The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
1 9 6 4 - 1 9 6 8 (USA)
104 x 60 minute episodes
The
Man From UNCLE was American TV's answer to James Bond and
became a pop culture phenomenon.
In this spy spoof series, UNCLE (United Network Command for Law
Enforcement) employed secret agents Napoleon Solo and Ilya
Kuryakin to fight the evil crime syndicate THRUSH.
The show had something for everyone. Children took it seriously
as an exciting action adventure. Teenagers enjoyed its hip, cool
style, identifying with and idolising its heroes. More mature
viewers appreciated the tongue-in-cheek humour.
UNCLE had its secret American headquarters in Manhattan (behind
Del Florio's tailor shop) and the office was run by Mr Waverly,
who assigned agents to cases and coordinated their efforts.
The suave, American Solo and the blonde, introverted Russian
Kuryakin spent most of their time saving the world and as the
series wore on the plots became more farfetched.
 THRUSH were a secret society of mad scientists, megalomaniac
industrialists and corrupt government officials who believed that
because of their superior intelligence, wealth and position, they
were entitled to rule the world.
A number of prominent actors and
actresses guest starred each week as either villains or innocent
bystanders, including Joan Crawford, Kurt Russell, William Shatner,
Leonard Nimoy and Sonny and Cher.
At its peak, The Man From UNCLE was shown in 60
countries and consistently ranked in the Top 10 programs on US
television. Eight feature films were made from two-part episodes
and profitably released in the USA and Europe. TV Guide called it
"the cult of millions."
The show received 10,000 fan letters per week, and Vaughn and
McCallum were mobbed by crowds of teenagers as if they were rock
stars.
 UNCLE was also a huge merchandising success with images
of the series' stars and its distinctive logo appearing on
hundreds of items, from bubble gum cards to a line of adult
clothing.
In 1966, a spin-off series called The Girl From UNCLE
was created, starring Stephanie Powers as female agent April
Dancer and Noel Harrison (son of Rex) as her British sidekick,
Mark Slate.
The Girl From UNCLE took its cue from the wild
camp of the then-popular Batman series rather than from its
parent show.
Although it featured many of the same elements of Man,
including advanced spy-style weaponry and the super-secret HQ
hidden behind an innocent tailor shop, Girl's plots were either
absurdly implausible or downright silly and the series lasted only
a year before being cancelled in 1967.
In 1983, Vaughn and McCallum reunited to play Solo and Kuryakin
in a TV movie called Return of the Man From UNCLE - The Fifteen
Years Later Affair.
TRIVIA NOTE
Napoleon Solo was Ian Fleming's last creation. Unfortunately
the James Bond author died before seeing the show.
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