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The producers of The Man From UNCLE quickly hit on
an idea for earning a little extra cash - make two part stories,
bolt 'em together and release them as films. The ploy worked
and audiences around the work got to see TV's best-loved 1960s
spy duo on the big screen.
This
collection of films contains the first and last batches of
movies - strangely, there's a hole in the middle of the run,
presumably held back for inclusion in a second box set. However,
there's still plenty here to enjoy.
First
up is The Spy With My Face (THRUSH captures Napoleon
Solo and replaces him with a look-alike to infiltrate UNCLE.),
an extended version of a single episode, the only time this
happened, The Double Affair, stretched to movie length
with some additional scenes. The TV version has a sole writing
credit for Clyde Ware but movie version credits Ware and associate
producer Joseph Calvelli who penned those all-important extra
minutes. A good episode extended into a reasonable film.
One
Spy Too Many is a reworked version of the two episodes
of the Alexander the Greater Affair (Mr Alexander,
megalomaniac billionaire, sets about breaking each of the
Ten Commandments in pursuit of his goal - world domination...)
An excellent episodes converted into an equally good film.
Rip Torn is outstanding as Mr Alexander helping make this
the best of the bunch.
The Karate Killers reworked The Five Daughters Affair
episodes (UNCLE and Thrush are after technology that can
separate gold from the world's oceans...) with reasonable
success. A great opening sequence and Herbert Lom and Terry
Thomas - who could ask for more.
The
Helicopter Spies turns the twin The Prince of Darkness
Affair episodes (mad scientist, exploding rockets...)
into a wild romp. A little silly but nonetheless enjoyable
if only for Bradford Dillman as villain Luther Sebastian and
John Dehner as a mad scientist, both hamming it up.
And finally How to Steal the World, a hasty revamp
of The Seven Wonders of the World Affair (UNCLE defector
Robert Kingsley gathers the 'seven wonders of the world',
a group of scientists and others who believe they need to
act to ensure world peace...) The story was originally conceived
as a single 50 minute episode but was turned into a two parter
when news of the show's cancellation broke - the idea was
to go out on a high - which it almost achieved.
For
lovers of 1960s spies this collection is indispensable. Barring
a complete box set of season one this is as best as it can
get for UNCLE fans. Roll on set two.
Anthony
Clark
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