Reviews (7)

Man from uncle are great
The first one is a little more wild than i like but the second on is the best I have seen.They are great guys I like it that the good guys always win at the end.

George Sanders steals Vol 2 in great dichotomous style
Why 5 stars you may ask? This volume really shows us the dichotomy that existed between the First and Second Seasons of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." television series. "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." was a great extension of the James Bond cinematic phenomena created in the 60s. "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" and the follow-up "The Yukon Affair" couldn't be more different in tone. But that's what made this series so dynamic. George Sanders steals both episodes.

An UNCLE classic
The first show on this video is the sparkling Gazebo in the Maze affair, featuring the talented George Sanders as Squire G. Emory Partridge. This one is a classic example of how good this show was to begin with. The dialogue is crisp, and not to be missed are Jeanette Nolan's wacky Edith Partridge and Leo G. Carroll in biking attire! Written by Dean Hargrove, who should've done more episodes, this one has the kind of dialogue in it that made the show so popular. Illya is kidnapped by the Squire, who has a grudge against UNCLE, and it's Napoleon to the rescue (well, sort of, since he promptly gets captured as well). The classic line from this one is when they are escaping through the maze, while being chased by a gamekeeper and a very large, nasty looking wolf. When the gamekeeper accidentally is attacked by the wolf, Illya murmurs, "bon appetit!" Definitely a keeper!

The second title brings back the squire, minus his wife, for a less clever episode. It's okay, but it definitely lacks the sparkle of the first. However, Illya manages to kiss the cute little Eskimo, and both agents wind up in the hospital. Not as clever or as imaginative as the Gazebo affair, but not as silly as some of the third season episodes, either.

Gazebo in the Maze and Yukon Affair
Though "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" and "The Yukon Affair" are something like a two part episode, "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" appeared in UNCLE's first season while "The Yukon Affair" appeared in UNCLE's second season. If you read on you'll find out why I'm only giving this volume only 3 stars.

Episode 27 "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair": A long time ago, Napoleon and Illya stopped the plan of Squire G. Emory Partridge (George Sanders) to control a small country in South America. Now he wants revenge. He kidnaps Illya and lures Napoleon to his manor in Eastsnout. He captures Napoleon and wants to have Napoleon and Illya convince Mr. Waverly come to Eastsnout to try to bring UNCLE down. They refuse though and Partridge, together with his wife Edith (Jeanette Nolan), torture Napoleon and Illya. Peggy Durance (Bonnie Franklin) helps them escape fortunately. The only thing is, the dungeon is right in the center of a maze in which it is filled with all sorts of deadly traps.* Great episode with a great plot. In the second season of UNCLE, they made it so Partridge returned again, in The Yukon Affair. I definitely prefer this first one with Partridge though. The part when Napoleon, Illya, and Peggy are trying to get out of the maze is really exciting, especially with Partridge, his henchman, and a wolf looking for them.

Episode 43 "The Yukon Affair": Sqire G. Emory Partridge (George Sanders) has returned and has acquired in Alaska a large quantity of Quadrillenium X, a very heavy metal with high magnetic powers which THRUSH wants. Napoleon and Illya are sent there to try to stop him but are immediately captured by Eskimos, but are saved by the chief's daughter Murphy (Tianne Gabrielle). Partridge and his niece Victoria (Marion Thompson) again capture them though. Will Napoleon and Illya be able to escape and find the cache of Quadrillenium X? * Weak and stupid plot, not very high up in my list of favorite UNCLE episodes. The scene in the beginning where Illya and Napoleon are in UNCLE headquarters is the best part of the whole episode, the rest is just too silly.

George Sanders returns twice as G. Emory Partridge
Volume 2 in the "Man from U.N.C.L.E." video collection features George Sanders as that most urbane bad guy, G. Emory Partridge in a pair of episodes from 1965. First up is "The Gazebo in the Maze Affair" (Episode #27: April 5, 1965), where it turns out that Partridge has not really been dead these seven years since last the boys saw him. Partridge kidnaps Kuryakin as a trap for Solo, with the aid of his strange but deadly wife, marvelously played by Jeanette Nolan. Dean Hargrove and Antony Ellis wrote the script for this above average episode, based on a story by Ellis, while Alf Kjellin was the director. Partridge returns in "The Yukon Affair" (Episode 43: December 24, 1965), although I am sad to report Mrs. Partridge does not make an appearance this time around. Like most sequels it is somewhat disappointing, especially since Sanders and Nolan were such an interesting tag team. Anyhow, Partridge tries to kill Solo with a big rock and then Waverly sends the boys off to the Yukon to track him down. While this certainly gives a whole new meaning to the idea of the Cold War, this is an okay episode that is just not as good as "Gazebo." In both of them the cheif charm is the way Sanders proceeds to do his evil deeds with such charm and grace. Marc Siegel wrote the "Yukon" episode, which was also directed by Kjellin. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Even a man who is pure in heart,
And says his prayers by night,
May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
And the autumn moon is bright.

If you haven't heard this piece of horror-movie doggerel before, you'll never forget it after seeing The Wolf Man for two reasons:it's a spooky piece of rhyme and nearly everybody in the picture recites it at one time or another. Set in a fog-bound studio-built Wales, The Wolf Man tells the doom-laden tale of Lawrence Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.), who returns to the estate of his wealthy father (Claude Rains). (Yes, Chaney's American, but the movie explains this, awkwardly.) Bitten by a werewolf, Talbot suffers the classic fate of the victims of lycanthropy: at the full moon, he turns into a werewolf, a transformation ingeniously devised by makeup maestro Jack Pierce. Pierce was the man who turned Boris Karloff into the Frankenstein monster, and his werewolf makeup became equally famous, with its canine snout and bushy hairdo--and, of course, seriously sharp dental work. The Wolf Man was a smash hit, giving Universal Pictures a new monster for their already crowded stable, and Chaney found himself following in the footsteps (or paw prints) of his father, who had essayed a monster or two in the silent era. This is a classy horror outing, with strong atmosphere and a thoughtful script by Curt Siodmak--well, except for the stiff romantic bits between Chaney and Evelyn Ankers. It's also got Bela Lugosi (briefly) and Maria Ouspenskaya, the prunelike Russian actress who foretells doom like nobody's business.--Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (68)

A distant howling.
This legendary horror film is the granddaddy of all werewolf movies. The previous "Werewolf of London" notwithstanding, this film set the standard for much that followed. Wolf Man Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney) became a popular member of the classic horror family at Universal Studios. Makeup genius Jack Pierce created the trademark hirsute fright look that has been imitated, but never improved, over the years. The familiar story of metamorphosis, wolfbane, and the autumn moon unfolds quickly. The running time of the film is a mere 70 minutes. Once it gets going, the action doesn't let up. The inspired casting of Maria Ouspenskaya as Maleva the gypsy woman is a memorable event in classic horror flicks. She brings a mystic sense of Slavic fatalism to her role. Her son, Bela the fortune teller, has the mark of the beast and infects Talbot. Bela Lugosi's appearance is brief, but he manages to project the world-weariness and suffering of his peculiar malady as the doomed gypsy who sees the pentagram in the palm of his next victim. The terrific scenes of Chaney in full makeup, creeping amid the gnarled trees and through the foggy night are the stuff of troubled childhood dreams. Scream Queen Evelyn Ankers is the resident threatened female. Claude Rains is cast in the unlikely role of the hulking Chaney's father. American Ralph Bellamy is also a peculiar choice to play the stern local chief constable. Despite these little quirks, it all blends nicely. About the only thing missing, is the dark sense of humor of James Whale, which made the early Universal Frankenstein flicks so richly enjoyable. Every serious collector of Classic Horror 101 needs this addition to their collection. ;-)

Your suffering is over, Bela my son.
Don Smith, Lon Chaney, Jr.'s biographer, states that the most important horror film of the 1940's is "The Wolf Man". This new full screen(aspect 1.33:1) release of "The Wolf Man" is what DVD is all about: A clear, pristine restoration of a cinema classic, an original documentary with director John Landis(written by historian David J. Skal), commentary by expert Tom Weaver, a trailer, and bio's on the major stars, including listing every film by Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi. The Wolfman story, perhaps a classic Greek tragedy, is well-known. Lawrence Talbot returns to his father's estate in Wales. After romancing a local village girl, Talbot is bitten by a werewolf. At the full moon, he suffers the curse of lycanthropy. Like a football team, a movie is perhaps, only as good as it's players. "The Wolf Man" is all first string. Fresh from his accolades for "Of Mice and Men", Lon Chaney, Jr. steps into the leading role with conviction and empathy. This is his finest work. His father, Sir John, is played by Claude Rains. Just one year later, he would be Oscar nominated for "Casablanca". British actress Evelyn Ankers began a long Universal film career here as the love interest. Warren Williams plays the doctor. Williams was once touted as the next Barrymore. Ralph Bellamy appears as Constable Montford. Bellamy was in over 100 films. He won the Academy Award and a Tony for his work. Patric Knowles, a Universal staple, plays the gamekeeper. World famous Maria Ouspenskaya emigrated to the U.S. from Russia, surviving the Revolution and famine. Her role here as Maleva, the old gypsy woman, is pivotal.Finally Bela Lugosi, as Bela the gypsy, is at once riveting and magnetic. Originally considered for the lead, Lugosi's part was sadly cut to 7 lines. It is his only screen appearance as a werewolf. "Wolf Man" director George Waggner creates a frantic pace and eery backgrounds here. Waggner started as an actor, appearing in "The Shiek", with Rudolph Valentino, in 1921. The "Wolf Man" story comes from a taut script by Curt Siodmak. An original music score from Charles Previn and Hans J. Salter was so successful, it popped up in Universal films for years. Some of the track was recycled in 1954 for "Creature From the Black Lagoon". An early "Wolfman" scene in Talbot Castle includes a candlabra prop seen in 1935's "The Raven". In a later segment, Chaney exits a magnificent old church. That set was built for his father in "Hunchback of Notre Dame". "The Wolf Man" finished shooting in November, 1941. Just weeks later it opened in theaters. It was an instant hit, earning over $1 million. Within days, five of the principal actors were rushed into Universal's next opus, "Ghost of Frankenstein". Lon Chaney, Jr.'s grandson, Ron Chaney, lives in Palm Springs, Calif.. I have spoken with him several times. He holds his famous ancestors in high esteem, thanks to his web-site (...). He remembers his grandfather as warm and generous. For "The Wolf Man" commentary, Tom Weaver is detailed and inspired. He makes one error, however,mentioning that Lon Chaney, Jr. died of lung cancer. He's wrong. It was actually his father, Lon Chaney,Sr., who passed away in 1930 after shooting his only sound film, a re-make of his own "The Unholy Three". Lon Chaney,Jr. died in 1973 of a heart attack and liver failure. He was 67. In "The Wolf Man"'s final epic scenes, Maleva, the old gypsy woman, bends over the battered body of Lawrence Talbot, and whispers the words that have echoed down and haunted Hollywood horror film history..."The way you walked was thorny, through no fault of your own. But as the rain enters the soil, the river enters the sea, so tears run to their predestined end. Your suffering is over, my son. Now you will find peace..."

The birth of Universal's most tragic monster character
Among the pantheon of classic Universal monsters, only Dracula and Frankenstein's monster stand taller than The Wolf Man. This 1941 classic starring Lon Chaney, Jr., is a must-see for anyone claiming any interest in horror movies. The film has exerted a huge influence on the art of bringing horror to life for over six decades now, thanks to the heralded make-up prowess of Jack Pierce, the tight and powerful script of Curt Siodmak, some impressive photography work, and wonderful performances from a truly stellar cast of actors and actresses.

There is just something different about The Wolf Man; I have a hard time viewing him as a monster Larry Talbot is a thoroughly sympathetic and tragic character. Dracula loves being a vampire, Frankenstein's monster is just an unfortunate victim of circumstance whose various body parts have already lived full lives, but Larry Talbot desperately hates the monster he has become. He's already a sympathetic character, coming home after eighteen years following the death of his older brother, trying to fit in among the folks he said goodbye to long ago. Then, when he hears a fateful howl accompanied by a scream, he races off in heroic fashion, taking on a wolf in order to try and save a woman's life, killing the doggoned creature. And what does he get for his noble, self-less act? First of all, suspicion, because instead of the wolf he described, the authorities find the body of a gypsy fortune teller (played by Bela Lugosi, who gets all of seven lines in the film) clubbed to death by Talbot's cane. Then, tragically, he finds himself inflicted with the curse of the werewolf, thanks to the bite he suffered in the struggle. Chaney's performance also adds to his tragic status. He had a style of acting all his own; at times, I watch him and think the guy just couldn't act his way out of a dark room with a flashlight, but his strange and slightly awkward manner, tempered by a sort of gentle slowness ends up leaving me mesmerized. In most horror movies, I'm always ready to bring the monster on and get the party started, but I never look forwarding to watching Talbot turn into the werewolf.

I think everyone is pretty well acquainted with the story here. Man gets bitten by werewolf, man turns into werewolf, man suffers a tragic fate. The Wolf Man, though, succeeds in becoming much more than just the simple tale of a hairy monster. The inimitable Claude Rains lends the film character and class as Talbot's father. The lovely Evelyn Ankers makes a great leading lady in the form of Gwen Conliffe. Lugosi is of course terrific as the gypsy Bela, but the role is a minor one indeed. Maria Ouspenskaya is masterful as the gypsy woman Maleva who tries to warn Talbot and help him deal with the curse that suddenly consumes his life. Siodmak really provided a tight plot; there would be a number of sequels, but The Wolf Man is a completely self-contained movie of great power and meaning.

There are a number of really interesting things about this movie. For instance, we never actually see Talbot's transformation from man to wolf - we see the legs change, but that is it. There is a scene toward the end where we witness the transformation from wolf to man, but you won't see any time-lapse treatment of the change from man to monster. Of much more interest to me is the fact that you don't hear a single reference to the moon in the entire film. Apparently, the transformation happens nightly to Talbot; there is nothing to indicate that a full moon plays any part at all. Thus, some of the core Wolf Man assumptions do not trace themselves back to the original movie.

The commentary by film historian Tom Weaver, included on the DVD, is just superb. It's one of the most engaging commentaries I've heard. This guy is loaded to the gills with facts and trivia, and he barely pauses over the course of the film's 70 minutes, delivering one gem after another. He also asks some of the questions I ask when I watch the movie, and I love that. This isn't a commentary by some stuffy "expert." Weaver is indeed an expert, but at the same time he is one of us, a true fan of classic horror movies.

Lon Chaney and Claude Rains together.
The best thing about The Wolf Man is not the monster itself but the subtle progression of wolfish themes that are brought out from start to finish in the movie. Even though the much dated 'look' of the monster brings this Universal Classic offering a notch down it still happens to be the best screenplay of the Horror Classics. Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, son of Phantom of the Opera's Lon Chaney) shows that he has some of his father in him (not much facial contortions until the transformations) in his way of bringing darkness and madness to a character that is jolly, loving and smitten by local town kitten after he arrives at his fathers estate following a brief period of absence to take care of things. He learns the local legend of The Wolf Man in the village, how strange poems about the moon and wolfs bane can bring out the wolf in a man, the pentagram and how it can prevent werewolf attacks but also how if it appears on someone's skin then that person is the werewolf's next victim.

All of these superstitions come true very quickly when Larry finds himself the centre of a strange murder mystery in the nearby woods where a gypsy man (Bela Lugosi, in a bit of an under-performance [he is only in it for a few minutes]) was found dead without his shoes on next to the corpse of a young woman who had been mauled by a wolf that Larry had killed with his cane after going to visit the psychic gypsies who had stopped there after passing through the village. Larry remembers killing a wolf but no wolf was ever found...

... later after a gypsy funeral Larry learns that there is a werewolf in the village and that the gypsy's are leaving but not before he meets the wife of the dead gypsy who tells him that the gypsy was really a werewolf and that Larry is cursed!

Claude Rains (who also stars in The Invisible Man and the remake of Phantom of the Opera) has a supporting/lead role as Larry's father who means to prove his son's innocents and protect him from self harm as Larry falls slowly into despair with the knowledge that the superstitions are true and that he is a werewolf.

Most lovers of the classics will probably recognise this as the catchiest of the lot probably because it was closer to more supernatural/natural horror than Frankenstein, Dracula, The Invisible Man or Phantom of the Opera. Here we learned about the moon and fascinating facts about the werewolf that have not often been repeated in any other werewolf movie. Also Lon Chaney is the real reason to watch this and along side Claude Rains is to die for, really. The documentaries and extras make this a 5 star package!

Hair¿s an Interesting Look
The Wolf Man is simply one of the greatest horror films ever made. Written by Curt Siodmak and directed by George Waggner this film had the perfect combination of narrative content and visual elements. The Wolf Man was one of a dozen B horror movies that Universal produced within the 1930s and 40s, but remains of an elite category for its excellence. From its release in 1941 and until now I believe this film hasn't been getting the appreciation it deserves. Its reputation of being just another black and white B horror film precedes it unfortunately.
The Wolf Man is the story of a man who takes the shape of an animal, in this case a wolf, to deal with his struggle with sexual repression. Larry Talbot, played by Lon Chaney Jr., returns to his home in England after studying abroad for nearly two decades. Shortly after his return, he falls in love with the daughter of an antique shop named Gwen Conliffe, who is played by Evelyn Ankers. Gwen is the stereotypical country girl. She is pretty, sweet, and moral. Larry is bitten by a werewolf on his first date with Gwen and becomes inflicted with the disease of lycanthropy. As the film prolongs we learn of Gwen's engagement to another man and how it leads to a great deal of Larry's frustration. An interesting aspect of this film is that before almost all of Larry's transformations into a wolf he is either directly or indirectly engaged with Gwen's seemingly unreachable hand until it's too late. This leads me to believe that Gwen is, in a way, responsible for Larry's "liberation" from man into beast; being that she is the object of not only his love, but of his sexual frustrations and repressions.
It is always interesting to see how a leading lady was depicted in the golden years of Hollywood films. In The Wolf Man's case, as in many other cases, she is represented as a stereotype and as an object. Without her character, however, the narrative would not have had its particularly well crafted strength. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not too hot
"The Gurnius Affair" guest-starred future "Laugh-In"
Sock It to Me gal Judy Carne, but it lacks the lustre which
boosted the popularity of this fad series. "The Master's Voice
Affair" is a typical third-year turkey which forecasted the way
for this show's eventual demise.

Judy Carne and the her master's voice affair
Judy Carne guest stars as professional photographer Terry Cook in the Year 4 offering "The Gurnious Affair" which features a takeover the world theme.Illya really let his hair grow in season 4 and is really trying to be ruthless as a military man impersonator.Judy carne's outfits in the episode really fit her style.
"The Her Master's Voice Affair" is a 3rd season offering in which Estelle Winwood plays Miss Partridge who tries to control her girl students at a private school through Brahms lullaby and it throws into a murderous state of mind.Illya is assigned to tutor and protect an Oriental man's daughter played by Victoria Young who develops a crush on Illya.Victoria Young falls from a rail in the house into Illya's arms kissing his face and he's ready to give her a spanking.Even while they watch a romantic movie she wishes Illya would kiss her like that.Talk about teenage girl crushes on adult men. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If not a seminal World War II submarine picture, then OperationPacific is at least an entertaining one. John Wayne stars as "Duke" Gifford,first officer of the submarine Thunderfish. Patricia Neal is Duke'sex-wife, and when they meet again after four years, the couple tries to recapture"that old zing." Complications arise when Duke goes on a mission with dudtorpedoes, and his best friend's younger brother goes after Neal. Fans will bepleased with Wayne's role, as the Gifford character is one of Wayne's simplest,but most honest performances. Wayne regulars Ward Bond and Jack Pennick are onhand as well; Bond plays sub captain "Pop" Perry, and Pennick the sub's Chief.The scene in which Pop tells his crew to "Take 'er down!" came from real life; asub skipper uttered the famous command during a desperate surface action.--Mark Savary ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Operation Pacific
Since I grew up with this movie, I have seen it at least 30 times. This is one of the best Submarine Movies of WW-II action made. And not everyone knows this but this movie did deal with some truth. When the skipper is shot by a "Q" ship in a surface attack, he uses the command "Take Her Down" which was in actuality used by the CO of the USS Growler, after being critically wounded in action in 1942. And the torpedo trouble in the movie was also true and they did drop warheads from on high to test out various firing options. One submarine mentioned in the Movie was the Corvina, which really was a USN Sub, and she was suck by a Japanese Submarine like the movie portrays. Unlike other Sub Movies, this one has a lot of truth in it and is an excellent watch. It is made more realistic by being in black and white. Sources for the above "Sink em All" By Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN COMSUBPAC during WW-II

When things go wrong and one is in harm's way.
This is a chilly saga of an American sub captain plagued by failure-prone weapons and an ocean full of Japanese to fight. They find the reason the torpedoes didn't work and put back to sea, this time, to take good care of the nasty business at hand. One scene that brings the cost of war home is that the Thunderfish loaned another sub a movie, "Washington Slept Here." Sometime later, they find wreckage of an American sub, and the movie tells them who is at the bottom of the ocean. The Thunderfish strikes back at the sub that got their friends, showing how dangerous it was out there and what courage it took to fight this war. The climax scene shows them in a Japanese-controlled harbor, with a waiting task force. They fire their new and deadly torpedoes, and radio back to Cincpac about the taskforce and its location. They run for cover, and barely survive massive retaliation: the outcome is in doubt until the last, as it was for many other submariners. A moving, poignant, and bittersweet tale that stresses the fact that nothing ever comes for free, even in war.

Authentic in Every Detail
What makes "Operation Pacific" stand out is its authentic pigboat crew dialogue and operational procedures. It is also unique in that it took from a real life WWII sub commander's life. Cdr. Howard W. Gilmore (played by Ward Bond as the fictitious 'Pop Perry' in the movie) who actually did speak the words, "Take her down" as he lay mortally wounded on the bridge of his sub, USS Growler", thus saving the lives of his crew. This is an exceptional WWII submarine movie, a huge step above all of the rest.

Classic, but only amongst sub movies
This show depicts JW being handed what he least wants, to be left ashore during wartime to solve a technical problem with torpedos -- something that really happened.

There is much of the standard John Wayne character in the movie -- he's strong and larger than life, even when he faces a ruggedly handsome younger man who is vying for the same woman. John Wayne is, of course, the hero, and that's OK.

The best part about the movie, however, doesn't have anything to do with subs. The best part is the showdown between two nurses when one tells the other how things really are, and to quit whining about things (I paraphrase, badly).

Nevertheless, this movie is a great option for a free Saturday afternoon. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

U.N.C.L.E. family fun...
THE MAN from U.N.C.L.E. was one of the '60's most popular shows.
Robert Vaughn and David McCallum essayed the "We Spy" team of Napoleon Solo and Illa Kuryakin. Leo G. Carroll--formerly of TOPPER fame--was UN spy master who sent them off to weekly
adventures parodying 007 films which had captured imaginations of the cinema-watching world. Despite "cool head" humor of both Vaughn and McCallum, and appealing sang froid/savoir faire they brought to their characters, the material now strikes as dated in many instances. Not so VOLUME 1. THE STRIGAS AFFAIR,is U.N.C.L.E. at its witty best. Along with genuinely clever plot twists to ensnare war-mongering Werner Klemperer(Colonel Klink of HOGAN'S HEROES),there is a typical series gimmick of featuring classy guest stars. In this instance, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy of STAR TREK fame.

Episode 2,THE NEVER-NEVER AFFAIR is also serious fun with Barbara Feldon (Agent 99)of GET SMART facing-off against THRUSH, U.N.C.L.E. series' SPECTRE clone led --this time--by Caesar Romero. Some think the best of the BOND spy parodies was OUR MAN FLINT. Some think it was--and remain--Peter Sellers' Jacques Clousea, PINK PANTHER adventures. It's a debate of weight to be sure. Nevertheless: if you were a series fan; thought you were one; or wanted to be part of the U.N.C.L.E. family; Volume I is...in my estimate...a blank-filled, but on target sure-shot.

a great review for a great show!
If you love action, twists, and humor all rolled into one, get this video!! The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 1 is a great example of how the 60s reinvented cool! In this volume, the episodes are "The Project Strigas Affair" and "The Never Never Affair".

In the "Project Strigas Affair" William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy delight us with their first great performance together.(even though they were only in a couple scenes together)The episode sorta has a "Mission Impossible" feel to it. It's full of twists and schemes. We also see Illya test out some of his disguises! A must see!

"The Never Never Affair" has to be my FAVORITE episode of the whole series! In this episode Barbara Feldon (Agent 99 on "Get Smart") guest stars as the innocent Many Stevenson who longs for the glamour and excitment of espionage. Mandy bugs Napoleon to his breaking point, but instead of a real mission he gives her a fake one with the "Evasion Pattern Eight".(You sorta feel sorry for the girl.)He gives her a humadore(spelling?) and tells her to ask a guy at the tobbaco store to open it. Of course, she misleads a scientest into thinking she is a real courier and is handed a microdot(which she cleverly hides). This episode shows how they used humor in the series. My favorite parts were 1.)When Illya and Napoleon go into the movie theater and shoot it out with THRUSH, a guy gets shot and stands in front of someone. The person goes, "Hey, Down in front!"(the dead guy falls into a seat), "Thanks!" 2.)When Mandy goes throughout the streets thinking she's a REAL spy.3.) When Cesar Romero questions her on what the humadore is: CR:"It looks like a hum. and even smells like a hum., what is it?" MS:"Um, ah..humadore?(laughs)" 4.) The Over- The-Shoulder shot!
To make this simple(too late) get this video! You won't be disappointed!

One Of The Best One
This Is the best that i have seen.
Soom of the others i would just like one on the videos but i love them all

The Project Strigas Affair and The Never Never Affair
"The Project Strigas Affair" and "The Never Never Affair" are what I think are the best episodes in all of UNCLE's episodes. You just have to watch these two episodes if you love "Man from UNCLE".

Episode 9 "The Project Strigas Affair": Though usually UNCLE doesn't get involved in politics, Mr. Waverly asks Napoleon and Illya to make some 'diabolical scheme' to bring down a certain Balkan intelligence chief Kurasov (Werner Klemperer), who is trying to enflame America and U.S.S.R. tensions. Kurasov's assistant is (Leonard Nimoy). Napoleon and Illya (him disguised as a KGB spy), with the help of bankrupt couple, (William Shatner and Peggy Ann Garner), make up a fictional gas to catch Kurasov's attention: the gas named Strigas. * This has one of the best plots of all the UNCLE episodes. There are plenty of twists and turns, humor when needed, yet serious at some places. This is another episode of many which shows Illya as the master of disguises. This is the first time for the secondary villain, Woodrow Parfey, to play in the Man from UNCLE show. He would be playing in many more episodes in the time to come. This is also the first time for Star Trek William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy to act together. One of my favorite parts in the show is when says, "But that's absolutely diabolical," to which Napoleon replies, smiling, "We try."

Episode 25 "The Never Never Affair": Mandy Stevenson (Barbara Feldon) is an UNCLE Portuguese translator who wants excitement. Napoleon Solo feels sorry for her so he send her out on a fake mission to get Waverly's tobacco and Mandy mistakenly takes an important microfilm that THRUSH is after. Napoleon and Illya search the streets looking for her before THRUSH gets to her. Eventually, Mandy and Napoleon are caught by THRUSH leader Victor Gervais (Cesar Romero). The only thing is, the microfilm is on a microdot and Mandy has hidden it so well that THRUSH can't find it!* I love, love, love this episode! Everyone's great in here; Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, and especially Barbara Feldon as Mandy Stevenson. She's great! The plot is good, everyone's acting is good, and it's so funny, yet serious where it's supposed to be. Here are a couple of my favorite parts. 1) When Mandy tries to convince Napoleon to give her a mission and Napoleon gives the fake mission and 'evasion pattern number 8', which is a fictional route. 2) When Napoleon tries to explain to Mr. Waverly and Illya about sending Mandy on a fake mission. Especially when Mr. Waverly asks what route she's going by and Napoleon says, "Evasion Pattern 6". The look on Mr. Waverly and Illya's faces are so funny! 3) In the beginning when Illya's trying to get away from THRUSH. 4) When Victor Gervais is trying to convince Mandy to tell him where the microdot is. She tells him, "Let me warn you. I don't crack under pressure." He says, "Not at all?" Mandy replies, "Not... noticeably, no." And basically the rest of the show is great.

Napoleon Solo uses Captain Kirk & 99 to help save the world!
Whoever put together Volume 1 in the "Man From U.N.C.L.E." Collection apparently decided the classic spy spoof series of the Sixties could not be marketed on its own merits and offers a pair of episodes featuring future television icons William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy from "Star Trek" and Barbara Feldon from "Get Smart." However, that does not take away from the surprising discovery that these are two of the best episodes from the show's first season. "The Project Strigas Affair" (Episode #9: November 24, 1964), finds Shatner and Peggy Ann Garner as a couple who are recruited for Napoleon Solo's scheme to stop a diplomat, played by Werner Kemperer of "Hogan's Heroes" fame, who is trying to heat up the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Technically Shatner and Nimoy are in some scenes "together," but they do not really act together. Still, this is there first appearance on screen together. This episode was written by Henry Misrock and directed by Joseph Sargent.

In "The Never-Never Affair" (Episode #25: March 22, 1965), Feldon plays Mandy Stevenson, a translator at U.N.C.L.E. who wants excitement and gets more than she bargained for. Solo sends her out to get more pipe tobacco for Mr. Waverly, but tells her it is a secret mission. Of course she ends up with a microdot containing key information about THRUSH., which means bad guy Victor Gervais (Cesar Romero, the Joker on "Batman") is after poor Mandy. "The Never-Never Affair" is one of the best lighthearted episodes from the series, although Illya Kuryakin again gets little to do. Also directed by Sargent, this was writer Dean Hargrove's first "U.N.C.L.E." episode. Here we have one of the few times Volume 1 of a video collection of a television series actually has nothing but great episodes on it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Doesn't have the greatest of plots, but still fun to watch!
Volume 5 has episodes "The Off-Broadway Affair" and "The Take Me To Your Leader Affair", both which appeared on Man from UNCLE's third season. The Man from UNCLE series is one of my favorite TV series ever to watch! But I must confess, these episodes do not have great plot (thus the 3 stars) but still I love the episodes! Lots of funny parts! The main characters are Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn, "Bullit" and "The Magnificent Seven") and favorite the enigmatic and quiet Russian, Illya Kuryakin played to perfection by actor David McCallum (another great movie with him is "The Great Escape").

Episode 69 "The Off-Broadway Affair": When an off-broadway actress is killed after trying to contact UNCLE, Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) are sent to investigate. They feel that the murdered actress had information about how THRUSH has recently been getting information through UNCLE's main computers. With the help of understudy, Janet Jarrod (Shari Lewis), they go up against THRUSH agents Machina (Leon Askin) and Linda (Joan Huntington) before anymore of UNCLE's valuable information is stolen. * A so-so episode with fun Shari Lewis, who I'm sure everyone knows her from her TV show, "Lamb Chops". We get to see her sing "All God's Children Have Rhythm" and watch her perform the song "Stand Up and March". And what a surprise, we get to see David McCallum perform his own show "A Man is a Horn" while he is working undercover! Lots of funny lines throughout the whole show, my favorite is in the beginning where Illya says, "I seems a trifle unfair Napoleon. You get to dally around with a lush, young actress while I go prowling around in a dirty basement." But the reason this episode is so-so is because of some parts in the plot which were pretty stupid.

Episode 75 "The Take Me to Your Leader Affair": Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin are sent to scientist Adrian Cool's (Woodrow Parfrey) whose instruments are pointing out that a UFO is approaching the earth! When his daughter, Coco (Nancy Sinatra, the great Frank Sinatra's daughter), is kidnapped along with Illya by power-mad millionaire Simon Sparrow (Paul Lambert), it's up to Napoleon Solo to learn why. With the help of Corinne (Whitney Blake), Napoleon learns that Sparrow is going had faked the approaching UFO to secure power for himself. * Another episode which lacks plot, I still love it for some really great parts. UNCLE regular Woodrow Parfey this time gets to play the good guy. I really like all the parts with Illya and Coco. Coco flirts a lot and gets to kiss him! And for David McCallum fans, I'm sure you'll be interested to find that he gets to play the guitar, plus perform a duet with Sinatra the song which he wrote himself! And, of course, not only does Illya get the girl, Napoleon gets his own girl, the very pretty Whitney Blake.

Horrific stuff!
Both episodes were horrible, pure examples why the show went down the drain. Forget the guest stars. They don't save the episodes' silly quality. Save your cash.

The Off-Broadway and Take Me To Your Leader Affairs
In "The Off-Broadway Affair", UNCLE's arch-enemy, THRUSH, has found a way to infiltrate their top secret computer files and wreak havoc with the information they have discovered. Can a musical performance by Illya and help from an aspiring actress (Shari Lewis) save the day or is UNCLE doomed?

In "The Take Me To Your Leader Affair", a unappreciated astronomer discovers an asteroid hurling towards the earth. Napoleon and Illya are deployed to deal with the situation, but Illya is captured while trying to save the scientist's kidnapped daughter (Nancy Sinatra). Features a great singing duet. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Terrific first season episodes!
Volume 17 has episodes "The Quadripartite Affair" and "The Giuoco Piano Affair", both which appeared on Man from UNCLE's first season and are one of the first episodes. The Man from UNCLE series is one of my favorite TV series ever to watch! The main characters are Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn, "Bullit" and "The Magnificent Seven") and my favorite the enigmatic and quiet Russian, Illya Kuryakin played to perfection by actor David McCallum (another great movie with him is "The Great Escape").

EPISODE 3 "THE QUADRIPARTITE AFFAIR": In Yugoslavia, Marion Raven's (Jill Ireland) father is killed because of his discovery of a plot to overthrow governments with the use of a fear gas. Gervaise Ravel (Anne Francis) and Harold Buffington (John Van Dreelen) are behind the plot and have Marion to be watched. Also working for them is Colonel Adam Pattner, (Richard Anderson, from "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman" series). Solo and Illya are assigned to find out where the fear gas is being made and to destroy it along with the help of Marion and native Yugoslavian Millan Horth (Roger C. Carmel).

Great episode and this is the first Man from UNCLE tape that I bought. Illya Kuryakin fans will most definitely love this episode since he gets to do a lot, plus he gets a love interest. The thing is that Marion, Jill Ireland, is in real life David McCallum's wife (though unfortunately she doesn't seem to act or do very well in this episode). Besides this episode, she will later on play in also "The Tiger Are Coming Affair" and "The Five Daughters Affair". And since this affair was supposed to be a two-parter with "The Giuoco Piano Affair" but was made into two separate episodes, she will return in her role as Marion Raven along with the same villains Ravel and Bufferton. We also get to see May Featherly as the beautiful UNCLE agent Heather McNabb, who occasionally appeared on UNCLE's first season episodes, one example "The Neptune Affair".

EPISODE 7, "THE GIUOCO PIANO AFFAIR": Gervaise Ravel (Anne Francis) and Harold Buffington (John Van Dreelen) are back again and on the run. UNCLE wants to get them once and for all. Napoleon concocts a plan to use Marion Raven (Jill Ireland) as bait for them. At first Marion is dead set against it but with a little persuasion from Illya (she really does like him!), agrees to help. According to plan, Marion is kidnapped by Ravel and Buffington to be used as a bait to get the UNCLE agents. Of course Napoleon and Illya are ready to catch the crooks and save Marion.

In my opinion, I like this episode better then The Quadripartite Affair. The title of this episode comes from the chess move called the Giuoco Piano where the players force the Queen to make her move (but of coures the White Knight, Illya, comes to the rescue!!!).Jill Ireland does a much better job in this episode, acts her parts just right and says her lines to perfection. She plays a little stronger role, especially in the beginning where she argues with Illya. Throughout the whole episode you can tell she's trying very hard to get Illya's attention! The humor is great and some of the best scenes are both the beginning and end party scenes at Marion's apartment. Some of the guests you can tell are Richard Donner (UNCLE director as a drunk), Norman Felton (UNCLE creator as a chess player), Sam Rolfe (UNCLE pilot scriptwriter as a Texan) and associate producer Joseph Calvelli (UNCLE writer as a writer). When asked how it felt to direct himself, Richard Donner said with a tongue-in-cheek answer, "I was the most versatile actor I've ever worked with" (trivia from "The man from UNCLE book" by John Heitland).

I very much highly recommend this Man from UNCLE Volume 17. For other good first season episodes, I also recommend Volume 1 which includes "The Project Strigas Affair" and "The Never Never Affair". Volume 3 has also two very good second season episode's included, "The Deadly Toys Affair" and "The Minus X Affair". But I should say that all of UNCLE's episodes are good!

Illya and Napoleon try to stop Harold and Gervaise
Volume 17 of the "Man from U.N.C.L.E." videotape series contains a pair of first-rate episodes from the first season, both directed by Richard Donner. Actually, it is a two-part story, but the two parts did not come in consecutive episode, which is certainly a nice touch. "The Quadripartite Affair" (#3, October 6, 1964), is the first episode where Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) takes the lead. Four conspirators are trying to seize power in an Eastern European country. Gervaise Ravel (Anne Francis) and Harold Buffington (John Van Dreelen) are the couple running the plan, while McCallum's then wife, Jill Ireland, plays Marion Raven, the innocent young woman caught up in the whole thing. Illya has to over come a fear-inducing gas and while he does derail the plot, the evil couple escapes. The fight continues in "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (#7, November 10, 1964), and is actually the better of the two episodes. Certainly it is the funnier of the pair, especially since Marion gets to have an adventure with Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn), while still being sweet on Illya, as his partner tries to finish off the villainous love birds. Meanwhile, Harold and Gervaise are having their own problems since he thinks she does not love him as much as he loves her, even though he finances all her evil plans. You have to love master criminals with marital problems. This is also my favorite title in the series; it refers to the gambit in chess where you force an opponent to move out their Queen. Of course, it describes the plot perfectly, but it is also just a very neat idea. In these episodes everything just clicks.

The Quadripartite Affair and The Giuco Piano Affair
These two episodes were at first going to be made into a two parter but was changed to two different episodes. The two episodes has lots of Illya and his former wife, Jill Ireland. Their both great, and so is Napoleon. I love the party scenes at Marion Raven's (played by Jill Ireland) house in the Giuco Piano Affair!

These episodes for any Illya fan!
The Quadripartite Affair and the Giuoco Piano Affair is a must see! For those who love Illya will enjoy them. Jill Ireland is very funny in the Giuodo Piano affair. I love the party scenes! You'll laugh at the funny parts!

not the best but better than average
These two episodes were filmed and telecast as separate episodes but fit easily into one two-hour show as they were filmed to be released as a two-hour theatrical film. While they don't represent the best efforts of the first season, which was clearly the show's best, they are nevertheless superior to anything in the second and third seasons and much of the fourth. The best scene is Solo's attempt to track Ann Francis on a yacht during a party. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Boris Karloff in a third-rate Phantom of the Opera ripoff
This 1944 film directed by George Waggner was Boris Karloff's first film in Technicolor. Karloff plays Dr. Hohner, who once murdered the great opera star Marcellina (June Vincent) because her career was more important than their love. Ten years later he hears that Angela (Susanna Foster), has been chosen to sing "The Magic Voice." Hohner believes Angela's voice is the reincarnation of his dead Marcellina, and vows to prevent her from singing in the opera. If this sounds somewhat familiar then it will not be surprising that "The Climax" was filmed on the sets first built for Lon Chaney's 1925 version of "The Phantom of the Opera." Based on the play by Edward J. Locke, "The Climax" had been filmed before in 1930 with Jean Hersholt, although the Karloff version is much more of a costume drama. "The Magic Voice," the operetta that Angela is supposed to sing, consists of musical themes by Chopin and Schubert that were adapted by Edward Ward. This is a below average horror film that has a certain uniqueness because Dr. Hohner tries to stop Angela by first hypnotizing her into believing she can never sing again and then trying to use mental telepathy to stop her. The chief charm is the singing of Susanna Foster rather than the menacing shenanigans of Karloff's character.

State of the art Technicolor the real star here.
Slow moving tale of mad doctor on the loose in the Vienna Opera is not as sinister as one would hope. Karloff is okay and Sondergaard good as the watchful housekeeper, but it is the state of the art Technicolor - here perfectly and impeccably restored - that is the real star. Watch for this reason alone. Sumptuous color design. Oscar nom for Art Direction but it deserved nods for Costumes and Score as well.

The singing is top drawer,horror weak.
This film is an obvious follow up to Phantom of the Opera ,showcasing Susanna Foster.As in "Phantom" she is superb. Karloff does his best with a weak script.Turhan Bey acts like a lovesick teenager for most of the film.Color and staging, as in "Phantom", is outstanding.No one sings like Foster;not Durbin, MacDonald or any of filmdoms canarys.She is one of a kind!View it for the music if for no other reason.Oh yes,Foster and her clothes are gorgeous. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

7 wonders--terrible directing
The director of the fourth UNCLE season wanted the show to return to a serious vein after the much-too-silly third season. He went too far in the other direction, however, and ruined it completely. There is no banter between the stars whatsoever. The camera angles are absolutely ridiculous. The scenes are agonizingly drawn out to fill the two hours. UNCLE was pure gold in the beginning, and hugely popular. The network should have known that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The Last Episode: "The Seven Wonders Of The World Affair"
In one of history's great letdowns, "The Man From UNCLE" series ended with this two-part depressant. It seemed as though the entire crew and cast of UNCLE simply gave up before this episode was even filmed.

First, the plot is ridiculous: a former UNCLE agent decides to create a cultish sect, headquarter it in the Himalayas, and, together with six other intellectual "wonders of the world", blanket the planet with a docility gas, through which these seven can control the actions of everyone. Why did UNCLE even bother getting involved? Because the villain slips through the plot holes, thereby coming very close to pulling off his dastardly plan.

Horrible acting abounds, especially from the auxiliary cast. There isn't enough material in the story to justify a two-part episode. The teaser to "Part I" is enough to drive one into the bathroom. Through nauseating use of the wide-angle lens, the wife of the wayward UNCLE agent rescues a THRUSH agent hopelessly trapped in the upper level of a mansion. Not only do the wife and THRUSH agent escape, but Solo and Kuryakin's car is destroyed by a remote-controlled, window-mounted missile launcher in the mansion. Please.

Because this is the final UNCLE episode, "Seven Wonders" falls into the fourth season of the series, during which drastic facelifts were applied to the series. In the hands of Season Four producer Anthony Spinner, UNCLE, which had previously enjoyed wacky antics akin to "Get Smart". Spinner wanted no part of this, and threw UNCLE in the cold storage room to harden it up for the fourth and suicidally-final season. Humor was basically excommunicated for the season, and it kicks off right away with "The Summit-Five Affair" (a man's brain is destroyed during the teaser). By the time "Seven Wonders" rolled around, this formula was well-absorbed into the UNCLE schema. Plot and dialogue, therefore, really don't matter in these episodes. The morbid music, combined with desolate scenes of a weary, bombed-out Solo staggering through the Himalayas, only to be apprehended by THRUSH and sentenced to death; and the final scene, during which (here come the spoilers....oops, too late) the coffin of the wayward UNCLE agent is loaded onto a plane, thus ending the episode, and, sadly, the series.

"Seven Wonders" is an important UNCLE episode, if for no other reason than because it is the last one, but it leaves a sour, depressed, disheartened taste in the mouth. Buy at your own risk. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

US only!
The movie-length episodes on this one are great, so much so I had one imported to my house in England (cause you can't get U.N.C.L.E stuff over here). Watch out though, one of the episodes was turned into a TV movie and is often shown on TNT... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

James Garner vs. Clint Eastwood in a superb western comedy.
This is required viewing and a unique experience for Clint Eastwood admirers since he has a huge role as a colorful but loathesome gunfighter/villain and plays it sublimely well. Edgar Buchanan (the marvelous character actor that played "Uncle Joe" on "Petticoat Junction") and Abby Dalton round out the guest cast of this sensational episode of "Maverick" with James Garner. Bret Maverick (Garner) and Eastwood are at loggerheads over Dalton and the sequences illustrating Eastwood's quick-draw ability and Garner's reactions to it are extremely funny and perfectly played straight. The saloon fistfight between Garner and Eastwood is riveting and Maverick's gentle friendship with Buchanan's character is beautifully drawn. This was the first episode of "Maverick" to be offered on video and with good reason. No one could possibly be disappointed with this episode of my favorite television series.

Bret Maverick faces John Wesley Hardin in a gunfight
In his only Warner Bros. TV appearance, Clint Eastwood guest stars as Red Hardigan, a local tough-guy who is itching to provoke James Garner as Bret Maverick into a showdown. Red is jealous that "Maver-ack" is showing too much attention to Carrie Christiansen, played by Abby Dalton. But Red has to wait in line when notorious gunslinger John Wesley Hardin arrives in Sundown and "calls out" Bret. Episode also features Jack Kelly as brother Bart Maverick. Originally aired: Feburary 1, 1959. (This review is a paraphrase of the WB video release box cover review.) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Green Opal and Dove Affair, Both 1st Season Episodes
"The Green Opal Affair" and "The Dove Affair" are both 1st season episodes. Not one of my favorite episodes.

Episode 6 "The Green Opal Affair": UNCLE gets a new recruit when suddenly, he goes out of control. Before he drops into unconsciousness, he says Green Opal and the name Walter Brach (Carroll O'Connor). They find out that Walter Brach is an eccentric man who yearly visits an area called the Green Opal. No one knows why he goes there. Napoleon on orders goes to investigate, going undercover by being hired as a temporary secretary to Brach. When the arrive at Green Opal, he joins up with Chris Linnel (Joan O'Brien), a woman who is kidnapped by Brach's men. They are both captured and we find out that Brach is really a THRUSH agent. THRUSH has developed a way to control people's mind, making them completely loyal to THRUSH. They have kidnapped many people from all over the world and operated them from Green Opal. Brach has plans to use Chris to get through to her genius husband and Napoleon to get into UNCLE.* This is one episode I don't like that much. For one thing, it's very serious and unlike the other episodes, not much humor. Another reason I don't like it so much because Napoleon works 'solo', without the help of Illya. I think the best episodes are the ones in which both of them are in it.

Episode 12 "The Dove Affair": Napoleon goes to Eastern Europe to get the pin of a dove which he knows nothing about from a nation's leader, except that the leader is assassinated by THRUSH. Napoleon steals the pin of the leader's body and tries to get out of the country. But THRUSH is right behind and tries to catch him. Napoleon gets on a train out of the country with the help of an Eastern European spy, Satine (Ricardo Montalban). Satine also wants the dove pin but Napoleon hides it on the train. Satine then tells Napoleon that the reason that the pin is so important is that engraved on the wings of the dove are the names of countless THRUSH agents. They decide to work together along with an American teacher (June Lockhart) to get out of the country safely.* This is a so-so episode with great Ricardo Montalban. It is pretty serious and not that much funny lines or anything. No Illya at all in this one. Another UNCLE episode with a Lost in Space actress (June Lockhart) like in "The Neptune Affair" (1st season) with Marta Kristen. Ricardo Montalban also appeared in "The King of Diamonds Affair" (2nd season).

Green Opal Affair / Dove Affair
The Green Opal Affair and Dove Affair are great though I put only 4 stars since Illya doesn't come out almost at all! I wish he came out more often in the Green Opal Affair. The Green Opal Affair is interesting and I like the beginning where Illya looks at Napoleon when Napoleon is wearing his disguise and thick glasses. I loved Ricardo Montalban in the Dove Affair! He's such a great actor!

Green Opal is a Great Episode- one of my favorites? Yes!
I remember this episode as a kid and loved it as an adult. It has this oriental guy in it that looks like "Oddjob" from Goldfinger that gives Solo nasty looks through the first half hour. Finally there is the end fight scene with Solo using a wrapped up towel as a weapon. It's B&W (black and white) for all those post 60's people out there. But the video quality of this series is very good and if you are a fan of U.N.C.L.E repeats this is one that you'll watch more than once. Even my nine year old daughter gets a kick out of them too! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Hot Number and The Suburbia Affair
The Hot Number Affair is an episode about a dress( a hot number) with a pattern that is a secret code and the Thrush people want it.This episode is built around pop singing duo Sonny And Cher who play Jerry and Ramona.Ramona(Cher) wears the "hot number" and doesn't remember where she left it until it's brought in from the cleaners.Jerry(Sonny Bono) designed the hot number that Ramona wears and Jerry has a crush on Ramona.The popular Sonny and Cher song "I Got You Babe" plays in the background.The stock music uses kazoos throughout the episode which may be irritating to some but I found it to be humorous.
"The Suburbia Affair" has Napoleon and Illya move temporarily to the suburbs.These two guys even divide up the household duties on cooking and cleaning.The so-called milkman sends them milk that appears to blowup.What a mess for them to clean up.Illya even gets to drive a ice cream truck.In one scene Napoleon and Illya almost sound like an old married couple when they begin to argue.I've seen a episode guide on "The Hot Number Affair" as an worst offering of the series.To me it's not that bad of an episode for 1967 compared to what tv executives put on nowadays. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Iron Trail
Wish that there were more movies like the Cheyenne series on VHS today. They are great movies for the whole family to watch. I'd like to purchase others if they ever are made for VHS. I especially like Clint Walker westerns.

very good western exciting
This video was excellent. I am surprised that more episodes of this series have not been released. But if any one wants to see a good western this is one that is a must see. Dennis Hopper is great as a Billy the Kid type outlaw. Clint Walker is great as Cheyenne. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A True Horror Classic
Chaney plays a man who is immune to electricity. He is turned into a monster by a mad doctor and goes on a rampage escaping from prison and killing the Doctor and the prison wardon. A great movie for halloween

Classic 1940s horror/thriller
Man Made Monster is an excellent example of Universal Studios' work during the 1940s. This neat little B picture has great mood and art design, some good special effects, and excellent performances by Lon Chaney Jr. in another of his sympathetic parts, and Lionel Atwill playing another of his (almost) over-the-top mad doctor roles. Highly recommended.

Super black & white chiller from a master monster creator
Lon Chaney, Jr's role will evoke sympathy. Some light hearted moments as well. Though not as campy as "Indestructable Man" (another Chaney film from the same era)to this viewer this film has the same "feel" to it. The ending is awesome. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An Illya Special
These two episodes are obviously designed for the fans of Illya. He's in both of them, and Solo is nearly non-existant. The Arabian Affair has fun with Illya convincing a tribe of Bedouins that he is the son of Lawrence of Arabia. Michael Ansara, as always, makes a good Arab sheik, and Phyllis Newman isn't bad as his headstrong daughter. She gets to hold her own in some exchanges with Illya. The plot, as always, is ever so slightly over the top, but everyone seems to be taking it with the non-serious attitude that made this show fun.

The second show, the Foreign Legion Affair has Illya parachuting off into the desert with a pretty stewardess to escape the Thrush villians. This results in an out -of-the-frying-pan into-the-fire situation, since they are promptly captured by a Foreign Legionnaire commandant, played by Howard da Silva, who thinks they are spies (well, he's partially right) but also doesn't know the legion has been disbanded. Like Phyllis Newman in the Arabian Affair, the stewardess gets to hold her own against Illya, and he actually smiles at her. They made a good match in this episode, inspite of her habit of biting people, Illya included, when she gets stressed out. One of the best scenes is on the plane when she asks him if he'd like coffee, tea, or milk, and to get rid of her, Illya retorts in a snappy way, "borscht". She doesn't turn a hair and answers, "cabbage or beet?" Obviously, this is an interesting woman, and unlike most of the heroines of the time (the mid 60s) she gets to take an active part in her own rescue! A good episode.

"The Arabian Affair" and "The Foreign Legion Affair"
This is a must have for Illya-philes. Both episodes showcase him extensively and, I think, well. There are some great shots of "The Illya Look" where everyone around him want to run screaming. Not too much by way of stupid moves in this one, definitely a plus.

"The Arabian Affair": Illya gets knifed and taken by a band of desert dwellers. The daughter of the leader is intent on selling him for a new camel. The Russian gains the support of the tribe by pretending to be Lawrence of Arabia's son. He then leads them on a raid on a THRUSH outpost where they are doing experiments on some flesh-melting chemical. All and all, an enjoyable romp. Even my 10 year old son liked this one.

"The Foreign Legion Affair": Not as good as the first, but still worth watching. Again, some great shots of "The Look". Illya is carrying microfilm that THRUSH wants. He ends up having to jump out a plane in a tandem jump with the stewardess and they land in the middle of the desert hundreds of miles from civilization. They find an old outpost of the Foreign Legion where the commandant and his faithful Lt. are the only ones left. The commandant does not realize the Legion is now defunct. A few moments of "Illya you know better than to do that", but what can we expect from the 60s? Another entertaining watch.

If you are a Robert Vaughn/Napoleon Solo fan, this is probably not the best video for you because there isn't much of him in it.

Not a good example of UNCLE's best, but still watchable
Volume 10 has "The Arabian Affair" and "The Foreign Legion Affair", both which appeared in Man from UNCLE's 2nd season. Although "Man from UNCLE" is my favorite TV show, as I said, these two episodes are not a good example of UNCLE's best, but still enjoyable in a way.

Episode 36, "The Arabian Affair" has Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) going to the Arabian desert to find THRUSH's new vaporizing machine. Instead he is captured by a local tribe. Though he emplores the tribe chief Sulador (Michael Ansara) to let him go, Sulador refuses, saying that his daughter, Sophie (Phyllis Newman), wants to keep Him to trade him for a camel. In New York, Napoleon Solo (Robert Vauhn) finds out that THRUSH agents are always eliminated when the retire. With this valuable information, he convinces a retiring THRUSH agent, David Lewin (Robert Ellenstein), to learn where THRUSH's base in Arabia is. Lewin and Napoleon are taken to the base, where they meet up with Illya and the tribe, whose confidence he had gained. Together, they launch an attack on the base. * Kind of a stupid plot if you ask me. Some of the humor was funny, some weren't. The next episode if you ask me is much more fun.

Episode 51, "The Foreign Legion Affair" finds Illya stealing THRUSH code documents. While flying over a desert in a private airplane, the plane is hijacked by THRUSH agents. Illya manages to parachute out of the airplane with a stewardess, Barbara (Danielle DeMetz) with the documents. They wander in the desert and after a time finds an abandoned Foreign Legion post run by Captain Basil Calhoun (Howard Da Silva). The Captain, thinking that Illya and Barbara are enemies, holds them prisoner while Napoleon races to find them before THRUSH does. * A much better episode than "The Arabian Affair". One reason is because of Danielle DeMetz. She is one of my favorite UNCLE guest stars, her starring in also "The Come with Me to the Casbah Affair" (3rd season) and also "The Five Daughters Affair" (3rd season). In all three episodes she plays a great role. She's so funny! Another reason is that this episode has plenty of David McCallum to see.

If you want my advice and you want to by some UNCLE tapes, I suggest you buy Volume 1, 3, 10, 17, and 21 before you buy this tape. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not the best but definitely entertaining!
"The Concrete Overcoat" is a two part episode made during "The Man from UNCLE"'s third season (1966-1967). The "Man from UNCLE" featured actors Robert Vauhn and David McCallum as spies for an international organization headed by Alexander Waverly played by veteran actor Leo G. Carrol. Robert Vaughn plays Napoleon Solo, the debonair and suave UNCLE spy. With plenty of charm and tongue-in-cheek wit, always expect him to 'get the girl' :). David McCallum is Russian agent Illya Kuryakin, the enigmatic and quiet partner of Napoleon Solo. Together, the two agents make quite a pair as they save the world from villains and evil bad guys from THRUSH.

Episodes #70 & #71, "The Concrete Overcoat Affair Pt. 1 & 2": Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuraykin travel to Italy to discover THRUSH's newest plan to conquer the world. They find out that THRUSH agent Louis Strago (Jack Palance) has allied with Nazi scientist Dr. Von Kronen (Ludwig Donath) to use heavy water to divert the Gulf Stream. But before the two agents can report back to New York, they are separated and Napoleon finds himself having to hide under the bed of Pia Monteri (Letitia Roman). But enough after escaping a shotgun wedding with Pia's Gradmama (Penny Santon) holding the gun, troubles don't stop there. While the UNCLE agents are trying to find Strago and stop his plans, Pia's family feels her honor has been compromised. Therefore, the girl's American uncles, retired Prohibition-era gangsters "Fingers" Stilleto (Eduardo G