Episode 124: Emma Peel Era
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A.K.A.
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Other Viewpoints |
Un
petit déjeuner trop lourd
Wo
der Hund begraben liegt
iamanti
a colazione (Diamonds for breakfast)
El
Desayuno De 50.000 Libras
Diamanten en honden
|
Production completed: 20 July 1967
UK Premiere (London, Season 6): 12 October 1967
US Premiere (New York, Season 3): 28 February 1968
An auto crash victim turns up in the hospital
with £50,000 worth of diamonds in his stomach. He was an employee of the Litoff
Organization, one of the world's great financial empires, which is
mysteriously in the process of converting all of its assets into cash. While Steed is busy making himself a pest at the Litoff
Organization, Emma is snooping around a pet cemetery.
"Shop!"
IMHO |
Sound familiar? That's because it's a remake of "Death of a Great Dane," first season Cathy Gale. Although most of the dialog is intact, it has considerably more style this time. Indeed, Glover's plan for using his millions, as delivered by Cecil Parker, is downright chilling. Creepy music score, too. Probably its biggest failing is that it is all rather ordinary (which is not surprising in light of its origins).
Trivia |
Exclusive: Writer Roger Marshall has penned an essay about his tenure on The Avengers.
It is worth pointing out that this episode is an exception to one of the more controversial "rules" of the show regarding race. A more notable exception is "Small Game for Big Hunters," in which a black man has a significant speaking role. The blacks in "Breakfast," as they are in "Honey for the Prince," are simply background characters. Oh, and is anyone else troubled by Steed's line to Sir James, "Why the jungle music?"
Speaking of the "jungle music," apparently one of the steel drum musicians featured at the cigar party was noted jazz artist Russ Henderson.
Note that, although Roger Marshall receives screen credit for the teleplay, it was actually rewritten from the original Cathy Gale version by Brian Clemens. Among the changes: Miss Pegram was originally Getz, a man, and the cigar party was a wine-tasting. One thing that wasn't changed, though, was the death of a woman, which was also considered a no-no this season.
Margaret Warren reminds me that when Mrs. Rhodes turns on her radio, what emerges is the dance hall music from "Quick-Quick Slow Death"!
Steed's Aunties: Mrs. Rhodes comments about a vaudeville act, saying the performer "couldn't keep off the bottle." Steed says, "I had an auntie like that." Mrs. Rhodes: "On the halls?" Steed: "Yes! Skating act. Bit between the teeth. Dancing on the marble top table." (Sounds like Mrs. Sybil Peabody again, from "A Sense of History" and "Silent Dust.") Also: When Steed and Emma are handcuffed to the bedpost, Steed fishes out a small object from his coat. Emma asks, "What is it?" Steed replies, "Solid gold toothpick. Bequest from my Uncle Joe."
On Location |
The studio itself provided the hospital exteriors.
Best Scene |
A piece of evidence is destroyed—with a vengeance! (See the first image.)
Best Line |
Frustrated at the lack of film images of Litoff, Steed says to Emma, "Oh, well, shall we rewind it or go on to Popeye?"
Essential Reading |
- Mrs. Peel... We're Needed by Piers Johnson