To Trap a Spy

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.

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!!!

As a loyal follower of the Man from U. N. C. L. E. When first broadcast on NBC in the 1960's, I recently had the chance to revisit "To Trap A Spy" on a compendium DVD set of films from this series. Several people have referred to the notion of Pat Crowley as a weak link in the film. In the first year of this TV series, the weekly story usually revolved around an outside person being drawn into a spy caper either by accident or deliberately (as in this film). The lack of gadgetry in the film is a reflection of it being based on the earlier Bond films where Bond's skills were the focus rather than exotic gadgetry. As the Bond films moved into the gadgetry obsession, "The Man from U. N. C. L. E. Followed suit. As a result, the earlier 1st year episodes of this TV series tended to be more serious and believable than in the later years of the series. "To Trap A Spy" serves as a snapshot of a TV series that attempted to be appealing to both young and old during its outset. The music as one person mentioned was not jazzy and swinging. This was as Jerry Goldsmith envisioned. It was to be a hard hitting, serious TV theme that did not try to be cute or swinging. I imagine you "had to be there" to truly appreciate the intent of this show and the movies derived from the TV episodes. Just my thoughts!

An UNCLE agent is killed relaying a message to UNCLE about an assassination which is due to be carried by WASP killer Andrew Vulcan (also a wealthy businessman). When a trio of WASP agents carry out a mission to infiltrate and destroy UNCLE HQ to try and kill whoever got the information, UNCLE know it is serious. They look to get someone close to Vulcan quickly and opt for a high school sweetheart, Elaine May Donaldson. They put Elaine in the guise of being rich but widowed and arrange a chance meeting at a party. Meanwhile her handler, UNCLE agent Napoleon Solo tries to infiltrate Vulcan heavily guarded chemical plant.

Taken from the two earliest episodes of the UNCLE tv series, this film clearly shows itself to be the point from which an enjoyable series developed rather than a series that was in it's stride. First of all the film lacks that enjoyable tongue in cheek humour that the series had throughout. It is still amusing and playful but not quite to the same degree. The plot is as good as other UNCLE films though and it does move along quite well, only the ending seems a little unsatisfactory and didn't quite make sense to me.

Although a version of the UNCLE theme is used it isn't in it's `purest' form and sounds a little too funky. The biggest clue that this is an early UNCLE is the fact that Illya Kuryakin has two scenes - both of which he is portrayed as a junior agent with little English, rather than Solo's partner. As someone used to the `Solo gets girls/Illya gets action' formula it was disappointing to see him play so minor a role. Likewise there was no Mr Waverly and the guy in the UNCLE head role couldn't touch him for the role.

Apart from these two key roles, Vaughn looks very slick and young and is able to carry the film himself despite the hole left by McCallum's absence. He is funny and charming and good with the action stuff. Crowley is OK but a little too moaney for my tastes. A much better girl comes in the form of Luciana Paluzzi - the first of many beautiful Italian women who featured in UNLCE. Here she is drop dead gorgeous and quite playful with her dialogue - her and Vaughn have an easy rapport that works even better due to the relationship between their characters. Weaver is an OK villain but not that menacing.

Overall this is a good film for UNCLE fans but to be honest there are much better ones out there. Like the series itself, the early films are solid and show the seeds being planted, the middle films are the strongest and the last ones are weak. This is worth a watch but not UNCLE at their best.

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).