"The Avengers," the film adaptation of the 1960s television show, opens in theaters Aug. 14. From the looks of the trailers, it has updated the original to the point of unrecognizability.

Luckily, A&E; Home Video is releasing videos of episodes from the original series starring the preternaturally feline Diana Rigg and oh-so-suave Patrick Macnee. "The Avengers '67" hit video-store shelves Tuesday. The two boxed sets of three videos each contain episodes from Season 5, which aired in 1967 (the first time the show was seen in the United States).

The British series combined fencing, kung fu, Carnaby Street chic and impeccable manners to create an altogether civilized - and feminist - detective genre. Now more than ever, Mrs. Peel, you're needed. "The Avengers '67" is being sold for $29.95; single cassettes, which contain two episodes each, are available for $12.95.