Connections between 'Dr. Phibes' and 'The Avengers'

Pre-dating this film by almost two or three years, in a Tara King episode of the series "The Avengers", Robert Fuest also directed an Avengers episode called "Game".

"Game" featured Peter Jeffery (TADrP: Inspector Trout) as "Monte Bristo", a convicted war criminal who was thought to be dead. John Steed was a member of tribunal who convicted him. One by one, the members of the the tribunal are bumped off with a children's game motif, culminating in a game of "Super Secret Agent" for John Steed. In this game, Tara has been kidnapped and has been put inside a large sand hourglass and she will suffocate when the sands run out. The name "Monte Bristo" is a tipoff that both of these spoofs are inspired by the classic thriller "The Count of Monte Cristo," as well as the similarly plotted "Theatre of Blood" with former Avengers cast members Ian Hendry and Diana Rigg.

An additonal connection -- Joanna Lumley (who would later be cast as Purdey on "The New Avengers") filmed a scene for TADrP that was cut from the final film.