SPY VIBE SET COUNTDOWN #7

The Avengers (1962-1969). "The House That Jack Built" (1966). Art Director/Harry Pottle (You Only Live Twice, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). It was a time for fashion and design when Mod and Futurism met the Edwardian. The sets in The Avengers echoed these trends and added to the British charm of the show. The designers often used very little to imply the interior sets, creating a space between a foreground object and a simple set in the background. The Pop Art canvases and cartoony objet d’art that are sold now illustrate the enduring influence of The Avengers and of that period. Memorable highlights were the central hooded stove and seating area in Mrs. Peel's apartment and the view-glass in her door, which was visible as a giant eye-lashed eyeball.


In the episode, The House That Jack Built, the sets played a major role in the plot; A maniacal scientist out for revenge lures Mrs. Peel to an automated house with revolving rooms and corridors- a mixture of computer banks, Mod and Expressionist patterns, and playing card imagery- all designed to drive her insane and into a suicide cabinet. Even on the small budget, the production team constructed fantastic spaces that moved and created the illusion of an architectural labyrinth of doom. The walls could be lit differently from either side to create a variety of effects. The evil mastermind in the story has long-since died. His body is preserved within a glass case, leaving the house to run like a computerized Venus Flytrap. Art Director, Harry Pottle, left The Avengers to join Eon Productions (and Ken Adam) to work on the Bond film, You Only Live Twice.

STAY TUNED FOR SET #6 -AND- THE TOP 5 SETS FROM SPY AND MOVIE WRITERS AROUND THE GLOBE!

Check out Spy Vibe's production set series, an event that gathered together many writers to celebrate the best spy sets from cold war-era film & TV. Guest Set Lists: Lee Pfeiffer, Jeremy Duns, Armstrong Sabian, Steve Bissette, Roger Langley, Matthew Bradford, Wesley Britton, David Foster, Matt Kindt. Spy Vibe's Set For Adventure here, Set Countdown #10, #9, #8 ,#7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1.