One of Our Spies Is Missing

Last updated
One of Our Spies Is Missing
Ooosim.jpg
Original British film poster
Directed byE. Darrell Hallenbeck
Written byHoward Rodman
Story by Henry Slesar
Based onThe Bridge of Lions
by Henry Slesar
Starring Robert Vaughn
David McCallum
Maurice Evans
Yvonne Craig
Vera Miles
Cinematography Fred J. Koenekamp
Edited byHenry Berman
William B. Gulick
Music by Gerald Fried
Jerry Goldsmith (theme)
Production
companies
Arena Productions
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
July 14, 1966 (UK)
December 1966 (USA)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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. [1] 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. [2]

Contents

Plot

Illya Kuryakin is investigating the theft of cats in the Soho area of London, and Napoleon Solo is on a mission to determine the whereabouts of the famous, suddenly youthful appearing, and now missing 83-year-old biologist Benjamin Lancer. Solo contacts Lancer's daughter Lorelei, a model at the Paris salon of Madame Raine De Sala. De Sala orders her associate Olga and another model Do Do to make sure that Lorelei does not speak to Solo.

De Sala herself visits Sir Norman Swickert, a very old statesman she knew and admired as a child, and brings along with her Dr. Gritsky – a colleague of Dr. Lancer. Swickert complains of being too old to have political power anymore, and De Sala reveals her desire for such power as he once had, her resentment of not having it available to her since she is a woman, and her ability to make him a younger man with Gritsky's help.

Meanwhile, Solo's efforts to contact Lorelei result in Do Do and Olga acting together to kill her rather than have her speak to Solo. Solo discovers this when he is lured to Lorelei's apartment and, after a fight with Do Do, discovers both Lorelei's body and a note to Lorelei that she could contact her father through Philip Bainbridge. Solo attempts to contact Bainbridge in London (meeting Swickert's full-time nurse Joanna Sweet in the process), but Swickert is speaking with him first. Swickert becomes convinced that the middle-aged Bainbridge is actually the elderly Lancer made young again via a medical process. Olga has followed Solo and, in attempting to kill him, accidentally kills Bainbridge/Lancer. A chase and fight ensues with the result being the escape of Olga and the death of Do Do.

Having seen Swickert with Lancer, Solo visits Swickert at his country estate and questions him about Bainbridge and Lancer. Swickert refuses to say much beyond that Lancer was a member of the Bridge of Lions club, a private chess club that Swickert founded to build a bridge among the great men of many nations to allow them freedom to communicate under all circumstances – thereby reducing the chances of cataclysms like World War I.

Shortly after leaving Swickert's home, Solo's car crashes as a result of sabotage – implied to be the work of Olga. Solo is found by THRUSH agent Jordin, who advises U.N.C.L.E. of Solo's predicament and location. (The television episode had made clear that Jordin was investigating Lancer as well; the movie did not include those scenes, though, making Jordin's sudden appearance and his motives for helping Solo as an enemy agent a little confusing.)

Kuryakin, still investigating the missing cats, tracks one of them to a laboratory. He finds the cat de-aged to a kitten and the man said to have been capturing the cats, Corvy, dead by a hat pin. Solo (none the worse for his auto accident, which is never discussed) arrives as well and, after comparing notes the two men reach the conclusion that the cats, having a similar nervous system to humans, are being experimented upon with the de-aging process developed by Lancer and Gritsky. Kuryakin finds that hat associated with the pin and it turns out to be from Madame Raine De Sala's salon. From this point on they collaborate on their assignments.

Solo and Kuryakin next break into Swickert's home and are captured by Swickert's guard and Olga. Tossed into a wine press with the press descending, they are left for dead. They nonetheless figure out how to brace the press and are eventually released by Jordin after everyone else leaves the estate. After a brief interrogation by Jordin, the U.N.C.L.E. agents overpower him and, while he escapes, are again free.

In very short order Swickert is de-aged and regains his stature as a man of power. Solo and Kuryakin confront him and demand the secret of rejuvenation. Jordin, listening covertly to their conversation, captures Gritsky and blackmails De Sala: he will only provide continued curative treatments to Swickert if De Sala uses her influence to make Swickert do THRUSH's bidding in political matters. Solo finds out and is captured again.

Because of his past association with Swickert, Waverly travels to England to speak to him, but is also captured by Jordin and placed with Solo.

Swickert, having taken another treatment with Gritsky and learning of THRUSH's plans for him, decides that Gritsky and his secret must die to keep anyone else from suffering his fate. Jordin saves Gritsky, but Swickert goes on to give a political speech wherein he explains enough of THRUSH's plans that Jordin draws a gun. De Sala jumps in front of Swickert to protect him and ends up shot and killed in his stead.

Solo, having escaped with Waverly via an incidiary rope in Waverly's tie, meets up with Kuryakin to investigate Gritsky's laboratory. They find Gritsky has taken Swickert's worries to heart and committed suicide by de-aging rapidly to a child. Jordin comes in, takes Gritsky's notes, and destroys the de-aging machine so no one else can have it. But Gritsky has booby-trapped the machine and Jordin is killed. Solo and Kuryakin return to New York, and since the secret of the de-aging process is written in code, it appears to be lost to science for a very long time.

Cast

Changes from episode

The film took the second season two-part episode "The Bridge of Lions Affair" and, in addition to editing the length to accommodate the running time of the film by cutting and rearranging some scenes, made several major changes to the episodes. First, Leigh Chapman, who played the character of an U.N.C.L.E. communications technician named Wanda, was replaced by Yvonne Craig. Yvonne Craig had played Alexander Waverly’s niece Maude Waverly in the prior U.N.C.L.E. film One Spy Too Many , but no reference was made to that character in this movie. The character remained named Wanda and, other than the replacement of the actress, the role was essentially unchanged from the television episode. Second, the character Do Do was introduced as a model who was all too willing to perform Madame Raine De Sala’s dirty work. Also new were scenes dealing with the death of Lorelei Lancer; whereas in the episodes she was strangled off screen, in the film her dead body is shown staring open-eyed from the bottom of a tub filled with water. Also, the film had a new score composed for it by Gerald Fried, because "The Bridge of Lions Affair" had been tracked with music from other episodes.

Release

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.

Home media

The film was released on DVD in a collection package by Warner Archive Collection on November 2, 2011. [3]

See also

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 actor and political activist, whose career in film, television and theatre spanned nearly six decades. He was a Primetime Emmy Award winner, a four-time Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award, and a BAFTA Award nominee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo G. Carroll</span> English actor (1886–1972)

Leo Gratten Carroll was an English actor. In a career of more than 40 years, he appeared in six Hitchcock films including Spellbound, Strangers on a Train and North by Northwest and in three television series, Topper, Going My Way, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E..

<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 from the 1960s American television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. The stars of the original series were Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, and Leo G. Carroll . The series included 105 episodes from 1964 to its cancellation in 1968. In 2015, a movie adaptation of the same name was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Fox (actor)</span> Welsh actor (1927–2016)

Bernard Lawson, better known as Bernard Fox, was a Welsh actor. He is remembered for his roles as Dr. Bombay in the comedy fantasy series Bewitched (1964–1972), Colonel Crittendon in the comedy series Hogan's Heroes (1965–1971), Malcolm Merriweather in The Andy Griffith Show (1963–1965), Colonel Redford in Barnaby Jones (1975), Max in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977), and Archibald Gracie IV in the film Titanic (1997).

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

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.

<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>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.

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. "One of Our Spies Is Missing". Turner Classic Movies . Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  2. Slesar, Henry (1963). The Bridge of Lions. New York City: Macmillan Publishers. ASIN   B000NWJ8EY.
  3. "One of Our Spies Is Missing". Warner Archive Collection . Burbank, California: Warner Home Video. November 2, 2011. ASIN   B005JJCMNU . Retrieved November 16, 2016.