Episode 92: Emma Peel Era
Page 92 of 192

 

  Tag

Steed and Emma buzz off on a little motor scooter, with Emma dreaming of a thick steak, and Steed dreaming of... well, use your imagination.

  Stats ?

  A.K.A.

 Voyage sans retour

 Stadt ohne Rückkehr

 La città senza ritorno

 Pueblo Sin Retorno

 De spookstad

  Other Viewpoints

• Visitor Reviews
• Rodney's Reviews
• The Young Avenger

THE TOWN OF NO RETURN

Steed Finds a Town of Ghosts
Emma Gets Put Into Harness

Originally filmed 29 October to 13 November 1964
Re-filmed 21 July to ca. 30 July 1965
UK Premiere (London, Season 4): 28 September 1965
US Premiere (New York, Season 1): 1 September 1966

Agents are disappearing one after another in the village of Little Bazeley by the Sea, and Steed solicits Emma's help in discovering their fate. The locals greet our duo with unfavorable looks, and it isn't long before they encounter odd goings-on and grim mysteries. For instance, some of the residents have a penchant for badger-hunting on the dunes—at night...

 IMHO

The first Emma Peel episode to hit the air features lots of dark, stylish imagery and subtle avante garde touches, such as the opening sequence in which a grizzled fisherman unflinchingly observes a man emerge from the sea in a giant plastic zip-lock bag. The scene wherein Steed solicits Emma's participation in the assignment whilst crossing swords in her apartment provides a clever and telling character introduction, especially in light of his dirty swordplay tricks, which includes a bratty whack on her butt. There's an abundance of clever dialog and cute set pieces, such as Steed's bottomless goodies bag on the train ("Are you sure you won't have a marzipan delight?"), all of which makes the dated enemy invasion plot easier to swallow. A perfect start for the series. (Ironically, this was the last episode to premiere in the initial U.S. run.)

 Trivia

Much of this episode was shot twice, as Elizabeth Shepherd was originally cast as Emma Peel and later let go. The first version was directed by Peter Graham Scott. It was re-filmed with Diana Rigg partway through the season, which explains why she seems so at ease with her role—although it was still written and played as something of an introductory episode.

MORE TRIVIA

 On Location

Wighton served as Little Bazeley, shoreline scenes were shot at Holkham Gap, and the airfield scenes were filmed at Bircham Newton near Hunstanton, Norfolk. Well End Lodge, Well End makes an appearance in the tag scene.

 Best Scene

Steed investigates the abandoned airfield. Not only is the scene rife with atmosphere, but revealing of Steed's sillier side, as he takes a spin on a merry-go-round and tips his bowler to himself in a broken mirror.

 Best Line

As Steed unties Emma from the saddle, Emma cries, "Ow! Tight girth!" Steed: "We'll have to cut down on the oats."

 Essential Reading

THE TOWN OF NO RETURN

Teleplay by
Directed by

Brian Clemens
Roy Baker

Full production credits

CAST

John Steed
Emma Peel
Brandon
Smallwood
'Piggy' Warren
Vicar
Saul
Jill Mason
School Inspector

Patrick Macnee 007
Diana Rigg 007
Alan MacNaughtan #
Patrick Newell #
Terence Alexander #
Jeremy Burnham #
Robert Brown 007
Juliet Harmer
Walter Horsbrugh

UNBILLED/STUNTS

Soldier

Peter Brace

*DOPPELGANGERS

Terence Alexander

The Correct Way to Kill
Love All
Angels of Death

Jeremy Burnham

The Fear Merchants
The Forget-Me-Knot

Alan MacNaughtan

Who Was That Man...

Patrick Newell

Something Nasty in the Nursery
The Forget-Me-Knot
 

All materials copyrighted per their respective copyright holders.
This website Copyright © 1996-2017 David K. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Page last modified: 5 May 2017.

Top of page
Table of Contents