MGM jumps into the secret service craze with this excellent show about the efforts of the United Network Command for Law Enforcement to keep the bad guys from taking over the world. The group is headed by Alexander Waverly (Leo G.Carrol, TV’s “Topper”). His two main agents are Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum).
Pilot episode: September 22,1964 – “The Vulcan Affair” w/Patricia Crowley, Fritz Weaver, William Marshall and Ivan Dixon – The evil organization THRUSH raids U.N.C.L.E. headquarters in an effort to murder Waverly. Solo stops that plot. They wanted to stop him from showing Solo and Kuryakin information about chemical plant magnate Andrew Vulcan (Fritz Weaver).
There’s a plot to assassinate Sekue Asgumen (William Marshall), the leader of a new African nation and Vulcan is in charge of coordinating the plan. Solo is assigned to go to Washington,D.C. and stop it. He enlists the aid of Vulcan’s old college girlfriend Elaine (Patricia Crowley). She’s a suburban housewife with two kids. Solo has her pose as a rich widow. He sets her up with the right clothes and takes her to a party Vulcan is tossing for the African delegation.
At the party a THRUSH agent that was on the plane bringing Solo and Elaine to D.C. is there. She’s taking Elaine around and introducing her to important people. While Elaine was talking with Sekue, Vulcan spots her and gets reacquainted. One of his plant engineers spots Solo and plans are made to take care of him. Meanwhile, Solo gives Elaine some pills to drop in Sekue’s drink to prevent him from touring the plant. Sekue gets sick from the drink and Solo leaves. He doesn’t know that when his car reaches 50mph gas will come out of the dashboard knocking him out.
Vulcan is with Elaine in her hotel room. He’ll be back later to take her to a nightclub. When he leaves, Solo stumbles in. He wants her to convince Vulcan to take her to the chemical plant instead. She’s starting to doubt that Vulcan is a bad guy but goes along with the plan.
At the plant Vulcan and his guards along with Elaine spot a parachutist. The place is on high alert to get him. When they find him it’s just a dummy. Solo used the diversion to sneak in. It’s not long before he’s spotted. Now the episode picks up a lot of steam. It’s a great opening to a very entertaining series.
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