large format, high quality, lavishly illustrated coffee table book and probably should be on every Avengers fan's list.
Patrick Macnee details the history of the series, right from it's start up until the end of The New Avengers. There is lot's of really interesting stuff here where you get to read about all the constant pressure from the networks and how Macnee adapted to accommodate many changes. He freely admits that he made some bad choices by not intervening several times. If he had, he thinks the series would have been better and lasted longer.
This book took me a few weeks to read because I have the entire series on DVD and reviewed key episodes as they were covered in the text. I guess the thing that strikes me as most memorable about the show is how forward thinking this series was making a woman the ass kicking half of the partnership back in the early 60's.
Great book for fans, probably not very interesting for others.
Patrick Macnee details the history of the series, right from it's start up until the end of The New Avengers. There is lot's of really interesting stuff here where you get to read about all the constant pressure from the networks and how Macnee adapted to accommodate many changes. He freely admits that he made some bad choices by not intervening several times. If he had, he thinks the series would have been better and lasted longer.
This book took me a few weeks to read because I have the entire series on DVD and reviewed key episodes as they were covered in the text. I guess the thing that strikes me as most memorable about the show is how forward thinking this series was making a woman the ass kicking half of the partnership back in the early 60's.
Great book for fans, probably not very interesting for others.
July 10, 2013
A nice coffee table book with some great photos. Macnee can't say a bad thing about anybody, but I did learn new details about the show. Now I really want to see Benny Hill's sketch spoofing The Avengers.
April 18, 2008
This is a good history of the show throught Patrick McNee's eyes. Very interesting with great pictures.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews