The Avengers
3.2: Brief
for Murder
Now, this
is much more like it. Brief for Murder
comes courtesy of the reliable duo of writer Brian Clemens and director Peter
Hammond. John Laurie, in the second of four Avengers
appearances, is on inimitable form as one half of the Lakin brothers, a legal
duo who have met with spectacular court room success after years of obscurity.
It seems the only thing previously stopping them was their approach; I had
half-expected some diabolical mastermind or intricate device bolstering them.
But no, they’ve simply hatched the idea of defending those for whom they have
planned crimes in advance, thus anticipating and undermining the prosecution’s
case when it comes before the jury.
Steed: I want
to commit a murder.
Miles Lakin: (offering him tea) One lump or two, Mr Steed?
Laurie’s
Jasper Lakin is complemented by Harold Scott as distinctly non-Scottish Miles. They
typify the loveable rogue types of Avengers-land,
whose deviously deadly activities fail to prevent them from being wickedly
likeable really. Indeed, it’s a joy to hear them treating their imminent
prosecution as a challenge (“There is a precedent for this sort of thing…”)
Miles Lakin: (apologising for having Steed searched) Tape recorders, you know. They make them
devilishly small these days, heh, heh, make everything smaller.
Steed: Except
lawyers’ fees, maybe.
Miles Lakin: Oh.
Ho-ho. Very good.
As is not
infrequently the case, one or other of our avenging duo appears to be operating
on the wrong side of the law, and also looks to be intent on killing the other.
There’s some flair to the ruse here, with a winning opening reveal that Steed,
or Jonno (“I wonder if there really was a
man called Jonno”), got the accused off.
When Cathy
finds out, Steed calls on the Lakins to facilitate her murder and ensure an
innocent verdict in the subsequent trial (thanks in part to an oversized bowler
hat); with no hat, no gun, and no body, he is scot-free. Well played this, as
even though it’s pretty much a cert that they’re knowingly working together, Macnee
and Blackman create sustained tension.
Cathy then
calls on the Lakins (possibly careless of them not to know what their client’s
victim looks like, but we’ll let that go) to aid and abet her in a fraud and
business conspiracy, whereby she wishes to emerge exonerated while her two associates
are implicated (“Why didn’t we think of
this before? We could get anyone we wish disbarred. We could manipulate the
whole courts system”).
Perhaps the
means of getting one over on the Lakins isn’t quite as elegant as their own handiwork
– they’re so diligent elsewhere that they shouldn’t fall for an elementary
subterfuge – but Brief for Murder is
pretty much a blast from start to finish. Which includes Steed visiting a yoga
establishment where he is asked by principle Miss Prinn (Alice Fraser) if he
believes in purity (Steed: A couple of baths a day, good soap”; Miss Prinn: I was referring to the spirit”; Steed: “I’m not so up in the
spirit. A little sullied”).
Agree? Disagree? Mildly or vehemently? Let me know in the comments below.
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