In a recent Editor's Note I wrote about the passing of legendary horror movie actor Christopher Lee. Now another acting legend has died, coincidentally at the same age as Lee, 93, which is a pretty good innings by anybody's measure. The thespian this time — British actor Patrick Macnee — was known mostly as a star of the small screen. Throughout the 1960s, Macnee played the part of John Steed, the male hero of the enduringly popular and uniquely quirky TV series, The Avengers.
The Avengers was a ground-breaking show for several reasons. The "spy-fi" premise of the show was fresh and original at the time, and it went on to influence the James Bond movies and countless other action films and TV shows.
Fans of The Avengers tend to think of the show as having three major eras, each made distinct by Steed's female sidekick. In the early black and white episodes this part was played by the sexy Honor Blackman, who later went on to star in many hit movies. The female lead in the second phase of The Avengers was played by the beautiful and sophisticated Diana Rigg, while the third and final female lead was the sultry and quirky Linda Thornton.
What was remarkable about these women and the characters they helped to create was that they were strong, independent and intelligent characters that rarely had to depend on Steed or any other male character to help them. They could always fight, think or talk their way out of trouble, as well as always outsmart whatever diabolical mastermind they were up against.
In short, they were strong feminist figures before the idea of feminism was widely known or accepted. At the same time, they were highly attractive and feminine women. They paved the way for today's strong female characters and action heroes played by stars like Uma Thurman, who incidentally had a lead role in the 1998 movie version of The Avengers.
Thanks to the Internet and sites like YouTube, it's not hard to track down episodes of The Avengers TV series, and the show is well worth a look. It was made at a time when the television industry favoured original and unusual ideas, as well as intelligent scripts and plots that actually required viewers to think. And with its bright, modern (for the time) and slightly surreal look, The Avengers is visually a '60s pop art masterpiece. It also features of the most outrageously crazy fight scenes ever filmed.
Patrick Macnee was famously modest about his life and acting achievements, but he will be forever immortalised as the dapper, charming, Champagne-sipping, tough, smart and wisecracking John Steed in The Avengers.
Ben Edwards
Editor
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