MovieChat Forums > The Avengers (1966) Discussion > Regarding John Steed's Snazzy Apartment/...

Regarding John Steed's Snazzy Apartment/Flat

posted 17 years ago by Attillio
7 replies | jump to latest

As a young kid back in the 1960s, in addition to being smitten by the breathtakingly beautiful and extremely talented Diana Rigg, I always enjoyed The Avengers episodes in which we got to see John Steed's second, cool and classy apartment.

From the knotty pine wall paneling with the affixed Revolutionary War-era firearms to that prominent tuba which Steed apparently used as an impromptu vase for flowers, the apartment was a testament to John Steed's eclectic taste.

And, how about that impressive painting of the victorious Duke of Wellington at Waterloo positioned above the mantelpiece? Observing that painting and those statuettes of Adm. Horatio Nelson and Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery, among others in the apartment, you can see that Steed possessed a keen interest in military history.

We even got to see John Steed's kitchen and that spiral staircase, leading up to the third floor room. Too bad that we never got to see what Steed's bedroom looked like up there. (Although, I venture to say, that countless numbers of comely female agents, zaftig actresses and sultry singers were afforded a "complete tour" of that particular room by the dapper and dashing Mr. John Steed!)

[–] wxyzabc123 17 years ago

I really want a recessed upholstered chair like he had by the front door. He did have a cool apartment. Miss King's apartment was kind of cool in an ecclectic kind of way as well.

[–] grendelkhan 15 years ago

I never cared for the panelling, but loved the built-in chair and bookcases, as well as the furniture. The older flat was just as good. I miss that era of design, myself. The Avengers had a nice mix of Victorian/Edwardian, Art Nevaux, and Modern. Beats the soulless stuff of today, with a few exceptions.

[–] GeorgeObliqueStrokeXR40 15 years ago

I particularly liked the tuba with the carnations! Nice touch!

[–] photoenthusiast 15 years ago

I also loved the eccentric use of a tuba as a flower vase. I even looked into purchasing one for that very purpose (yes, not at all original, I realize!) but even second-hand tubas cost a lot of money.

For even more detail about Steed's apartment, and indeed every possible bit of trivia related to John Steed and all his partners, read THE AVENGERS FILES by Andrew Pixley. It is a comprehensive look at every single facet of the characters and what made them unique. (Do not confuse this excellent book with a previous series of low-budget books from the 1980s with the same name). There are very in-depth entries on the various apartments of every major character, plus how they changed over time. Great book!

"Holy one-track Bat-computer mind!"

[–] pacwarbuff 15 years ago

The tantalizing glimpses we got of Steed's flat made it all the more alluring! What about the kitchenette(?) that we see IIRC in Murdersville (and probably a few more episodes)?

Consilio et prudentia

[–] Attillio 11 years ago

As for Tara King's tacky apartment/flat, I'm reminded of the late great American humorist Jean Shepherd's take on "slob art," such as the unfortunate American penchant by some of our countrymen to place a statue of a little Mexican guy, complete with a sombrero, and an accomoanying burro on one's front lawn. (Fortunately, we did not see THAT bit of tacky art/kitsch in Ms. King's all-to-gaudy pad.)

[–] GeorgeObliqueStrokeXR40 11 years ago

Tara's drapes and sofa were apparently somehow provided courtesy of the Alex Litoff estate, since they were previously seen in his office in the episode "The £50,000 Breakfast".