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 idolizing its heroes. More mature viewers appreciated the tongue-in-cheek humour.

UNCLE had its secret American headquarters in Manhattan (behind Del Floria'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.