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Production completed: 15 March 1963
UK Premiere (London, Season 2): 16 March 1963
US Premiere (A&E cable): ca. 1 March 1991
While paying a childhood
friend a visit, Cathy becomes emotionally involved with the girl's father, unaware that
the powerful shipbuilder has hatched a scheme to take over virtually all British
shipbuilding production in order to prevent a bid for a nuclear-powered vessel to fall
into foreign hands. Steed has the formidable task of convincing Cathy that her
"Handsome Harry" has murdered the father of her girlfriend's fiancée to fulfill
his plans.
Occasionally bogged down in ponderous vessels of dialog, this is a
standout if only for Cathy's love interest—it's always effective to give the emotional
pot a stir once in a while, particularly when it involves a lead character. Steed is especially crass and chauvinistic this time around,
although we do see a glimmer of compassion for Cathy after having to arrest her lover at
gunpoint. Technically the episode is quite solid, save for a very strange music cue as
Steed enters via Cathy's bedroom window—but the subsequent dialog is the mother lode of
best lines.
Some scenes were pre-recorded on 14 March 1963 in advance of the main recording.
*This unofficial subtitle is by Yours Truly.
Cathy to Steed as he enters her window: "Go out and come
through the front door like a civilized human being."
Steed, looking through Cathy's snapshots: "Well, he's
in every one. Hey, you could take some color ones of him—I'll get you some film, very
fast, very special..." (At which point Honor Blackman works very hard to
stifle a broad grin.)
Cathy, defending her Handsome Harry: "He was with me
when it happened." Steed: "Well, he must have had his hands full." |