The Man Under the Bowler Hat

Patrick Macnee is absolutely mum regarding his cameo in the feature film version of “The Avengers,” the classic ‘60s British spy series that hits theaters Friday.

“It’s supposed to be a secret,” says the suave Macnee, now 76.

One thing is for certain: He’s not reprising his role of the ultra-sophisticated British agent Jonathan Steed in the Warner Bros. release. This time around, Ralph Fiennes is wearing Steed’s bowler hat and carrying the black rolled-up umbrella. And Uma Thurman is essaying the role that made Diana Rigg famous 30 years ago--Steed’s ultra-mod, jumpsuit-clad cohort, the brilliant Emma Peel.

During the course of the series, Macnee was also teamed with Honor Blackman and Linda Thorson, as well as Joanna Lumley in the ‘70s incarnation, “The New Avengers.” But the Steed-Peel episodes are the best remembered--and the best loved.

ABC brought the deliciously bizarre series over to America in 1966. The show immediately caught the attention of viewers who loved the strange plots--which dealt with everything from time travel to killer kitties to the are-they-or-are-they-not-romantically involved relationship between the suave Steed and the sultry karate expert widow.

Macnee has also been very instrumental in getting pirate videotapes of the show off the market. A&E; Home Video has just released two three-volume sets of digitally restored complete episodes from the 1967 season of “The Avengers.” Macnee tracked down the original negatives for the restoration at Elstree Studios in London.

He’s also just published the enjoyable illustrated companion book to the series, “The Avengers and Me” (TV Books).

Macnee, who is a real charmer, recently chatted about Steed and his life with “The Avengers” over the phone.

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Question: I’m sure you’re still constantly being stopped and recognized by “Avengers” fans. What’s that like for you?

Answer: It’s lovely, you know. I didn’t start the show until I was 40. I am a hell of a lot fatter, but I suppose I don’t look that much different. But I get into the most wonderful conversations wherever I go. You can start a conversation from nowhere because people recognize you. It takes me hours to get out of the Beverly Hilton. If I was at the Beverly Wilshire, it would take me three hours!

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Q: With the movie coming out and the episodes just being released on video, there should be a lot of interest in your book about the series.

A: It’s just an appreciation. It’s not a literary tome, but I am glad I brought it out. I put in these 17 people who worked on the series to give their opinions and thoughts as well. Somebody said, though, “His memory is so hazy he’s got to get 17 other people to talk about it.” I was a bit crushed by that.

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Q: You began “The Avengers” nearly 40 years ago. Are you surprised that show would still be an active part of your life?

A: Totally.

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Q: Was it your decision for Steed not to carry a gun?

A: In 1960, [the producers] said to me when I first started that show--and that was live television incidentally--they said, “Of course, you carry a gun.” I said, “No. I don’t.” They said, “What do you mean?” I said, “I have just been through all of the Second World War. I have seen most of my friends blown to bits. I’m sorry. I’m not going to carry a gun.” So they said, “What are you going to carry?” I finally thought about it and said, “An umbrella.”

I went down the first week to the shooting of the film last year because they wanted me to play a voice. I said to Ralph Fiennes, “You are not going to wear that bowler hat and umbrella?” He said, “Oh, yes.” I loved him from that moment on. He is going to play this major movie and a major part with no gun, which in this day and age is pretty extraordinary.

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Q: How did you decide on Steed’s dapper look?

A: I had worked in California and New York in the ‘50s on live television. I thought all of those detectives [on TV] looked like Dane Clark and Ray Milland with trench coats, with cigarettes. I thought, “What does an Englishman really signify?” I used Leslie Howard in “The Scarlet Pimpernel” [as an example]. My father was a little dandy man with his pearl pins and his cravats. I had a commanding officer in the navy--he used to go into battle with white scarves. And then I thought of Ralph Richardson in the [1939] film “Q Planes.” It was an extraordinary performance. I think he wore a bowler hat or one of those homburgs. Somehow it all worked.

It really flattered me a lot that this actor [Fiennes], this young, brilliant actor--a far better actor than I could ever be--is playing it the same way.

People ask me if I suggested anything to him. No, we just chatted about life. You don’t give the man who has won a Tony for “Hamlet” advice on how to play John Steed.

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Q: Why has “The Avengers” remained so popular?

A: They were good. James Hill, who directed “Born Free”--I saw one of the ones [“Avengers” episodes] he directed--and it’s brilliantly directed. Charlie Crichton, who directed “A Fish Called Wanda,” [directed several]. Some of the talent was extraordinary.

We all like to feel we were all slightly ahead of our time. People say, “Why did you do all of that kinky stuff?” In my day, the word “kinky” didn’t exist. But people invented that [idea] because when we did things and gave it a sexual suggestion, people seemed to think it was off norm. What they didn’t realize is that the whole series was off norm.

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Q: When I used to watch “The Avengers” 30 years ago, I know I wanted to be just as cool, confident and sleek as Emma Peel.

A: Diana Rigg is a Dame now. She was just 60. She is adorable. I keep close with her.