Napoleon Solo

Last updated
Napoleon Solo
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. character
Kurt Russell Robert Vaughn Man From UNCLE 1964.JPG
Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo with a guest star, a young Kurt Russell
Portrayed by Robert Vaughn (television)
Henry Cavill (film)
In-universe information
NicknameSolo
GenderMale
OccupationSecret Agent
NationalityAmerican

Napoleon Solo is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The series format was notable for pairing the American Solo, played by Robert Vaughn, and the Russian Illya Kuryakin, played by David McCallum, as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of the Cold War.

Contents

Background

Napoleon Solo (left) and his partner Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) Robert Vaughn David McCallum Man from UNCLE 1966.JPG
Napoleon Solo (left) and his partner Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum)

Solo possesses a charm, sophistication, efficiency, and weakness for beautiful women comparable to James Bond's. But Solo is considerably less intense and also less brutal than the British Secret Service agent, and he possesses a laid-back ease that recalls the young Cary Grant. The show's original concept had Solo as a Canadian; but he is consistently American in the show. [1]

Solo is Number One in Section Two (Operations and Enforcement) at U.N.C.L.E. (In the first season he wore a badge with the Roman numeral II designating him as head of Section Two. During the switch to color in the second season, new badges were created and Robert Vaughn, mistaking the earlier II for an eleven, chose the wrong badge number for Solo.) It was originally intended that Solo would be the primary focus of the series, however the unexpected popularity of the Russian agent, Illya Kuryakin, played by David McCallum, saw McCallum elevated to co-star status. Most of the episodes devote equal screen time to Kuryakin and Solo, and much of the success of the program was based on the chemistry between McCallum and Vaughn.

Personality

The two characters are, in many ways, polar opposites. Solo is urbane, self-assured, sociable, charming, and laid-back. Kuryakin, on the other hand, is reserved, intellectual, and intense. Although little was revealed about his background or his partner's, Solo comes across as the more accessible and straightforward of the two men.[ citation needed ]

He dressed well and had a taste for expensive suits and ties. His hairstyle and his clothing did not change in the first three seasons but in the fourth and final year, Vaughn (like McCallum) grew his hair somewhat longer and wore modish clothing, such as double-breasted suits, in order to reflect evolving 1960s fashions that the show itself had influenced.[ citation needed ]

In "The Secret Sceptre Affair", it is stated that Solo served in the Korean War. Nothing much is known about his immediate family, although it appears one of his grandfathers was an admiral, the other was an ambassador ("The Green Opal Affair"). He is college-educated. Like his partner Kuryakin, he has a wide knowledge of English poetry. Unlike his partner, he lacks a broad knowledge of science and technology. He is skilled in martial arts; he can fly a plane and a helicopter. [1]

Like Bond, Solo is a serial womanizer. In the first season's press guide, Solo's democratic view of women is described in words paraphrased from George Orwell's 1947 allegorical novel, Animal Farm : "Solo believes that all women are created equal, only some are more equal than others." We rarely see him treat a woman with anything other than respect and affection on screen; however, he is involved with countless women and does not sustain a single long-term relationship throughout the four years of the show. Although it is never mentioned in the series, one of the original suggestions for Solo's background had him marrying young and losing his wife in a car accident after only one year of marriage (referenced also by David McDaniel in his "The Rainbow Affair" tie-in novel). The only ex-girlfriend of Solo's who is given any extended screen time is Clara in "The Terbuf Affair", in which it is hinted that Solo may be nursing a broken heart as a result of the end of that relationship. In "The Deadly Games Affair", it is revealed that he has a long standing on-off relationship with the THRUSH femme fatale, Angelique. He also seems familiar with other THRUSH female operatives like Serena in "The Double Affair" and Narcissus in "The Project Deephole Affair", as well as various U.N.C.L.E. female agents like Wanda (played by actresses Leigh Chapman and Sharyn Hillyer). He sometimes takes an interest in other people's romantic affairs and plays matchmaker on more than one occasion. In "The Deep Six Affair", he objects to Mr. Waverly's trying to call off the wedding of another U.N.C.L.E. agent. [1]

His charm and social skills are his most potent weapons, allowing him to manipulate almost every situation to his own advantage. He is keenly aware of his abilities in this area. When in "The Candidate's Wife Affair" Kuryakin sees him romancing a woman and asks in exasperation, "Don't you ever turn it off?" Solo responds, tongue in cheek, "When you've got it, you've got it; I've got it." But there is a certain idealism at the heart of his character. In "The Giuoco Piano Affair", an enemy operative offers this assessment of Solo's character –

For a man like you, if there's the smallest doubt in your mind, no matter how insignificant the cause, you have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Your respect for what you think is right is your weakness.

Solo is also an indefatigable optimist who rarely, if ever, countenances the idea that he might not succeed in everything he attempts. He also keeps a cool head at all times and is utterly unflappable, even in the most dire or life-threatening situations. Unlike his Russian associate, he rarely exhibits anger or loses his temper.[ citation needed ]

Afterlife

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was cancelled mid-way through its fourth season in 1968. Vaughn reprised the role of Solo for the television film Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair , in 1983.

The character has enjoyed a rich afterlife in fandom, particularly in fan fiction. In the 1988 comic Shattered Visage , made as a sequel to the Patrick McGoohan series The Prisoner , Solo and Kuryakin both make cameos at the funeral of a spy, along with John Steed and Emma Peel.

The Danish SKA band Napoleon Solo [2] and Spanish indie-pop band Napoleon Solo [3] are named after him, while El Paso post-hardcore band At the Drive-In have a song named "Napoleon Solo" on their album In/Casino/Out .

Film

In The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , a 2015 feature film, Henry Cavill portrays Napoleon Solo. [4] [5] [6] This version of Solo is a former World War II soldier from an extremely wealthy family. He remained in Europe after the war, discovering that he could profit greatly from it as a specialist in classical art and architecture, becoming an unequalled art thief. He was eventually caught and prosecuted for his crimes and given a fifteen-year prison sentence. Solo doesn't spend any time in prison, however, as he is recruited by the CIA in exchange for his physical freedom.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Man from U.N.C.L.E.</i> 1960s American television spy drama series

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American spy fiction television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television and first broadcast on NBC. The series follows secret agents Napoleon Solo, played by Robert Vaughn, and Illya Kuryakin, played by David McCallum, who work for a secret international counterespionage and law-enforcement agency called U.N.C.L.E.. The series premiered on September 22, 1964, and completed its run on January 15, 1968. The program was part of the spy-fiction craze on television, and by 1966 there were nearly a dozen imitators. Several episodes were successfully released to theaters as B movies or double features. There was also a spin-off series, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., a series of novels and comic books, and merchandising.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Vaughn</span> American actor (1932–2016)

Robert Francis Vaughn was an American stage, film and television actor, author, political activist and advertising spokesperson whose career spanned nearly six decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David McCallum</span> Scottish actor (1933–2023)

David Keith McCallum was a Scottish actor and musician. He gained wide recognition in the 1960s for playing secret agent Illya Kuryakin in the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. His other notable television roles include Simon Carter in Colditz (1972–1974) and Steel in Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982). Beginning in 2003, McCallum gained renewed international popularity for his role as NCIS medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the American television series NCIS, which he played for 20 seasons until his death. On film, McCallum notably appeared in The Great Escape (1963).

U.N.C.L.E. is an acronym for the fictional United Network Command for Law and Enforcement, a secret international intelligence agency featured in the 1960s American television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Cavill</span> British actor (born 1983)

Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill is a British actor. He is known for his portrayal of Charles Brandon in Showtime's The Tudors (2007–2010), DC Comics character Superman in the DC Extended Universe (2013–2023), Geralt of Rivia in the Netflix fantasy series The Witcher (2019–2023), and Sherlock Holmes in the Netflix film Enola Holmes (2020) and its 2022 sequel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illya Kuryakin</span> Fictional spy from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Illya Kuryakin is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He is a secret agent with a range of weapons and explosives skills, and is described in the series as holding a master's degree from the Sorbonne and a Ph.D. in Quantum Mechanics from the University of Cambridge. Kuryakin speaks many languages, including French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Italian and Japanese. The series was remarkable for pairing an American character, Napoleon Solo, with the Russian Kuryakin as two spies who work together for an international espionage organization at the height of the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Waverly</span> Fictional character

Alexander Waverly is a fictional character from the 1960s television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,its spin-off series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. and the 2015 film version.

<i>How to Steal the World</i> 1969 American film

How To Steal the World is a 1968 American action–adventure film, taken from a two-part episode of the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as secret agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. The film also stars Barry Sullivan, Eleanor Parker, Leslie Nielsen, Tony Bill, Peter Mark Richman, Albert Paulsen, Inger Stratton, Hugh Marlowe, and Dan O'Herlihy. It was originally telecast as the final episode of the series, "The Seven Wonders of the World Affair". The feature version is the only U.N.C.L.E. film not to include Jerry Goldsmith's theme music. The film was directed by Sutton Roley and written by Norman Hudis.

<i>Please Dont Eat the Daisies</i> (TV series) Television series

Please Don't Eat the Daisies is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 14, 1965 to September 2, 1967. The series was based upon the 1957 book by Jean Kerr and the 1960 film starring Doris Day and David Niven.

<i>The Helicopter Spies</i> 1968 American film

The Helicopter Spies is a 1968 feature-length film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s fourth season two-part episode "The Prince of Darkness Affair". The episodes were originally broadcast in the United States on October 2, 1967, and October 9, 1967, on NBC. Like the television series, it stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. It is the seventh such feature film that used as its basis a reedited version of one or more episodes from the series. The film was directed by Boris Sagal and written by Dean Hargrove. Carol Lynley, Bradford Dillman, Lola Albright, John Dehner, Julie London, H.M. Wynant, and Roy Jenson also star in the film.

<i>The Karate Killers</i> 1967 American film

The Karate Killers is a 1967 American spy film and feature-length film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s third season two-part episode "The Five Daughters Affair". The episodes were originally broadcast in the United States on March 31, 1967, and April 7, 1967, on NBC. It, as does the television series, stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. It is the sixth such feature film that used as its basis a reedited version of one or more episodes from the series. Joan Crawford, Telly Savalas, Herbert Lom, Diane McBain, Jill Ireland, and Kim Darby are among those in the cast. The film was directed by Barry Shear and written by Norman Hudis with the story by Boris Ingster.

<i>The Spy with My Face</i> 1965 American film

The Spy with My Face is a 1965 spy-fi spy film based on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. television series. Robert Vaughn and David McCallum reprised their roles as secret agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin respectively. THRUSH tries to steal a super weapon by substituting a double for Solo. The film was directed by John Newland.

<i>The Spy in the Green Hat</i> 1967 American film

The Spy in the Green Hat is a 1967 feature-length film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s third season two-part episode "The Concrete Overcoat Affair". The episodes were originally broadcast in the United States on November 25, 1966 and December 2, 1966 on NBC. The film was directed by Joseph Sargent and written by Peter Allan Fields with the story by David Victor. Robert Vaughn and David McCallum star in the film as they do in the television series. It is the fifth such feature film that used as its basis a reedited version of one or more episodes from the series.

<i>One Spy Too Many</i> 1966 American film

One Spy Too Many starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum is the 1966 feature-length film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s two-part season two premiere "Alexander the Greater Affair". It is the third such feature film that used as its basis a reedited version of one or more episodes from the series. In this instance, the film took the two-part episode and added in a subplot featuring Yvonne Craig as an U.N.C.L.E. operative carrying on a flirtatious relationship with Napoleon Solo ; Craig does not appear in the television episodes. Both episodes were written by Dean Hargrove and directed by Joseph Sargent.

<i>To Trap a Spy</i> 1964 film by Don Medford

To Trap a Spy is the feature-length film version of the 70-minute television pilot of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. starring Robert Vaughn. It also features Patricia Crowley, William Marshall, Fritz Weaver and David McCallum. The film was directed by Don Medford.

<i>Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.</i> 1983 television film directed by Ray Austin

The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair is a 1983 American made-for-television action-adventure film based on the 1964–1968 television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum reprising the roles they had originated on that program. Several of the crew from the series also worked on the film, which was produced by Viacom rather than Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and/or Turner Entertainment. Leo G. Carroll had died in 1972, so Patrick Macnee was recruited to appear as an entirely different character, Sir John Raleigh, who had presumably taken over as Number 1 of Section I, the Director of U.N.C.L.E., after Alexander Waverly had died, and Carroll's photograph was displayed prominently in many scenes that featured Macnee's Sir John.

<i>One of Our Spies Is Missing</i> 1966 American film

One of Our Spies Is Missing is the 1966 feature-length film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s second season two-part episode "The Bridge of Lions Affair". The episodes were originally broadcast in the United States on February 4, 1966 and February 11, 1966 on NBC. The film is directed by E. Darrell Hallenbeck and written by Howard Rodman. It, as does the television series, stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. It is the fourth such feature film that used as its basis a reedited version of one or more episodes from the series. However, this film, and the episodes it draws from, represents the only instance where a Man from U.N.C.L.E. story is derived from an existing novel: The Bridge of Lions (1963) by Henry Slesar.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. gun often referred to as the U.N.C.L.E. Special is a fictional firearm depicted on the popular TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. which ran from September 1964 until it was canceled mid-season in 1968. Onscreen it was semi-automatic pistol that could be converted to a carbine-sniper rifle that could fire full automatic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vulcan Affair</span> 1st episode of the 1st season of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

"The Vulcan Affair" is the first episode of the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. It was edited from the pilot, "Solo", which was shot in colour, but was broadcast in black-and-white, to conform with the rest of the first season. It was first broadcast in the USA on NBC on September 22, 1964. The hero is Napoleon Solo and his antagonist is Andrew Vulcan, an evil scientist working with THRUSH. The episode was subsequently expanded with additional footage and released in colour as the feature-length movie, To Trap a Spy.

<i>The Man from U.N.C.L.E.</i> (film) 2015 film directed by Guy Ritchie

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a 2015 spy film directed by Guy Ritchie and written by Ritchie and Lionel Wigram. It is based on the 1964 MGM television series of the same name, which was created by Norman Felton and Sam Rolfe. The film stars Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, and Hugh Grant. The film was produced by RatPac-Dune Entertainment and Davis Entertainment while Turner Entertainment Co., the original TV series current holder, was also involved.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "TWO THUMBNAIL SKETCHES OF NAPOLEON AND ILLYA". manfromuncle.org.
  2. "Site of SKA band Napoleon Solo".
  3. "Site of Spanish indie-pop band Napoleon Solo".
  4. Kroll, Justin (May 28, 2013). "'Man of Steel' Star Henry Cavill Eyes Lead in WB’s 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety .
  5. Alexander, Bryan (June 4, 2013). "'Man of Steel' star Henry Cavill needs nerves of steel". USA Today .
  6. Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 18, 2013). "Tom Cruise Eyeing 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' With Guy Ritchie At Warner Bros". Deadline Hollywood .