Verity Lambert's 1966/67 B.B.C. series 'Adam Adamant Lives!' was conceived originally as a rival to I.T.V.'s 'The Avengers', even going so far as to use many of that show's performers and a few of their writers, including Richard Harris, Robert Banks Stewart, Tony Williamson and Brian Clemens. 'Terribly' opens with Sir George Marston ( John Scott ) bidding his domestic staff a fond farewell before climbing into an open coffin. When the lid is prised off later, he is in Mr.Percy's ( Arthur Borough ) funeral parlour. "Feels good to be alive!", says Marston, stretching his aching limbs. "Doesn't it just?", says Mr.Percy, who then shoots him dead.
Percy's hearse is derailed as the result of a motor accident. An examination of Marston's corpse reveals he died of a gun shot rather than a heart attack. His death has come at a most convenient time - he was under investigation by the Inland Revenue for tax evasion, along with a number of other business men who all 'died' before questions could be asked. Grantham, a Government Minister, ( Deryck Guyler ) calls on Adam Adamant to investigate. Posing as financier Adam Smith, the Edwardian adventurer visits their psychiatrist, Dr.Velmer ( John Le Mesurier ), who recommends Adam visit the Sunnydale health farm...
The plot, with its sinister undertakers and doctors, is very 'Avengers' like, and as a matter of fact Clemens rewrote it later as 'Bizarre', the final Linda Thorson story. As with a lot of other 'A.A.L.' stories, its obvious they had trouble working Miss Jones into the narrative, here she tries to enrol as a patient following Adam's mysterious disappearance. Quite a few comedy actors grace the cast - Borough ( 'Mr.Grainger' from 'Are You Being Served?' ), Guyler ( 'Sykes' and 'Please Sir!' ) and Le Mesurier ( from 'Dad's Army' ). Ilona Rodgers went on to appear in the 'Avengers' caper 'The Bird Who Knew Too Much'.
As ever, the whole thing culminates in a sword fencing duel between Adam and the villain's henchman, in this case Ernest Wilson ( Jeremy Young ). No need to tell you who wins...
Percy's hearse is derailed as the result of a motor accident. An examination of Marston's corpse reveals he died of a gun shot rather than a heart attack. His death has come at a most convenient time - he was under investigation by the Inland Revenue for tax evasion, along with a number of other business men who all 'died' before questions could be asked. Grantham, a Government Minister, ( Deryck Guyler ) calls on Adam Adamant to investigate. Posing as financier Adam Smith, the Edwardian adventurer visits their psychiatrist, Dr.Velmer ( John Le Mesurier ), who recommends Adam visit the Sunnydale health farm...
The plot, with its sinister undertakers and doctors, is very 'Avengers' like, and as a matter of fact Clemens rewrote it later as 'Bizarre', the final Linda Thorson story. As with a lot of other 'A.A.L.' stories, its obvious they had trouble working Miss Jones into the narrative, here she tries to enrol as a patient following Adam's mysterious disappearance. Quite a few comedy actors grace the cast - Borough ( 'Mr.Grainger' from 'Are You Being Served?' ), Guyler ( 'Sykes' and 'Please Sir!' ) and Le Mesurier ( from 'Dad's Army' ). Ilona Rodgers went on to appear in the 'Avengers' caper 'The Bird Who Knew Too Much'.
As ever, the whole thing culminates in a sword fencing duel between Adam and the villain's henchman, in this case Ernest Wilson ( Jeremy Young ). No need to tell you who wins...
