BOWLER HATS OFF!

Finally, a studio gets it right. “Avengers” producer Jerry Weintraub has kept “the quintessentially English background and characters of the TV show” intact, and that’s precisely what made the original series so successful (“A Decidedly British Accent,” by David Gritten, Nov. 23).

I can hear a collective sigh of relief from the legions of fans worldwide. Like them, I can hardly wait to see the upcoming feature film version. And having Patrick Macnee appear in it is icing on the cake.

GEORGE H. KUBOTA

Los Angeles

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David Gritten never once mentioned the man who, perhaps more than anyone else, is directly responsible for the enduring appeal of the original series. That man is Brian Clemens.

Clemens co-created the “Avengers” series (with Sydney Newman) and, with his late partner Albert Fennell, produced every single original episode. In addition, of the 87 original episode scripts, Clemens wrote more than 50. Currently, he is supervising the “new version” of his series “The Professionals,” which was a British TV hit in the early ‘80s and, like “The Avengers,” has returned for an updated sequel.

I hope the studio at least invites him to the premiere.

P.S. Yes, we are proud to represent Clemens as a writer and producer.

GARY SALT

President, Paul Kohner Inc.

Beverly Hills

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The original “Avengers” leading lady, the gifted Honor Blackman, actually created the leather-clad persona and, if memory serves, in a much more aggressive manner than Diana Rigg. Although possibly better known in the United States, Dame Diana was a Joanie-come-lately to the series.

Let us hope that this new production will not be so overblown that it will not reflect the original; the availability of vast sums of money is no guarantee of success (remember “Waterworld”?).

DAVID CUNARD

Van Nuys

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Sean Connery is not “making his first appearance as a screen villain” in “The Avengers.” He has done so twice before, in “Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure” (1959) and “Woman of Straw” (1964), the latter at the height of his James Bond popularity.

T. SCOTT SHEA

Torrance