The Avengers and The New Avengers OOP on DVD. The Saint and The Persuaders!? (1 Viewer)

[Osato]

It's a 16 disc collection so it's on par with the old A&E releases.

The same content remastered by Optimum is 14 discs (plus one more to include "The Forget Me Knot").

Old masters. I emailed tvshowsondvd, and they don't know more than what they printed.

Thanks! I emailed them as well.

Looks like the old 1990's mastering is good enough for some.

 

[Osato]

The 50th set is over 120 pounds on amazon.co.uk now. I haven't seen this show in a very long time and I'm content to get the A&E set over Christmas at a substantial discount until I see if it will come out on blu.

I sold my Emma Peel A&E DVD set and it was enough to purchase the UK set. Worked out pretty well, as I got all of the episodes and not just the Peel ones.

I'm guessing the older Peel A&E DVD sets will decline in price now with the reissue set on the way.

 

[David Weicker]

A lot of people keep saying these are not new masters, when nothing is known for sure.We know that new masters exist, and there is nothing official to indicate that they weren't used (other than a few people's opinions).Why can't people wait until these have been released before jumping on the negative wagon

 

[Darby67]

I have not purchased any previous releases of The Avengers, so I have preordered this re-release. It's a blind buy for me so I'm looking forward to it. If they ever release the complete collection on DVD in region 1, I would consider purchasing that.

Darby

 

[JohnMor]

I have not purchased any previous releases of The Avengers, so I have preordered this re-release. It's a blind buy for me so I'm looking forward to it. If they ever release the complete collection on DVD in region 1, I would consider purchasing that.

Darby

I think you'll really enjoy them, Darby. The Diana Rigg episodes are, for me anyway, the highlight of the series. Great, great fun.

 

[Osato]

I think you'll really enjoy them, Darby. The Diana Rigg episodes are, for me anyway, the highlight of the series. Great, great fun.

Agreed its a great series from the 60's. I continue to watch them over and over again.

Hopefully A&E has acquired the new UK remastered versions of the episodes. They are breathtaking, IMO.

 

[Vahan_Nisanain]

Something is off, the package is that of the remastered releases issued recently in the UK... but it doesn't mention anything about the actual episodes being remastered, nor does the press release.

Also Emma Peel is two seasons, not 3. I thought this silly theory started by some armchair specialists had been put to rest.

http://theavengers.tv/forever/sixorseven2.htm

As for calling this theory "silly" and calling them "armchair specialists", well, you stay classy.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

I've traded in my 66' and 67' DVD sets upon hearing the news of this new budget-priced Diana Rigg set, but it really smells like there's a Blu-ray in the works for at least Region B. How can they do "The Prisoner" without doing this show?

 

[DVDvision]

Different right owners (plus The Prisoner is 17 episodes only). Intolt, I have every reason to call the authors of The Avengers dossier armchair specialists. They had zero access to documentation and their book was aimed only as discrediting Dave Rogers hard work and making them look good in the process. I had a heavy debate with this theory on the site you linked years ago, but it was taken offline years later.
Anyway the 3 seasons A&E mention is just them including the Forget Me Knot episode in the set and calling it a complete season, so there's no relation.

 

[Osato]

I've traded in my 66' and 67' DVD sets upon hearing the news of this new budget-priced Diana Rigg set, but it really smells like there's a Blu-ray in the works for at least Region B. How can they do "The Prisoner" without doing this show?

It probably depends on how well this set sells for A&E.

I'm kind of skeptical that The Avengers or The Saint will make it to blu ray.

Network UK released The Persuaders! series on blu ray locked to Region B. There has not been a US release of that series on blu ray.
Network had announced they were putting The Saint on blu ray but there has been no further news. I wonder if sales for The Persuaders were poor and that effected The Saint on blu ray.

I finally caved on the 50th anniversary DVD set of The Avengers from the UK. It's a great set and it also includes all of the episodes. Plus all episodes have been remastered.

I'll be curious to hear the reviews of the new A&E set.

 

[DVDvision]

The Saint I'm not so sure -- the appeal is a bit limited. For The Avengers there's a chance, but it would have to be coordinated over several countries, and this may cause many problems, because depending on the countries, parts of the episodes were cut and not dubbed. This makes for hard work to coordinate all dubs over the masters.

I say there's a slight chance it could hit UK and the US first, but without any foreign dub or subtitles.

On note, the series was remastered in France in 1080p over 5 years ago, and 5.1 mixes were made in addition to the mono tracks restoration, for the original language (ie english).

 

[Osato]

The Saint I'm not so sure -- the appeal is a bit limited. For The Avengers there's a chance, but it would have to be coordinated over several countries, and this may cause many problems, because depending on the countries, parts of the episodes were cut and not dubbed. This makes for hard work to coordinate all dubs over the masters.

I say there's a slight chance it could hit UK and the US first, but without any foreign dub or subtitles.

On note, the series was remastered in France in 1080p over 5 years ago, and 5.1 mixes were made in addition to the mono tracks restoration, for the original language (ie english).

Got it. Interesting on the French mastering. Were they released on DVD in France using the same prints?

I still think that blu ray is a long shot for The Avengers in the US.

Based on the fact they let the series stay out of print for several years.

Maybe the reissue set of the 90's transfers will be big sellers and the rest of the series will be available again here in the US.

 

[DVDvision]

The rights of the series belongs to StudioCanal who are a french company. The remastered DVD released recently in the UK are all from those high-def remasters.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Just a heads up, if someone gets the Emma Peel megaset coming out next week to please let us know if these are the more recently remastered versions of the episodes that came out with the UK edition. Thanks!

 

[JoeBond]

I've been hoping this release would have the new transfers from the UK but someone posted a review on Amazon.com that doesn't sound too good especially the packaging. It pretty much says that the video doesn't appear to be remastered and that the discs are stacked in the DVD case. Certainly a pass for me now.

 

[JeffT.]

I wish that they would rerelease the Linda Thorson series sets again as I purchased only a single complete set(s) and wouldn't mind having a backup.At this late stage I would be much more interested in a blu-ray release of THE AVENGERS (ABC 1966-69) which surely must be in the works.In its original ABC Television U.S. Network primetime broadcast there was a "third" season of Emma Peel episodes comprised of 8 Emma Peel episodes and 7 Linda Thorson episodes which aired from January 1968 to September 1968.These initial 7 Linda Thorson episodes had a completely different title from what is currently featured in the DVD releases and I wish that these would be restored:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnPBXPB2qEQJeff T.

 

[Vahan_Nisanain]

Was the filmed era of this show shot in 23.976 or 25.000?

 

[Harry-N]

It was shot in 24fps and broadcast in the UK at 25fps. US broadcasts were at the proper 24fps speed.

 

[Ethan Riley]

I'd go for blus of the whole existing series, and New Avengers too.

 

[Osato]

I'd go for blus of the whole existing series, and New Avengers too.

The 50th Anniversary UK DVD set is the way to go. I thought I would hold out for blu ray, but I just don't see a US release ever happening.

The Persuaders! series was released by Network on blu ray in the UK, but its locked to Region B. Meaning you have to buy a mod blu ray player to play the discs.
I see the same thing happening with UK releases of The Saint, The Avengers and Return of The Saint (if they ever happen).

It's too bad the US cannot get at the very least the same new masters that were included on the UK set.

Oh the UK 50th anniversary set is packed with quite a few audio commentaries and many other features.


Anyway. I waited several years, but decided to go for the Anniversary DVD set. It's very well done. Highly Recommended.