How to Steal the World

1969 American film

March 7, 1969 (1969-03-07)

Running time

89 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

How to Steal the World is a 1968 American action–adventure film, taken from a two-part episode of the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as secret agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin.^[1] The film also stars Barry Sullivan,^[2] Eleanor Parker, Leslie Nielsen, Tony Bill,^[3] Peter Mark Richman, Albert Paulsen, Inger Stratton, Hugh Marlowe, and Dan O'Herlihy.^[1] It was originally telecast as the final episode of the series, "The Seven Wonders of the World Affair". The feature version is the only U.N.C.L.E. film not to include Jerry Goldsmith's theme music. The film was directed by Sutton Roley and written by Norman Hudis.^[1]

Plot

U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) investigate when fellow agent Robert Kingsley (Barry Sullivan) and European general Maximilian Harmon (Leslie Nielsen) disappear. Shortly afterward, five of the world's top scientists are mysteriously abducted. The trail leads to the Himalayas, where Kingsley has set himself up as a potential world dictator, hoping to use the combined talents of the scientists to build a device that will spread mind-controlling gas throughout the planet. However, his wife Margitta Kingsley (Eleanor Parker) has different plans for the gas.

Cast

Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo
David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin
Barry Sullivan as Robert Kingsley
Eleanor Parker as Margitta Kingsley
Leslie Nielsen as General Maximilian Harmon
Leo G. Carroll as Alexander Waverly
Tony Bill as Steven Garrow
Peter Mark Richman as Mr. Webb
Albert Paulsen as Dr. Kurt Erikson
Inger Stratton as Anna Erikson
Hugh Marlowe as Grant
Dan O'Herlihy as Prof. David Garrow

Release

"The Seven Wonders of the World Affair" was originally telecast as the final two episodes of the TV series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which aired on NBC on January 8, 1968 and January 15, 1968. The film was released on DVD on November 2, 2011 by Warner Archive Collection.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "How to Steal the World". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved May 17, 2024.
^ Britton 2006, p. 132.
^ Heitland 1987, p. 249.
^ "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: 8-Movie Collection". Warner Archive Collection. Burbank, California: Warner Home Video. November 2, 2011. ASIN B005JJCMNU. Retrieved November 19, 2016.

Sources

Britton, Wesley Alan (2006). Onscreen and Undercover: The Ultimate Book of Movie Espionage. Santa Barbara, Californiayear=2006: Praeger Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 978-0275992811.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
Heitland, Jon (1987). The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of a Television Classic (1st ed.). New York City: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 249. ISBN 978-0312000523.