A Touch of Brimstone
Encyclopedia
A Touch of Brimstone is an 1966 episode of the television series The Avengers
. It is widely known for Diana Rigg's "Queen of Sin" costume. It is the twenty-first episode of the fourth season, and was the most watched episode of the Avengers on its original showing.
and Emma Peel
infiltrate an organization based upon orgiastic
rituals. The story is episodic, beginning with a series of pranks on fictional important international figures (an exploding cigar and a collapsing floor under a potentate's box seat in an auditorium) and then continues to Steed's finding a pair of fake scissors made of rubber. But real scissors are used by an unnamed, faceless official opening the "International Friendship Club" on an electrified ribbon, killing him. The young prankster did not expect to be involved in murder and is distraught. He knows Steed and introduces him to the Hellfire Club
.
The episode is best known for the scene in which Peel (played by Diana Rigg
) dons a revealing "Queen of Sin" costume, complete with spiked dog collar
, whalebone corset
, and boots. It is the Hellfire club members who dress her this way; she appears for less than ten minutes of show time in this manner, always demure, though ending with fighting a man with a whip. As a result of this and other elements, the episode was not broadcast when The Avengers aired on American network television; it did air on British television, but with the whipping scene edited down to one crack of the whip, due to objections made by Rediffusion Television.http://theavengers.tv/forever/peel1-21.htm
(who also appears in the eleventh episode of the fifth season, "Epic"), and Carol Cleveland
of the Monty Python
series.
in Marvel Comics "X-Men", and the appearance and name of one of its members was based on that of Peter Wyngarde. The "Black Queen" costume worn by Jean Grey during the initial Hellfire Club storyline, and the corresponding "White Queen" costume of Emma Frost
closely resembled the "Queen of Sin" outfit used in the episode.
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
. It is widely known for Diana Rigg's "Queen of Sin" costume. It is the twenty-first episode of the fourth season, and was the most watched episode of the Avengers on its original showing.
Synopsis
In this episode, agents John SteedJohn Steed
John Steed is a fictional character and the central protagonist on the popular British series The Avengers and The New Avengers, played by Patrick Macnee and Ralph Fiennes in the movie....
and Emma Peel
Emma Peel
Emma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
infiltrate an organization based upon orgiastic
Orgy
In modern usage, an orgy is a sex party where guests engage in promiscuous or multifarious sexual activity or group sex. An orgy is similar to debauchery, which refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures....
rituals. The story is episodic, beginning with a series of pranks on fictional important international figures (an exploding cigar and a collapsing floor under a potentate's box seat in an auditorium) and then continues to Steed's finding a pair of fake scissors made of rubber. But real scissors are used by an unnamed, faceless official opening the "International Friendship Club" on an electrified ribbon, killing him. The young prankster did not expect to be involved in murder and is distraught. He knows Steed and introduces him to the Hellfire Club
Hellfire Club
The Hellfire Club was a name for several exclusive clubs for high society rakes established in Britain and Ireland in the 18th century, and was more formally or cautiously known as the "Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe"...
.
The episode is best known for the scene in which Peel (played by Diana Rigg
Diana Rigg
Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg, DBE is an English actress. She is probably best known for her portrayals of Emma Peel in The Avengers and Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service....
) dons a revealing "Queen of Sin" costume, complete with spiked dog collar
Dog collar
A dog collar is a is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A collar might be used for control, identification, fashion, or other purposes. Identification tags and medical information is often placed on dog collars. Collars are also useful for controlling a dog manually, as they provide...
, whalebone corset
Corset
A corset is a garment worn to hold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes...
, and boots. It is the Hellfire club members who dress her this way; she appears for less than ten minutes of show time in this manner, always demure, though ending with fighting a man with a whip. As a result of this and other elements, the episode was not broadcast when The Avengers aired on American network television; it did air on British television, but with the whipping scene edited down to one crack of the whip, due to objections made by Rediffusion Television.http://theavengers.tv/forever/peel1-21.htm
Guest stars
Guest stars in the episode included Peter WyngardePeter Wyngarde
Peter Paul Wyngarde is an Anglo-French actor best known for playing the character Jason King, a bestselling novelist turned sleuth, in two British television series in the late 1960s and early 1970s: Department S and Jason King .-Biography:He was born Cyril Goldbert in Marseilles, France, the...
(who also appears in the eleventh episode of the fifth season, "Epic"), and Carol Cleveland
Carol Cleveland
Carol Cleveland is a British actress/comedienne, most notable for her appearances as the only significant female performer on Monty Python's Flying Circus.-Early life:...
of the Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
series.
Later influence
This episode was the inspiration for the Hellfire ClubHellfire Club (comics)
The Hellfire Club is a fictional society within the Marvel Comics Universe that often comes into confrontation with the mutant superhero team, the X-Men...
in Marvel Comics "X-Men", and the appearance and name of one of its members was based on that of Peter Wyngarde. The "Black Queen" costume worn by Jean Grey during the initial Hellfire Club storyline, and the corresponding "White Queen" costume of Emma Frost
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
closely resembled the "Queen of Sin" outfit used in the episode.