To Trap a Spy

Dynamic U. N. C. L. E. Agent Napoleon Solo has an explosive job to do. The evil scientific genius, Vulcan, head of the worldwide crime syndicate WASP, is determined to wreak havoc; Solo is equally determined to reach a fatal experimental reactor at the Vulcan chemical plant where menace is inescapable....

A witty and inventive the Man from UNCLE feature film mainly focuses on Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo who is out to stop a scientific genius named Vulcan. Though tongue-in-cheek, it's grittier than the other UNCLE feature films, and it's an exciting entry, which has some good action - and if that is not enough, there's Lucianna Palluzzi, guest starring as a villainess. Like in Thunderball, she's just as deadly and ravishing.

At the height of "spy mania" in the mid- 1960's, MGM sought to exploit their phenomenally successful "Man From UNCLE" TV series with low-budget, big screen adaptations of episodes that had been edited together. The admittedly cheap tactic was nevertheless effective. "To Trap A Spy" was released in the US in early 1966 as part of a double feature with "The Spy With My Face". Unlike the other adapted films that followed, this one wasn't based on a two-part TV epidode. It was derived from the pilot episode "The Vulcan Affair", that was broadcast in b&w, though shot in color for possible theatrical release. As with several of the UNCLE films that followed, certain sequences were shot especially for the theatrical version, most relating to sexual references that were deemed to hot for TV.

The film is more effective than one would think, and illustrates the origins of what was to be the weekly basis for UNCLE episodes: an innocent citizen (a la Hitchcock) is drawn into a caper of international intrigue involving UNCLE. In this case, Patricia Crowley is an everyday housewife who is recruited to thwart her old high school flame (Fritz Weaver), of late a millionaire megalomaniac. This formula of utilizing everday citizens was quickly abandoned. Purists will note the limited presence of David McCallum's Illya Kuryakin. As this was the pilot show, no one had forseen his eventual popularity with audiences, thus the lion's share of footage goes to Robert Vaughn's dapper and suave Napoleon Solo. Wil Kuluva appears as the UNCLE boss Mr. Allison, but in the actual series the character was replaced by Leo G. Carroll as the wonderfully eccentric Alexander Waverly. James Bond's "Thunderball" femme fatale, Luciana Paluzzi has some extended screen time as another bad girl, and keep an eye out for a blink-or-you'll-miss-him appearance by future Bond villain Richard ("Jaws") Kiel in the climax. All in all, a very enjoyable and nostalgic experience. Available only in the UK on Region 2 DVD.

As an UNCLE fan I've seen this as a TV episode and the pilot. But as I watch this movie on Amazon Prime (no plug intended) I'm very impressed by the plot and the writing. The extra Lancer footage at the beginning is draggy but later dialogue is snappy and witty. Sam Rolfe is listed as the writer.

Pat Crowley is excellent as the housewife-turned-socialite. Though it stretches credulity to think they would put her in mortal danger, there's a nice scene near the end when she admits she likes the glamour.

The photography is well done. And I just realized that I'm watching it in widescreen format, unlike the 4:3 television aspect ratio. It works quite well - I didn't notice anything being chopped off. I presume they planned for widescreen when filming.

As a kid I got my father to take me to see this in the theater. It was well worth it, since it was in color and had more scenes. It was a double-feature with "The Spy With My Face". I'm sure I was puzzled by the minor differences from TV. It would take many years before I learned the backstory. (Thank you Jon Heitland for your book on the series).

It was 1965, the height of the Bond craze, and my friend Chuck and I couldn't get enough 'Man From Uncle'. So Chuck's parents dropped us off at a local theater to see a DOUBLE BILL of 'Uncle' movies! Wow!! (To Trap a Spy and The Spy With My Face.) But before the movies began there was a Japanese cartoon shown. We thought it was just a regular old 5-minute cartoon, but soon realized it was feature-length 90-MINUTE CARTOON. With every passing minute my heart sank as I realized I would be home that Sunday much later than I'd promised- long after dinner. No matter, I was sent to my room without it. Ah, memories. Loved seeing 'Man From Uncle' in color on the big screen, though. Especially the high-speed transitions between scenes. Cool!!!

Top UNCLE agent Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) is assigned to prevent THRUSH hit-man Andrew Vulcan (Fritz Weaver) from assassinating Premier Ashumen (William Marshall), the leader of a primitive African nation who is visiting the States on a tour of Vulcan's factory. Solo enlists the help of Vulcan's former girlfriend Elaine May Donaldson (Patricia Crowley) and plants her as a rich widow in order to get close to Vulcan and prove to her that he is the evil doer that Solo says he is.

The Man From UNCLE was such a cult success in the UK that eight feature length films (made up of previously unaired episodes) were released in cinemas with virtually the British box office in mind. TO TRAP A SPY was the first film in the series and it is actually an extended version of the pilot episode, THE VULCAN AFFAIR (First aired: 22/09/1964), with extra footage that was considered too "adult" for television. Other changes were made such as in the TV version, THRUSH were the enemy organisation, but in the film they were renamed WASP. Also in the film, actor Will Kuluva plays UNCLE chief Mr Allison, whereas in the TV episode, Leo G Carroll played Mr Waverley and would do so for the remainder of the series.

To Trap A Spy stands as one of the best feature length outings from the TV series even though David McCallam fans will be disappointed as Illya Kuriyakin only appears in two scenes early on. Robert Vaughn is outstanding as Napoleon Solo portraying him as a super suave playboy and interestingly Luciana Paluzzi turns up as a beautiful THRUSH villain who attempts to seduce Solo to his death would later play much the same role in the Bond spectacular Thunderball. The plot may be thin but it is the nostalgia value that holds this film up after nearly forty years since it was first released.

Followed by: The Spy With My Face*, One Spy Too Many*, One Of Our Spies Is Missing, The Spy In The Green Hat (all 1966), The Karate Killers*, The Helicopter Spies* (both 1967) and How To Steal The World* (1968). The titles marked with an asterisk have now been released on DVD in the UK as a box set.