A concert pianist, in England as part of a cultural exchange program, becomes the target of a smear campaign involving attempted blackmail, 2 murders, a strip club, incriminating photos, and the planned murder of a Russian ambassador. Without telling her, Steed manages to use Cathy's credentials to get her involved with setting up the musician's itinerary (he just can't seem to do anything honestly, can he?) while he winds up working with an opposite number, and what fun to see the two agents sharing mutual knolwedge and respect for each other.
Although filmed first this season, "Concerto" was somehow broadcast 24th (out of 26)! The Studio Canal discs are set up in production order, so I'm just going to watch them that way, easier for me. Since first watching these episodes in the 1990s, I've always noticed that Season 3 was a DRASTIC upgrade in both production and writing, despite still being studio-bound and shot on videotape. This is such a contrast to the vast majority of American series in the 1960s, where they tended to put their best foot forward at the beginning, then care less and less and cut the budgets once they became successful.
Sandor Elès is Stefan Veliko, the concert pianist who wants only to focus on his work and avoid politics, who becomes the target of some un-named off-screen ruthless businessmen whose profits will be drastically affected if a Russian-English trade treaty currently under negotiation should go through. The role I probably most remember him for was Peter Cushing's assistant in THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN, though I've also seen him in a DANGER MAN, 3 SAINTs, COUNTESS DRACULA, LOVE AND DEATH, and SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE LEADING LADY.
Nigel Stock outright steals the episode as Zalenko, Russia's "answer" to John Steed (or is that the other way round?). Zalenko & Steed spend a lot of time comparing notes, talking about past encounters, and putting down a lot of hard liquor. He seems like the sort of character that should have made recurring appearances over the years. I probably first took notice of Stock as the other actor who played "Number Six" on THE PRISONER (in the mind-swapping episode "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling"), but I've also seen him in a SAINT, THE GREAT ESCAPE, a DANGER MAN, THE MIRROR CRACK'D, a rather regrettable DOCTOR WHO, YELLOWBEARD, but mostly, as Dr. Watson in the 1965 & 1968 BBC SHERLOCK HOLMES series with both Douglas Wilmer and Peter Cushing.
Steed's suits appear to have gotten more stylish here, and this was the first time I noticed him clobbering someone with his umbrella. Amusingly, one of the baddies comments, "He's a lot more dangerous than he LOOKS!" That kinda sums up John Steed a great deal.
The 2009 Region 2 DVD of this had mostly-sharp picture and only slightly-muffled sound.
Although filmed first this season, "Concerto" was somehow broadcast 24th (out of 26)! The Studio Canal discs are set up in production order, so I'm just going to watch them that way, easier for me. Since first watching these episodes in the 1990s, I've always noticed that Season 3 was a DRASTIC upgrade in both production and writing, despite still being studio-bound and shot on videotape. This is such a contrast to the vast majority of American series in the 1960s, where they tended to put their best foot forward at the beginning, then care less and less and cut the budgets once they became successful.
Sandor Elès is Stefan Veliko, the concert pianist who wants only to focus on his work and avoid politics, who becomes the target of some un-named off-screen ruthless businessmen whose profits will be drastically affected if a Russian-English trade treaty currently under negotiation should go through. The role I probably most remember him for was Peter Cushing's assistant in THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN, though I've also seen him in a DANGER MAN, 3 SAINTs, COUNTESS DRACULA, LOVE AND DEATH, and SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE LEADING LADY.
Nigel Stock outright steals the episode as Zalenko, Russia's "answer" to John Steed (or is that the other way round?). Zalenko & Steed spend a lot of time comparing notes, talking about past encounters, and putting down a lot of hard liquor. He seems like the sort of character that should have made recurring appearances over the years. I probably first took notice of Stock as the other actor who played "Number Six" on THE PRISONER (in the mind-swapping episode "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling"), but I've also seen him in a SAINT, THE GREAT ESCAPE, a DANGER MAN, THE MIRROR CRACK'D, a rather regrettable DOCTOR WHO, YELLOWBEARD, but mostly, as Dr. Watson in the 1965 & 1968 BBC SHERLOCK HOLMES series with both Douglas Wilmer and Peter Cushing.
Steed's suits appear to have gotten more stylish here, and this was the first time I noticed him clobbering someone with his umbrella. Amusingly, one of the baddies comments, "He's a lot more dangerous than he LOOKS!" That kinda sums up John Steed a great deal.
The 2009 Region 2 DVD of this had mostly-sharp picture and only slightly-muffled sound.
