"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." The When in Roma Affair (1967)

Director:

George Waggner

Writer:

Gloria Elmore (writer)

TV Series:

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964)

Original Air Date:

17 March 1967 (Season 3, Episode 26)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

Solo plants a stolen Thrush formula on an innocent woman tourist. Both UNCLE and Thrush are seeking the formula. |

Plot Keywords:

Walkie Talkie | Infrared Vision | Clothing Press | Rifle | Secret Entrance

Cast

Robert Vaughn	...	Napoleon Solo
David McCallum	...	Illya Kuryakin
Leo G. Carroll	...	Alexander Waverly
Julie Sommars	...	Darlene Sims
Cesare Danova	...	Count Cesare Guardia
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Sparks
Than Wyenn	...	Bruno
Sid Haig	...	Vito
Stuart Nisbet	...	George Sparks
Bill Corcoran	...	Sammy Sparks (as Billy Corcoran)
Sharyn Hillyer	...	Wanda
Benito Prezia	...	Bus Driver
Franco Corsaro	...	Clerk

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Solo & Kuryakin Go Looking For Perfume

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Solo has stolen a THRUSH formula and secreted it in a perfume atomizer. Wanting it back, the evil organisation chase him through the city. Cornered, he drops the atomizer into the purse of Darlene Simms ( Julie Sommars ), an unsuspecting American tourist. He then sets about trying to get it back with Illya's help.

THRUSH dispatches one of its agents, the handsome Count Cesare Guardia ( Cesare Danova ) to charm Darlene. Being somewhat naive, she is taken in by him. But he winds up falling for her.

The men from U.N.C.L.E. must not only find the atomizer but save Darlene from execution at the hands of THRUSH...

One of the few 'M.F.U.' episodes to be written by a woman, this is mediocre stuff, watchable but sandwiched between two dreadful instalments ( 'The Hot Number Affair' and 'The Apple A Day Affair' ), it must have seemed like a return to form at the time. We never find out what the formula is for, its obviously important but we're never told why. A bit more action would have helped. Darlene's romantic trysts with the Count take up far more time than is necessary.

In one scene, Illya tries to break into Darlene's room, only to be confronted by annoying American boy Sammy Sparks ( Billy Corcoran - later to become a successful T.V. director ) who demands Illya read him a bedtime story. Top marks to Illya for his restraint in not pushing the whining brat off the balcony.

Julie Sommars had previously played 'Mimi Doolittle' in Season 2's 'The Foxes & Hounds Affair'. Cesare Danova was 'Actor' in 'Garrisons Gorillas'. Kathleen Freeman, who plays 'Mrs.Sparks', co-starred in umpteen Jerry Lewis movies.

One of two Season 3 episodes to be produced by Irv Pearlberg, the other being the aforementioned 'The Apple A Day Affair'. This is the better of the two.

Another mystery - just what did Sammy want with an empty perfume atomizer?