Episode 49: Cathy Gale Era
Page 49 of 192

 

  A.K.A.

 La loi du silence

 La Conspiración Del Silencio

  Other Viewpoints

• Visitor reviews

CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

Steed yearns to be in the circus
Cathy moves in with the clowns*

Production completed: 1 March 1963
UK Premiere (London, Season 2): 3 March 1963
US Premiere (A&E cable): ca. 27 February 1991

Steed learns that a circus clown is trying to kill him, and it isn't Dr Keel. Posing (once again) as a journalist, Cathy moves in with the clown's wife and gets to meet the family—literally: the Mafia, who are trying to keep Steed from interfering with their American drug smuggling connection.

 IMHO

This episode is as much a circus itself as it is about one. A number of engagingly curious characters, such as the tatooist, are contrasted by an equal number of lackluster guest stars, like the clown's wife. Some great set pieces are patched together with a number of awkward scene transitions, and a missed music cue near the beginning leaves a long filmed segment in total silence. It's well worth it, however, for a few fiery Steed and Cathy exchanges, particularly the tense closing scene.

 Trivia

Exclusive: Writer Roger Marshall has penned an essay about his tenure on The Avengers.

Max Pemberton writes...

Elizabeth & Collins were a special circus act.

Did you notice the circus poster in the background of the scene where Cathy is quizzing the circus guy about the attempt on Steed's life? It had an act on it called "The Diminutive Steed!"

*This unofficial subtitle is by Yours Truly.

 Best Line

When Steed asks Cathy how she knew so much about tattoos, she said she took it up in school instead of needlework, which made Macnee burst out laughing, and Honor was all smiles.

 Essential Reading

CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

Teleplay by
Story Editor
Designed by
Producer
Directed by

Roger Marshall
Richard Bates
Stephen Doncaster
John Bryce
Peter Hammond

Full production credits

CAST

John Steed
Cathy Gale
Carlo
Rickie
Sica
Gutman
Arturo
Terry
James
Professor
Rant
And:

Patrick Macnee 007
Honor Blackman 007
Robert Rietty # 007
Sandra Dorne #
Alec Mango #
Roy Purcell #
Tommy Godfrey
John Church
Artro Morris #
Willie Shearer
Ian Wilson
Elizabeth & Collins

UNBILLED

Leggo

Himself

# DOPPELGANGERS

Sandra Dorne

Diamond Cut Diamond

Alec Mango

Two's a Crowd

Artro Morris

How To Succeed....At Murder

Roy Purcell

Obsession

Robert Rietty

Trap
 

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Page last modified: 5 May 2017.

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