The Avengers Dossier, Page Eleven

It's time for another look at a supporting player from the classic fourth season of "The Avengers"!

JAN HOLDEN
In "Dial a Deadly Number", Jan Holden played a financier's wife who actively maintained a diversified portfolio of male assets (if you know what I mean [wink-wink, nudge-nudge].)

Born in 1931, Jan Holden spent her early childhood in India, but returned to with her family to England as World War II broke out. She developed in interest in acting while at school, and proved to have a talent of comedy. At 18, Holden was offered internships at several renowned theatres and theatrical companies, but her father disapproved of her theatrical ambitions, so he refused to let accept any of the offers. He eventually softened her stance, and she was able to enter the Old Vic's director's course. In 1951, she became the theatre's assistant stage manager.

Holden soon established herself as a popular and respected stage actress in light comedies. By the mid-1950s, she began to add movie and television roles to her workload, including "Stranglers of Bombay" and other films from the famous Hammer Studios. For the next 30 years, Holden would balance theatre and screen work. Her most famous role was, arguably, as Mrs. Newhouse on the sitcom "Casanova '73", as the wife of a husband who spends each episode making sure she doesn't learn of his extra-marital affair.

Aside from her role in "Dial a Deadly Number", Holden also appeared as a different character in "The Avengers" Season Three episode "The Undertakers".

In the mid-1980s, Holden was plagued by a series of health problems, so she eased back on her work schedule and retired in 1990. She passed away in 2005.

A Stranger's Final Moments...

Stranger (2013)
Starring: Gabriel Burrafato, Nathalie Ben-Kely, Rusty Meyers, and Billy Gilbride
Director: Brandon Christensen
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Stranger (Burrafato), a lonely hitman who is now a target for death himself, is resigned to spending his final moments, admiring Iris (Ben-Kely), the woman he secretly loves from afar. But then things take a turn....

"Stranger" is a short film from 2013 that set out to capture the look and mood of the film noir genre of the late 1940s and early 1950s. It is largely successful--especially during the shots of Gabriel Burrafato sitting at the bar while his character internally monologs. 

In addition to some great cinematography, this little film features a story and characters that's portrayed effectively enough that not only will you be able to imagine what has gone before and what will follow the events shown on screen, but you may find yourself wishing there was more time with Stranger, Iris, and whoever Stranger has crossed than just these few minutes.

As enjoyable and well-done as I found this film to be, there were a couple things about it that bothered me--admittedly small things but one still bugged me enough to rise above the level of a nitpick.

There needed to be a difference in sound quality between Stranger's narration and the conversation he has with Iris. Stranger's internal monolog happens against an audio backdrop of total silence, which makes sense since it's in his head, but the same is true of the exchanges he has with Iris. The parts where Stranger isn't narrating would have benefitted tremendously from a little ambient sounds drifting in from nearby tables or other patrons at the bar.

Despite that highly technical complaint, I think "Stranger" is an excellent short film, and I think you'll find the four minutes it will take you to watch it well worth your time. It may even brighten your day... because who doesn't like a love story (even one between a hitman and a hostess... perhaps *especially* one between a hitman and a hostess)? 

Hey, I think you'll like it so much that I've embedded it below, via YouTube, so you can watch it right now!

Happy birthday to Morena Baccarin

Today. actress Morena Baccarin turns 42. She been busy a busy voice-over and television actress since 2001, perhaps best known to sci-fi fans for starring in "Firefly" (2002), the remake of "V" (2009-2011), and for a recurring role on the final season of "Stargate: SG-1" (2007); and to fans of dramas and detective shows for a recurring role on "The Mentalist" (2011-2014) and for leading parts on "Homeland" (2011-2013) and "Gotham" (2014-2019).

Barrarin was born in Brazil and moved with her parents to the United States when she was 10 years old. Here are some photos in celebration of her Big Day!

Ko-Ko vs. the Spider-Creature!

Trapped (1923)

Starring: Max Fleischer

Director: Dave Fleischer

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

After a disagreement about how urgent it is to deal with a mouse in the studio, the Animator (Fleischer) draws a monstrous spider-creature to put Ko-Ko the Clown in his place.

"Trapped" is another fun mix of live action footage and animation, with the fourth wall disintegrating between our world and the animated one. As is often the case, Max the Animator and his creation, Ko-Ko, are at odds over something, but Max seems extra petty this time around. (Watching this one will make you appreciate Ko-Ko's actions better in "The Cartoon Factory".)

When I first watched this "Trapped", I thought Ko-Ko's actions were as badly motivated as the Animator's hostility toward him; Ko-Ko's desire to see that rodent dealt with seemed a bit much--even considering that they're smelly, disease-carrying animals--but then it occurred to me that the mouse was chewing on cardboard and paper, and that Ko-Ko's entire world exists on a foundation of paper. From Ko-Ko's point of view that mouse more than just an annoyance, but something that can literally destroy his world and possibly end his existence. This makes the Animator's reaction seem all the more mean-spirited.

Of course, I could also be overthinking the whole thing, and it's nothing more than the tale of a cartoon clown worrying about a rodent infestation while fighting for his life against a bowler hat-wearing giant spider. Why don't you give me YOUR take after clicking below and spending a few minutes watching some silent movie era cartoon weirdness?

Happy birthday to Lea Thompson!

 The actress whose professional acting career began as a teen--appearing in such films as "Back to the Future" and "Red Dawn" in the 1980s; playing Caroline in "Caroline in the City" on television in the 1990s; and as retired intelligence analyst-turned-amateur-detective Cathy Davis in the 2000s in the "Jane Doe" films on the Hallmark Channel--turns 60 years old today.

Here she is, as she appeared in her early 20s, with a quintessential 1980s hairdo!

Musical Monday with the Spin Doctors

The Spin Doctors were a huge band in the 1990s, with a cheerful indie-flavored pop-rock style. After founding member and lead singer Chris Barron was stricken with a rare form of vocal chord paralyzation in 1999, the band broke up.

The Spin Doctors reformed in 2001 after Barron regained his voice, and they've been performing and touring together ever since--even as individual members have engaged in a few side projects here and there.

On this Musical Monday, we're offering "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors. It's music video is a nice amalgamation of all the things we enjoy here at Shades of Gray... and, if you're not familiar with the song, be warned: If you're anything like us, it will be stuck in your head for at least the rest of the day once you hear it.

Two Princes (1992)
Starring: Mark White, Mark Barron, three anonymous actors, and the rest of the Spin Doctors
Director: Richard Murray
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

(If anyone out there knows who the actors playing the Jester, the Diner Girl, and the Fat Hip-Hop Guy are, please let me know in the comments. I would love to give them credit... but I don't recognize any of them, and my feeble research attempts have come up blank.)

Look Kids--Comics! (Plus an RPG supplement)

In the mid-1990s, Evan Dorkin published an anthology series at Slave Labor Graphics titled "Dork". It featured a few different series of short comics features (like the sit-com spoof "The Murder Family"), newspaper strip spoofs (like "Myron the Living Voodoo Doll") and random humorous comics ranging in length from one panel to several pages, and from silly to viciously biting. Some were original to the pages of "Dork", and others were reprinted from elsewhere.

Here's a small sample of the comic strips for your amusement! (Selected from "Dork #1".)

(To support Evan Dorkin's current comic book efforts, become a subscriber to his Patreon page!)

--

As an extra-special treat, here's material that lets you incorporate Myron the Living Voodoo Doll into your roleplaying game campaigns.

AN RPG SUPPLEMENT

Design: Steve Miller * Eye Rolls: L.L. Hundal

Based on "Myron the Living Voodoo Doll" by Evan Dorkin

(Myron the Living Voodoo Doll is used without permission... 

and in the hopes that Mr. Dorkin doesn't sic lawyers or Myron on us.)

INTRODUCING MYRON

Myron is the most unusual of voodoo dolls. He is alive, and he wanders about of his own volition. He does not initially seem different from other voodoo doll, but he has the following unique traits:

   * Myron is self-aware and he can speak. If a person thinks to talk to him, he will respond. He will explain his unique nature, but only if asked. (Myron is too busy contemplating the meaningless nature of existence to volunteer information to those he encounters.)

   * Myron can't help but become bonded either to the last person who handles him, or a person that individual chooses to place a curse upon. Whatever harm (or other extreme physical situation, such as being flung across a room) that subsequently befalls Myron also happens to the person who is subject to his inherent voodoo magic. Once bonded to Myron through his voodoo enchantment, (Myron doesn't necessarily want bad things to happen to people, but he is a voodoo doll so he can't help it.)

   * Myron is a tireless wanderer who is forever seeking new horizons. He never remains in one place for more than a few days. He is also one of the greatest escape artists to ever exist. Once he decides it's time for him to move on, there is nothing that prevent him from doing so. (Myron is completely immune to magic that tries to bind him or keep him trapped. Any such attempts cause him to teleport to a random location far, far away... while the person who attempted to magically trap him is subjected to Myron's inherent voodoo curse.)

   * If Myron is destroyed, he reforms 1d6 days later at a random location (see "Where in the World is Myron?, below). If someone had intentionally tried to destroy him that person is now subject to Myron's inherent voodoo curse--until it is shifted onto someone else. (Myron cannot be destroyed by any conventional--or even unconventional--means. The only ways to put an end to his existence and the inherent voodoo curse he carries is to either convince him that he doesn't exist via philosophical debate, or to bring him into the presence of God [the Clockmaker, the Creator, the Big Guy Himself], which will make Myron realize that existence is not meaningless.)

HOW DO THE HEROES ENCOUNTER MYRON? (Roll 1d6)

This table is used to both determine how the party first meets Myron, as well as how they might randomly encounter him again later. 

1-2. They find him among the property of a foe they've just defeated.

3. One of them receives a package from an unknown sender. Myron is inside.

4. His is found laying outside one of their homes.

5. A friend (or even an enemy) contacts them and begs them to track Myron, because he or she has fallen victim to Myron's curse and is suffering from random injuries and other mishaps.

6. He drops into one of their laps. Literally.

The GM should roll 1d20 once per game month after the party's first experience with Myron is resolved. On a roll of 1, they cross paths with him again.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MYRON (Roll 2d20)

This table is used to determine where Myron can be found.

2. On a city street

3. In a daycare center

4. In a prison

5. In a city dump

6. At a train station

7. At a bus depot

8. By the sea shore

9. Along a busy highway

10. Along a country road
11. In the highlands
12. In a swamp
13. In a forest
14. In a jungle
15. In a desert

16. On a golf course

17. In a school

18. At a construction site

19. In the mountains

20. In a coal mine

21. In a cemetery

22. In a war zone

23. In a crack house

24. In a teenaged girl's bedroom

25. In a teenaged boy's bedroom

26. In a church

27. In a mosque

28. In a synagogue

29. In a serial killer's lair

30. In a politician's office

31. Floating on a lake

32. On a weather balloon

33. Floating on a river

34. In a high-rise office building

35. In a top secret government lab

36. On Paradise Island

37. On Gilligan's Island

38. At John Wick's house

39. At the home of a player character's loved ones

40. At a NASA or other space-exploration launch site.

HOW LONG DOES MYRON STAY? (Roll 1d6)

Myron stays in any given area for a limited amount of time, even if the party arranges for him to be trapped (as indicated in "Introducing Myron"). This table determines how long he can be found in the area determined by rolling on "Where in the World is Myron?"

1. 24 hours

2. 48 hours

3. 72 hours

4. 1d6 days

5. 1d6 weeks

6. 1d20+10 hours

   After the indicated period of time has passed, the GM rolls on on "Where in the World is Myron?" to determine where he can next be found.

DAMAGE SUFFERED FROM VOODOO CURSE (Roll 1d12)

Each day, it's relevant to determine if a character is injured due to being subject to Myron's inherent  voodoo curse, the GM must roll 1d12. On a "12" he or she rolls on the table below to determine what harm comes to the sufferer. If 1-2 hit points are taken, the character suffers minor discomfort or a sudden appearance of bruises or mild burns. Anything beyond that is painful and possibly lethal. Charactes may roll appropriate saving throws and benefit from any resistances to types of damage they may possess.

   Myron is destroyed if he takes more than 30 hit points of damage. He reappears at a random location 1d6 days later. While Myron is out of commission, there is no need to see if a cursed character suffers an injury.

Types and Amount of Damage

1. Cold Damage: 2d10

2. Crushing Damage: 2d10

3. Drowning Damage: 2d10

4. Electrical/Energy Damage: 2d10

5. Falling Damage:  2d10

6. Fire Damage: 2d10

7. Cold Damage: 4d10

8. Crushing Damage: 4d10

9. Drowning Damage: 4d10

10. Electrical/Energy Damage: 4d10

11. Falling Damage:  4d10

12. Fire Damage: 4d10

(If you enjoyed this post, there's lots more at the NUELOW Games blog. Go check it out!)

Fantastic Friday!

We're making this a Fantastic Friday by bringing you four great portraits of the Fantastic Four!

The Avengers: Man-Eater of Surrey Green

Man-Eater of Surrey Green (1965)
Starring: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Athene Seyler, Derek Farr, Gillian Lewis, and William Job
Director: Sidney Hayers
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

Government agents Steed (Macnee) and Peel (Rigg) investigate strange happenings near a botanical research facility and discover that Earth is about to be overrun by flesh-eating plants from outer space.

From one point of view, I just broke my own rule for not providing spoilers in my teaser summaries, by revealing the bizarre nature of the foe that John Steed and Mrs. Peel must overcome in this episode. However, I think the plant-based alien invader, while absolutely the main plot point in the story, is one of the least interesting things about "Man-Eater of Surrey Green".

There are two major problems with the alien plant story, neither of which are fatal, but both of which prevent this from being a great installment of the series.

First, although it may have looked like a great idea on paper, the special effects crew of "The Avengers" either didn't have the time or the budget to make it look quite right; as a result, some scenes that should be intense instead come across as goofy and the overall presentation of the alien is inconsistent in quality. (And I say this as someone who's sat through hundreds of movies with truly awful effects and who oftentimes doesn't mind them. It's when they feel uneven, like they do here, that their inadequateness to convey the needed results is emphasized.)

Second, a plant from outer space just doesn't feel quite right for "The Avengers". While I recognize that our heroes have battled psychics, killer robots, mad scientists with weather control machines--and more!--space aliens feel wrong to me. It doesn't help that several decades of space exploration has passed between now and when this episode was made, and thus Mrs. Peel's comment that vegetation has been detected on the Moon destroys my ability to suspend my disbelief.

All that said, however, this episode still has some great moments that make it worth watching. The dread builds throughout the episode as characters begin to behave strangely and the sense of danger closing in around Steed and Peel is palatable, even as the alien plant effects get silly. The sense of dread is so strong, and the possibility that our heroes may save the world but not live to tell the tale seems so real, that when Steed takes very necessary, very coldhearted "for the greater good" action, it feels like we're about to say goodbye to one of the show's main characters. For viewers in 1965, this possibility must have seemed even more real; it wasn't until the second season of the series that Steed emerged as the fixed lead character and his partners and sidekicks had always come and gone. For all audiences knew when this show first aired, another major change was coming. Alien invasion silliness aside, this is a very intense and dramatic episode. In fact, aside from some very slight Peel & Steed banter, I don't recall any humorous touches at all--other than Steed declaring, "I'm a herbacidial maniac, which is quite possibly one of the best lines of the entire series.

"The Man-Eater of Surrey Green" is furthered lifted up by the presence of veteran actress Athene Seyler, whose career began in silent movies and whose screen-presence allowed her to turn what seems like it may have been conceived as a Miss Marple-esque comic relief character into a formidable presence that can stand side-by-side with Steed and Peel as they prepare for their final confrontation against the alien menance. Seyler's Doctor Sheldon is another one of those one-shot "The Avengers" characters that I wish could have come back in another episode or two.

In final analysis, this may not be one of the best episodes, but it's still worth the time you'll spend watching it.

Closing Out Mermay

The annual MerMay festival/challenge (where artists create a mermaid piece that incorporates a pre-determined theme assigned to each day in the month of May) is coming to a close. We're marking the occasion with a random selection of mermaid portraits for your enjoyment, including one by Mermay-originator Tom Bancroft. (We wouldn't have known this was a Thing if not for a random comment from Frank Cho.)