Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.   Starring: Robert Vaughn and David McCallum Fabulous Films RRP: £14.99 FHED2893 Certificate: PG Available 26 March 2012

In an uncertain world of international terrorism, only one service stands ready to face evil where ever it is found. U.N.C.L.E. sends its best international agents into the field and amongst the best of these is American Napoleon Solo and Russian Illya Kuryakin. Their main nemesis is T.H.R.U.S.H. an organisation dedicated to world domination. But their day had come and gone as has fifteen years since the friends worked together. Solo has become a gambler living off his charm and nerves; Kuryakin left U.N.C.L.E. following a botched mission, which ended in the death of an innocent; even T.H.R.U.S.H. appears to have collapsed following the arrest and imprisonment of its leader, Justin Sepheran. When Sepheran escapes, U.N.C.L.E. turns to the only two agents who have a chance of crushing T.H.R.U.S.H. once and for all...

Return of The Man from U.N.C.L.E: The Fifteen Years Later Affair (1983 - 1 hr, 36 min, 34 sec) is a television film, which was to serve as the basis for the show's return, although this unfortunately did not happen. The story was written by Michael Sloan and directed by Ray Austin.

If you have never heard of either the original show or its two stars, you’ve probably clicked on the wrong link. Popular on both sides of the pond, the original show was cancelled after its fourth year, though it remained a fan favourite: I kid you not, I still have my agents badge stashed in the loft.

The main plot is almost immaterial as this is a love poem to the original show, So, Sloan and Austin have kept in the wry humour, the Bond type gadgets and the certainty that the good guys will always win. T.H.R.U.S.H. steals an atomic bomb, demanding a ransom of three hundred and fifteen million for its return, well anyone who has seen a spy thriller will know where the plot goes from there.

Both Robert Vaughn (Solo) and David McCallum (Kuryakin) slip back into their roles with ease, bouncing off each other like old friends. To help them along Patrick Macnee turns up as the new Uncle, Sir John Raleigh, and Anthony Zerbe plays Sepheran. The main cast are ably supported by Tom Mason, Geoffrey Lewis and George Lazenby playing J.B. a nod to Ian Fleming’s contribution to the show's creation.

That’s not to say the show doesn’t have its problems. When the two leads are on the screen together they work very well, but these instances are fewer than they should be, plus the movie takes almost a third of the film setting up its premise. If this was to create new fans, it obviously failed, as the lack of a new season would suggest and older fans would have wanted the duo to be reunited much earlier and for a greater part of the film.

Still, it’s certainly not the worst story to have come out of the show, nor is it the best, but it was still good to see the pair back in action for their last story. The picture is clear of damage with strong colour throughout; The only extra is a two minute stills gallery.

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Charles Packer