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1st July 1967
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Posted: |
Sep 11, 2020 - 6:22 AM
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By: |
Disco Stu
(Member)
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Diana Rigg was the first person ever to do Kung Fu on Western television screens. In 1965, Ray Austin went to his producers and said, "Listen, I want to do this thing called Kung Fu." They said "Kung what?" and insisted that Emma, like her predecessor, stick to judo. Instead, Austin secretly taught Rigg Kung Fu. It wasn’t until the Fall of 1966 that Bruce Lee began appearing on “The Green Hornet.”
Questionable like the claim that the 1966 "Batman" TV-series was the first to feature a car-phone as Richard Diamond did that already in 1959 at the latest.
On 17 September 1965 Honey West was making men regret underestimating her with the moves Peel would do very unconvincingly. Don't get me wrong, I love the Avengers but the fight scenes "post-Gale" fit the weird universe it was set in.
I never found Rigg beautiful in either the Avengers-series or the Bond franchise, but she was iconic and she is, and I am certain will forever remain, the most interesting Bond-woman bar NONE.
D.S.
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Diana Rigg was the first person ever to do Kung Fu on Western television screens. In 1965, Ray Austin went to his producers and said, "Listen, I want to do this thing called Kung Fu." They said "Kung what?" and insisted that Emma, like her predecessor, stick to judo. Instead, Austin secretly taught Rigg Kung Fu. It wasn’t until the Fall of 1966 that Bruce Lee began appearing on “The Green Hornet.”
Questionable like the claim that the 1966 "Batman" TV-series was the first to feature a car-phone as Richard Diamond did that already in 1959 at the latest.
On 17 September 1965 Honey West was making men regret underestimating her with the moves Peel would do very unconvincingly. Don't get me wrong, I love the Avengers but the fight scenes "post-Gale" fit the weird universe it was set in.
I never found Rigg beautiful in either the Avengers-series or the Bond franchise, but she was iconic and she is, and I am certain will forever remain, the most interesting Bond-woman bar NONE.
D.S.
I'm glad you wrote that last comment as I feel similarly and thought I'd get wtf? reply.. Yes, she was more 'intelligently attractive' than what we might call 'eye candy' (eg Ms Bouchet on the other side). She was also the best of the Avengers girls and most iconic. I could quite happily only know those two seasons. To be fair to Honor Blackman her successor hit the ground running with the change to film, as I think the two are cut from the same cloth in many ways. But those video taped episodes are heavy going compared when watched today, though of course without them...
And by the colour season Rigg definitely made her mark. Her b&w one did see her put in black leather carrying on from Blackman which she doesn't suit half as well as her 'Emmapeelers'. I'd be four years old when she appeared but I do remember it in the evenings first run, but no doubt remember it better from reruns. Classic show for all sorts of reasons and Diana Rigg is very high on that list. Always loved it and her.
Always felt slightly sorry for her Bond role missing out on Connery. Love or hate Lazenby the simple fact is that the woman who finally gets Bond married and then killed would have carried so much more weight if it had been part of the Connery series, and be much better remembered now.
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Posted: |
Sep 11, 2020 - 11:52 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Diana Rigg was the first person ever to do Kung Fu on Western television screens. In 1965, Ray Austin went to his producers and said, "Listen, I want to do this thing called Kung Fu." They said "Kung what?" and insisted that Emma, like her predecessor, stick to judo. Instead, Austin secretly taught Rigg Kung Fu. It wasn’t until the Fall of 1966 that Bruce Lee began appearing on “The Green Hornet.”
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Questionable
On 17 September 1965 Honey West was making men regret underestimating her with the moves Peel would do very unconvincingly. Don't get me wrong, I love the Avengers but the fight scenes "post-Gale" fit the weird universe it was set in.
D.S.
As for it being questionable that Rigg was the first Western female practitioner of kung fu on television, that's the current opinion of the Guinness Book of World Records. So your argument is with them.
"In 1965, Dame Diana Rigg (UK) became the first western actress to perform kung fu on Television when the combat choreographers Ray Austin (UK) and Chee So (UK/China) worked elements of the martial art into her fight scenes on The Avengers. Certificate presentation was done on The New Paul O'Grady Show."
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-western-actress-to-perform-kung-fu-on-television/
As to Anne Francis doing it before Rigg, well therein lies the technical difference between karate, judo, and kung fu, which someone more knowledgeable than me will have to explain. In short, from what I understand, karate is sharp, fast, and precise; judo is heavy and powerful, grabs body/clothes; and kung fu is smooth and has diverse style.
Every description I've read of "Honey West" describes the character as being an expert in karate, judo, or "martial arts." I've not seen a reference to kung fu.
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Posted: |
Sep 11, 2020 - 12:01 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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The Golan-Globus Productions’ live-action version of SNOW WHITE was shot in Israel in 1986. It was the ageless tale of a beautiful young princess (Sarah Patterson) whose jealous stepmother (Diana Rigg) orders her killed so that Evil Queen will be 'the fairest in the land.' When the huntsman takes pity on her, he takes her to the house of the seven dwarfs.
Diana Rigg in SNOW WHITE
This was part of the Cannon Movie Tales series, nine feature films based on classic fairy tales. To save money, the films were shot two or three at a time. This film was shot simultaneously with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1987). This wasn't the best of situations, in that often the two crews would be competing for limited equipment, costumes, and sets.
Michael Berz directed and co-wrote the film, which was scored by Arik Rudich. In 2008, Rudich sued MGM for $1.9 million, claiming that they ignored his copyright and failed to negotiate any royalties for the use of his score on the 2005 DVD release of the film. The case was dismissed in 2009 when Rudich and MGM failed to conduct a court-ordered settlement conference.
Although the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1987, its U.S. release was held up because Disney decided to re-issue its 1937 animated version of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS to theaters that year. Cannon Films’ SNOW WHITE opened first in Italy in late 1987, in Britain the following year, and did not appear in the U.S. until June 1989, when it went directly to video. It was the only Cannon Movie Tale to receive a [PG] rating.
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Posted: |
Sep 11, 2020 - 12:57 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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A HAZARD OF HEARTS was a romance based on a 1949 novel by Barbara Cartland. Compulsive gambler “Sir Giles Staverley” (Christopher Plummer) is tricked into gambling away his home by his old adversary “Lord Harry Wrotham” (Edward Fox). Since Staverley is distraught and desperate, Wrotham gives him one last chance--he will gamble everything Staverley has lost against Staverley's daughter's hand in marriage and her trust fund of 80,000 guineas. Staverley agrees and loses once again, but unable to face his daughter “Serena” (Helena Bonham Carter), he kills himself. “Lord Justin Vulcan” (Marcus Gilbert), a notoriously cool, clear-headed gambler, challenges Wrotham for the house and the girl and, much to Wrotham's disgust, wins. Justin now finds himself in possession of the house and Serena, but has no idea of what to do with them. After meeting Serena and realizing that she is much younger and more attractive than he had imagined, he installs her as a guest at Mandrake, his family home, despite the opposition of Justin's mother, “Lady Harriet Vulcan” (Diana Rigg).
John Hough directed this made-for-television film, which aired on CBS on 27 December 1987. Laurie Johnson’s score for the film has not been released.
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Posted: |
Sep 11, 2020 - 2:18 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Angela Lansbury had the title role in the television movie MRS. 'ARRIS GOES TO PARIS. She plays “Mrs. Ada Harris,” a middle-aged maid in London, who's saved up for three years, so she can go to Paris and buy a Dior gown, her dream possession. When she finally saves up enough money, Ada flies to Paris, and finds her way to the house of Dior. She goes in, but finds out that one needs an invitation to view the Dior line. However, “Madame Colbert” (Diana Rigg), the sales manager, takes pity on Ada and gives her an invitation for the collection showing later in the afternoon.
Diana Rigg in MRS. 'ARRIS GOES TO PARIS
Anthony Pullen Shaw directed the film, which aired on CBS on 27 December 1992. Stanley Myers provided the score.
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Posted: |
Sep 11, 2020 - 3:40 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Diana Rigg finally got to work with Sean Connery in 1994’s A GOOD MAN IN AFRICA. In this satire, “Morgan Leafy” (Colin Friels) is a diplomat posted in the fictitious Kinjanja -- which he hates -- and makes do by berating the Africans who work for him, bedding every woman he passes, and drinking himself blind. Complicating his so-called life are his sniveling boss (John Lithgow), the big favorite in the local presidential election (Lou Gossett), the corpse of a servant he is ordered to dispose of and can't, a crusty but benevolent Scots doctor (Connery), and various women for whom he lusts or who lust after him. Among the latter is cool, cynical “Chloe” (Rigg), a matron who goes all twitchy at the sight of Morgan.
Diana Rigg and John Lithgow in A GOOD MAN IN AFRICA
Bruce Beresford directed the film, which had an unreleased score by John Du Prez. The film foundered at the U.S. box office, with a $2.3 million gross.
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Great photo Peter. Not one of the more common ones as I've certainly not seen it before.
Having already donned my Avengers t shirt after work I also managed to stick Return of the Cybernauts on the tv before bedtime as my own little tribute. Cracking episode with a top guest cast led by the evil Peter Cushing, who while pretending to charm the lovely Mrs Peel, tries to do away with her and John Steed and even succeeds in turning Emma into a human Cybernaut in the process. All wrapped up in a typically brilliant score by Laurie Johnson.
The pre-title sequence alone is 'worth the price of admission'.
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Posted: |
Sep 12, 2020 - 10:02 AM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In the two-part made-for-television remake of REBECCA, while vacationing in Monte Carlo in 1927, “Maxim de Winter” (Charles Dance) meets the young and somewhat naive British companion of Mrs. Van Hopper, whose bout of influenza frees the girl (Emilia Fox) to spend time with the wealthy widower. When Mrs. Van Hopper announces plans to return to New York City, Max marries the girl and brings her to his Cornwall coast estate known as Manderley. The large household staff is supervised by “Mrs. Danvers” (Diana Rigg), who was deeply devoted to Max's first wife Rebecca. His young wife soon learns that Rebecca was the victim of a sailing accident some ten months before, and her battered body was discovered forty miles up the coast and identified by her distraught husband.
Diana Rigg and Emilia Fox in REBECCA
Jim O'Brien directed the 1997 film, which aired (in an edited version) in the U.S. on PBS as part of the “Masterpiece Theatre” series, beginning on 13 April 1997. Christopher Gunning’s score was released by Caldera Records in 2015. For her performance in this film, Diana Rigg won an Emmy Award as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.
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