In my quest to binge-watch every episode of "The Man From U. N. C. L. E.," I came across this gem, which I rank one of the better ones in the 105-episode series. It comes in two parts. It's got ex-Nazi scientists, climate change, atomic bombs, gangsters with Tommy guns, sultry Italian babes (Letícia Román), remote island compounds, bad stereotypes, high body count, and strange plot twits. What makes this episode so brilliant is the rotisserie of bad guys, lead by Jack Palance, whom I was half-expecting his old stereotype of leering eyes and grizzled demeanor, but instead Palance rants obsessively as he paces manically around the set, constantly dabbling at his spittle with his handkerchief. That performance alone should have won him an award. Janet Leigh plays his enthusiastic secretary who has a scary sadistic bend, which unfortunately couldn't be fully developed for 1960s television. Then there's a whole group of Thirties film stars like Eduardo Ciannelli, Allen Jenkins, and Jack La Rue, and a brief cameo from Joan Blondell, who make this episode a must watch. Everyone is having a good time. If you don't take it too seriously, you too will be well entertained.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series)
The Concrete Overcoat Affair: Part I (1966)
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The guest stars make the Episode
gordonl566 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. - The Concrete Overcoat Affair :Pt 1 - 1966
This is the 70th episode of 1964 to 1968 spy series, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. The series ran for a total of 105 episodes. The first season was filmed in black and with the remainder shot in colour. Robert Vaughn plays agent Napoleon Solo while David McCallum plays Illya Kuryakin. Leo G Carroll plays Mister Waverly, the boss of the secret agency known as U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law & Enforcement) UNCLE's main enemy is THRUSH, an organization out to take over the planet.
This write up covers both part one and two.
UNCLE agents, Robert Vaughn and David McCallum are on the trail of a wanted ex-Nazi scientist. They follow their man to California, only to have THRUSH grab up the man first. They then trace a lead to Sicily and the business of big time wine merchant, Jack Palance. Palance, is really a THRUSH boss. He is using the ex-Nazi to help THRUSH change the direction of the Gulf Stream current. THRUSH wants to turn Greenland and Iceland into tropical regions while freezing up Europe.
The UNCLE types get mixed up with a local Italian celebration. Vaughn, due to a mix up with the locals, is forced into an arranged marriage with Leticia Roman. McCallum meanwhile has discovered that Palance is sending "heavy-heavy" water to the States in wine bottles.
Of course there is a furious gun-battle with the THRUSH types before McCallum and Vaughn can slip back to the States. The jilted bride to be, Miss Roman, is also soon on her way to the U.S. She rounds up a few of her "uncles" to help find Vaughn. The "uncles" are old time retired Chicago mobsters, played by Eduardo Ciannelli, Allen Jenkins and Jack La Rue.
The three ex-mobsters soon round up their old gang which includes the likes of Elisha Cook Jr, Vince Barnett and Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom. They get mixed up with the UNCLE agents and the THRUSH bunch. Shots and fists are exchanged with Miss Roman and David McCallum being grabbed up by THRUSH. They are taken to a small island in the Caribbean.
THRUSH has a complex on the island where they are using the "heavy-heavy" water to make atomic torpedoes. They are going to use these to change the Gulf Stream current. Needless to say that UNCLE cannot allow this to happen. They have a strike by B-52 bombers arranged to wipe out the complex. Agent Vaughn has 16 hours to rescue fellow agent, McCallum, and the pretty Miss Roman.
Vaughn is joined in this effort by the "uncles", Ciannelli, Jenkins, La Rue and their mob. The rest of the episode involves various shootouts, explosions, knife-fights and a giant tuning fork weapon. (Yes, tuning fork weapon) Well anyways, the proper people come out on top and the THRUSH plan is thwarted.
The story is as dumb as it sounds, but, having said that, the guest cast makes these two episodes well worth a look. Jack Palance is a hoot as he chews the scenery through both episodes.There is also a very nice guest turn by a 39 year old Janet Leigh. Leigh plays a THRUSH assassin who has a fondness for sharp knives. She keeps several strapped to her shapely thighs. She also enjoys dispensing a spot of torture, as Agent McCallum discovers. There is some good interplay between Palance and Miss Leigh that works quite well.
Look close, and you will see Joan Blondell in a 30 second cameo.
Miss Leigh of course is well known for Hitchcock's Psycho. She was also the mother of actress, Jamie Lee Curtis. Leigh and matinée idol, Tony Curtis, were married for 11 years (1951-62)
This is the 70th episode of 1964 to 1968 spy series, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. The series ran for a total of 105 episodes. The first season was filmed in black and with the remainder shot in colour. Robert Vaughn plays agent Napoleon Solo while David McCallum plays Illya Kuryakin. Leo G Carroll plays Mister Waverly, the boss of the secret agency known as U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law & Enforcement) UNCLE's main enemy is THRUSH, an organization out to take over the planet.
This write up covers both part one and two.
UNCLE agents, Robert Vaughn and David McCallum are on the trail of a wanted ex-Nazi scientist. They follow their man to California, only to have THRUSH grab up the man first. They then trace a lead to Sicily and the business of big time wine merchant, Jack Palance. Palance, is really a THRUSH boss. He is using the ex-Nazi to help THRUSH change the direction of the Gulf Stream current. THRUSH wants to turn Greenland and Iceland into tropical regions while freezing up Europe.
The UNCLE types get mixed up with a local Italian celebration. Vaughn, due to a mix up with the locals, is forced into an arranged marriage with Leticia Roman. McCallum meanwhile has discovered that Palance is sending "heavy-heavy" water to the States in wine bottles.
Of course there is a furious gun-battle with the THRUSH types before McCallum and Vaughn can slip back to the States. The jilted bride to be, Miss Roman, is also soon on her way to the U.S. She rounds up a few of her "uncles" to help find Vaughn. The "uncles" are old time retired Chicago mobsters, played by Eduardo Ciannelli, Allen Jenkins and Jack La Rue.
The three ex-mobsters soon round up their old gang which includes the likes of Elisha Cook Jr, Vince Barnett and Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom. They get mixed up with the UNCLE agents and the THRUSH bunch. Shots and fists are exchanged with Miss Roman and David McCallum being grabbed up by THRUSH. They are taken to a small island in the Caribbean.
THRUSH has a complex on the island where they are using the "heavy-heavy" water to make atomic torpedoes. They are going to use these to change the Gulf Stream current. Needless to say that UNCLE cannot allow this to happen. They have a strike by B-52 bombers arranged to wipe out the complex. Agent Vaughn has 16 hours to rescue fellow agent, McCallum, and the pretty Miss Roman.
Vaughn is joined in this effort by the "uncles", Ciannelli, Jenkins, La Rue and their mob. The rest of the episode involves various shootouts, explosions, knife-fights and a giant tuning fork weapon. (Yes, tuning fork weapon) Well anyways, the proper people come out on top and the THRUSH plan is thwarted.
The story is as dumb as it sounds, but, having said that, the guest cast makes these two episodes well worth a look. Jack Palance is a hoot as he chews the scenery through both episodes.There is also a very nice guest turn by a 39 year old Janet Leigh. Leigh plays a THRUSH assassin who has a fondness for sharp knives. She keeps several strapped to her shapely thighs. She also enjoys dispensing a spot of torture, as Agent McCallum discovers. There is some good interplay between Palance and Miss Leigh that works quite well.
Look close, and you will see Joan Blondell in a 30 second cameo.
Miss Leigh of course is well known for Hitchcock's Psycho. She was also the mother of actress, Jamie Lee Curtis. Leigh and matinée idol, Tony Curtis, were married for 11 years (1951-62)
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