A Quick Look at TV: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

   The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was America's top spy show of the 60's. The main hero of the show was Robert Vaughn's Napoleon Solo, suave secret agent with a habit of finding trouble. More cautious, but even more danger-prone, was Solo's frequent partner in the field, his friend Illya Kuryakin as played by David McCallum. These men worked for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement, an international espionage force dedicated to preserving law and justice. UNCLE was frequently doing what it could, from the sidelines or directly, to topple dictators, preserve freedoms, and protect dignitaries (or scientists, or anyone else) from assassins. UNCLE's main opponent was THRUSH, a secret organization dedicated to tipping the balance of power in an unhealthy direction. The show proved very popular, and eventually spawned a spin-off series, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. Also, several episodes were edited into feature films, including TO TRAP A SPY, THE SPY WITH MY FACE, HOW TO STEAL THE WORLD, and THE KARATE KILLERS. When Batman hit the airwaves, the UNCLE shows tried to keep pace by embracing a more campy touch, but this destroyed the show and it failed to regain it's ratings. In 1983, the stars were returned for a TV movie entitled THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: THE 15 YEARS LATER AFFAIR.