OVERALL: R2

R2 UK 50th Anniversary set for the extras.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Avengers (a name that was used BEFORE Stan Lee we might add) began in 1960 with the production of the first episode "Hot Snow" (completed production on 30.12.1960) with Patrick Macnee (as the sidekick John Steed) and future film actor Ian Hendry (as the star Dr David Keel). Some of series 1 was broadcast live and recorded on videotape which was later wiped.

Ian Hendry left for films after Series 1 (1960-61) and Macnee became the lead and Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale became the sidekick for Series 2. She stayed for Series 2-3.

Then the show was picked for screening in the USA, shot on 35mm film and Diana Rigg as Mrs Emma Peel joined for Series 4-5, with Linda Thorson as Tara King taking over for Series 6.

Most of the world were sold only Series 4-6 and never knew 1-3 even existed. For instance, those early videotaped / 16mm film combo series weren't screened in the USA until the early 1990s!

In April 2001, the opening act of "Hot Snow " and the complete episode of "Girl on the Trapeze" were found in the catalogue holdings in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Up until that point, only one episode from series 1 was known to exist, "The Frighteners", a copy of which was also discovered at UCLA through an online search.

Fast forward to 2016.

Film preservation society Kaleidoscope (in association with StudioCanal) discovered a pristine16mm print of "Tunnel of Fear" in a private collection in the UK. Negotiations were completed with the collector wishing to remain anonymous.

By September 2016 "Tunnel of Fear" was fully restored and was finally shown to the public in November in Birmingham. It was the first time in 55 years the episode had been seen and was screened as part of Kaleidoscope's semi-annual Missing Believed Wiped event.

Additional information provided to us by the great people of The Ministry. You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

CUTS:

• R2 50th Anniversary Collector's Box Set United Kingdom- Optimum Releasing - No cuts (126:14 PAL)
• R2 Avengers, Series 1 - Episode 20 (The): United Kingdom- Studio Canal - No cuts (52:29 PAL)
• R2 The Complete Series 2 + United Kingdom- Optimum Releasing - No cuts (126:14 PAL)

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Samuel_Scott on 19/10/16
Comparison last updated by Rick_Curzon on 09/07/20

UPDATE LOG:

19/10/16: Initial entry.
08/07/20: Added the Tunnel of Fear release.
09/07/20: Typo.