MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., THE: THE DEADLY TOYS AFFAIR {ANGELA LANSBURY} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of tongue-in-cheek spy dramas about superagents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. In this episode, Solo and Kuryakin attempt to blow up a tower in the Mojave Desert while avoiding armed guards. Waverly calls them back to headquarters, and they just manage to plant the explosives and escape. At a boarding school in Switzerland, a THRUSH agent named Noubar Telemakian plots to kill a Dr. Warshowsky, believing that he betrayed them and gave the information to U.N.C.L.E. that allowed them to blow up the tower, but the headmaster begs him not to kill the man in front of his son Bartlett, a genius whom Telemakian wants to recruit. They learn that there is an U.N.C.L.E. agent nearby, and Telemakian declares that Warshowsky will die in thirty minutes and that he himself will take care of the agent. He pursues Kuryakin’s motorbike and shoots at him, but misses, and the schoolboys commence with a model airplane competition. Kuryakin escapes and fights with a man on a hilltop who is attempting to send an explosive model airplane onto the field, and though the assassin falls to his death, the plane hits its target and kills Warshowsky. Kuryakin explains what happened, and the agents make a new plan. Waverly presents Solo with a briefcase full of useful spy gadgets disguised as joke toys that will appeal to Bartlett, who is soon to be met by his nearest living relative, his aunt, the famous actress Elfie von Donck.
Solo travels on a train and “accidentally” meets an attractive woman, Joanna. With Kuryakin posing as her “traveling hairdresser,” Solo shows her his case full of “novelties,” and the two agents accompany her when she meets up with the glamorous Elfie, fresh from a jungle adventure, and Telemakian, whom Elfie greets warmly. Telemakian discovers that Solo and Kuryakin are U.N.C.L.E. agents and he attempts to have Solo kidnapped, but Joanna sees and chases after the attackers with Kuryakin, and they rescue Solo. Elfie explains that she is soon to appear in an ad for nylon made from aardvark skins, and he shows her his toy collection, explaining that he wants to test their appeal on her nephew, and she seems charmed by him. At the school, Telemakian tries to convince Elfie to send Bartlett to a school in “the Near East” to study nuclear fission, and privately comments that he may be the head of THRUSH someday and will come to accept their murder of his father as a necessary “sacrifice.” Unbeknownst to them, Bartlett spies on their conversation from his laboratory class. Solo and Kuryakin then meet Bartlett’s “buddy,” Basil, who is clearly working for Telemakian, and Solo sends a secret message to Bartlett through one of the toys. However, Bartlett tells him to “keep out” of his affairs and says he will not return to the U.S. with them.
Joanna searches for Kuryakin and learns that he apparently left with a girl, and she pursues him in annoyance. She finds him in the woods, and they are forced to climb a tree to avoid Telemakian’s dogs, but they are caught and locked in a walk-in freezer. Solo suggests to Elfie that the “hairdresser” is really a criminal and is hiding at the school, and they hurry off to find him. At the same time, Bartlett packs his things, assisted by Basil, apparently having decided to attend the school suggested by Telemakian. Solo and Elfie find Bartlett, and Solo tells him all about THRUSH and Telemakian’s plans, but Bartlett reveals that he knows about the murder and intends to “make them sorry” after they leave for the new school. Solo explains the truth to Elfie, including Kuryakin’s true identity, and they spy on Telemakian and learn where Joanna and Kuryakin are stashed. They escape the meat locker with the help of an explosive, but Telemakian catches on and realizes that Bartlett knows everything and chases after him. Solo, Elfie, Bartlett, Joanna and Kuryakin all meet up and escape the school, managing to get to Telemakian’s helicopter despite encountering his poisonous gas, and Elfie expertly flies them to safety. Solo explains that he warned the police about jewel thieves at the school and then planted Joanna’s jewels on Telemakian, and Elfie cheerfully invites Solo to come along on her next safari. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 12, 1965 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:80192
- GENRE: Drama, spy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, spy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1964-1968
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Felton … Executive Producer
- David Victor … Producer
- Robert Hill … Writer
- Sam Rolfe … Developed by
- John Brahm … Director
- Gerald Fried … Music by
- Jerry Goldsmith … Theme Music by
- Robert Vaughn … Cast, Napoleon Solo
- David McCallum … Cast, Illya Kuryakin
- Leo G. Carroll … Cast, Alexander Waverly
- Angela Lansbury … Cast, Elfie van Donck
- Diane McBain … Cast, Joanna
- Arnold Moss … Cast, Noubar Telemakian
- John Hoyt … Cast, Head
- Gil Perkins … Cast, Dr. Boris Warshowsky
- Ernst Winters … Cast, Basil
- Christopher Essay … Cast, Steward
- Gloria Neil … Cast, Sarah
- Jay North … Cast, Bartlett Warshowsky