To Trap a Spy
Encyclopedia
To Trap a Spy is the feature length film version of the pilot episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
starring Robert Vaughn
and David McCallum
. It is the third and longest version of the same story. The original U.N.C.L.E. pilot "Solo" was filmed in color and, as was standard at the time for U.S. network television shows, shown primarily to network executives to gain their approval for a series. After the series was ordered the pilot episode was edited down to fit a one-hour timeslot, modified somewhat to - among other minor changes - substitute Leo G. Carroll
's character Alexander Waverley for that of Mr. Allison (played by Will Kuluva), and broadcast in black and white (as was the rest of the first season of the show). The movie version started with the color pilot footage, added in additional footage and subplots (also in color, and including a new subplot featuring the actress Luciana Paluzzi
), and was first released in Hong Kong in late 1964 and later shown in the U.S. as a double feature with The Spy with My Face
in early 1966.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
starring Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
and David McCallum
David McCallum
David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
. It is the third and longest version of the same story. The original U.N.C.L.E. pilot "Solo" was filmed in color and, as was standard at the time for U.S. network television shows, shown primarily to network executives to gain their approval for a series. After the series was ordered the pilot episode was edited down to fit a one-hour timeslot, modified somewhat to - among other minor changes - substitute Leo G. Carroll
Leo G. Carroll
Leo Gratten Carroll was an English-born actor. He was best known for his roles in several Hitchcock films and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Topper.-Early life:...
's character Alexander Waverley for that of Mr. Allison (played by Will Kuluva), and broadcast in black and white (as was the rest of the first season of the show). The movie version started with the color pilot footage, added in additional footage and subplots (also in color, and including a new subplot featuring the actress Luciana Paluzzi
Luciana Paluzzi
Luciana Paluzzi is an Italian actress. She is best known for playing SPECTRE assassin Fiona Volpe in the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball.-Career:...
), and was first released in Hong Kong in late 1964 and later shown in the U.S. as a double feature with The Spy with My Face
The Spy with My Face
The Spy with My Face is a 1965 spy-fi spy film based on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. television series. Robert Vaughn and David McCallum reprised their roles as secret agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin respectively. THRUSH tries to steal a super weapon by substituting a double for Solo.It is the...
in early 1966.
Plot
U.N.C.L.E. suspects that the U.S. industrialist and tycoon Andrew Vulcan, an officer of WASP (an international criminal organization), plans to kill Prime Minister Ashumen of the newly independent African nation of Western Natumba. Solo is assigned by Mr. Allison, the head of U.N.C.L.E. to thwart the assassination and find out why the assasignation is planned. Solo thereafter recruits Elaine May Donaldson, a college girlfriend of Vulcan's and who is now a suburban housewife, to help get information from Vulcan on his plans. Solo's thought is that only a personal connection can obtain the information, and Vulcan has neither wife nor close friends. Elaine is given the cover story of being a wealthy widow and is able to not only get Solo the details of the assassination plot, but drugs Ashumen so he is unable to take the tour of Vulcan’s factory which Solo believes will result in Ashumen’s death. Vulcan’s target, though, turns out to be two of Ashumen’s ministers who do not agree with his plans for having Vulcan set up factories in his country. With Ashumen as Premier and Vulcan running the primary industry there, Western Natumba would become a puppet nation of WASP. After a run-in (and brief romantic tryst) with WASP agent Angela, Solo finds out the truth, is captured along with Elaine, and left to die in what is supposed to look like an industrial accident. Solo and Elaine escape, rescue the ministers, and Ashumen and Vulcan die instead in the “accident” they themselves set up. Elaine is returned to her normal life, which she appreciates all the more after the excitement and danger of an U.N.C.L.E. adventure.Starring
- Robert VaughnRobert VaughnRobert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
as Napoleon Solo - David McCallumDavid McCallumDavid Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
as Illya Kuryakin - Luciana PaluzziLuciana PaluzziLuciana Paluzzi is an Italian actress. She is best known for playing SPECTRE assassin Fiona Volpe in the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball.-Career:...
as Angela - Fritz WeaverFritz WeaverFritz William Weaver is an American actor and voice actor.-Life and career:Weaver was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Elsa W. and John Carson Weaver. His mother was of Italian descent and his father was a social worker from Pittsburgh. Weaver attended Peabody High School...
as Andrew Vulcan - William MarshallWilliam Marshall-Politicians, noblemen and military leaders:*William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke , 12th-13th-century Anglo Norman nobleman*William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke -Politicians, noblemen and military leaders:*William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1146–1219), 12th-13th-century Anglo Norman...
as Sekue Ashumen - Eric BerryEric BerryJames Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in...
as Alfred Ghist - Pat CrowleyPat CrowleyPatricia "Pat" Crowley is an American film and television actress.Crowley was often confused with her acting contemporary Kathleen Crowley, who appeared as guest leading lady in different episodes of many of the same television series and is not related.Pat Crowley appeared in The Untouchables...
as Elaine May Donaldson - Rupert CrosseRupert CrosseRupert Crosse was an American television and film actor. Crosse was the first African American to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in the 1969 adaptation of William Faulkner's The Reivers....
as Nobuk - Billy Corcoran as Ronny
- Victoria ShawVictoria ShawVictoria Shaw was an Australian-born American actress.-Biography:Victoria Shaw was born Jeanette Ann Lavina Mary Elizabeth Elphick in Sydney. She studied modelling with June Dally-Watkins before making her Australian screen debut opposite Chips Rafferty in The Phantom Stockman...
as Gracie Ladovan - Ivan DixonIvan DixonIvan Dixon was an American actor, director, and producer best known for his series role in the 1960s sitcom Hogan's Heroes, for his role in the 1967 telefilm The Final War of Olly Winter, and for directing hundreds of episodes of television series...
as Aide - Richard KielRichard KielRichard Dawson Kiel is an American actor best known for his role as the steel-toothed Jaws in the James Bond movies The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker as well as the video game Everything or Nothing, and Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore...
as Guard (Uncredited)