Celebrating Films of the 1960s & 1970s - U.N.C.L.E HQ

ROBERT VAUGHN INTERVIEW

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:55:00 -0500

Actor Robert Vaughn discusses his long career and his new film, The Magnificent Eleven, a UK-sports based movie loosely based on the classic Western The Magnificent Seven in which Vaughn co-starred with other stars-to-be. He humorously relates his greatest career satisfactions and disappointment (he won't get to play Hitler) and talks about his most embarrassing scene as The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Click here to read

HERE WE GO AGAIN: TOM CRUISE MAY NOW DO "MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E." FEATURE FILM

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 05:39:00 -0500

Since 1979, there have been rumors of a Man From U.N.C.L.E. big screen feature film. The near-miss opportunities date back so long that the TV classic's stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum were originally going to reprise their roles of super spies Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. For various reasons, each planned film project fell apart including a recent one in which George Clooney was to star. Now Guy Ritchie is the director of choice and Deadline reports that Tom Cruise is the latest major actor in talks to bring the film to reality. Fans are skeptical that the project will ever see the light of day and it is virtually certain it will be a hi-tech, modern day, SFX-packed spectacle that will have little in common with the TV series aside from its title. Click here for more

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. MOVIE THAT NEVER WAS

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:08:00 -0600

For decades the classic 1960s TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. has come close to being revived on the big screen. The closest that came to reality, however, were the low-budget features cobbled together from two-part episodes of the series and released theatrically. Since the late 1970s when series stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum were being wooed to star in a big screen version for MGM to the very recent past when director Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney planned to collaborate on an U.N.C.L.E. feature, fans have been repeatedly disappointed when these projects inevitably fall apart. There was a 1983 CBS TV reunion movie, Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. that starred Vaughn and McCallum but the merits of which are still debated in fan circles. In the case of the Soderbergh project, Clooney backed out of the film, citing back injuries, and Soderbergh griped that he couldn't get adequate funding for the retro-based spy flick. Rumors now have it that director Guy Ritchie may be attached to yet another U.N.C.L.E. film, but if history is any guide, fans should not get too enthused about this coming to reality, either. In fact, the web site HMSS Weblog makes the argument that maybe the show is best left in the past since most modern filmmakers don't seem to have a handle on those elements that made it so special. Click here to read

OUT OF THE PAST: ROBERT VAUGHN AND DAVID MCCALLUM ON LOCATION IN VENICE, 1966

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 05:50:00 -0600

Here's a real gem from MGM showing the beauties of Italy as a guise for promoting their upcoming slate of films. You can see rare footage of Man From U.N.C.L.E. stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum meeting up in Venice during the shooting of their separate feature films The Venetian Affair and Three Bites of the Apple. The promotional short even features footage of them together on a gondola. (Vaughn was supposed to make a cameo appearance in the McCallum film, but it never came about.) Kudos to the Warner Archive for finally releasing The Venetian Affair (click here for our review) and we hope they get around to Three Bites of the Apple which is an amusing comedy featuring McCallum in especially fine form as a tour guide taking around a zany group of tourists. The great supporting cast includes Sylva Koscina, Tammy Grimes and Harvey Korman.

ROBERT VAUGHN ANNOINTS "SOLOHOLICS" AS HIS OFFICIAL WEB SITE

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:14:00 -0600

Man from U.N.C.L.E. legend Robert Vaughn has approved the Soloholics web site run by Tammy Hayes as his official fan site. Soloholics provides the latest news on the non-stoppable Vaughn's latest appearances, films, stage productions, etc along with a host of rare and vintage photos from his career. Click here to view

TRIBUTES TO THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E AND FELIX LEITER

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:40:00 -0600

Malaysian writer Daniel Chan was obviously weaned on the spy craze of the 1960s. In his piece for The Malay Mail, he looks back on the connections between James Bond and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - and manages to also include the character of Felix Leiter. It's nice to see such appreciation in the international press for these old time spy favorites. Click here to read

WATCH ORIGINAL MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. TRAILER FOR "ONE SPY TOO MANY"

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:16:00 -0500

We love the cheesy but fun 1966 Man From U.N.C.L.E. feature film One Spy Too Many, cobbled together from the two-part episodes of The Alexander the Greater Affair with Rip Torn as a villain of Bondian standards. The film featured some extra sexy scenes shot exclusively for the feature film. These feature Yvonne Craig and Donna Michele and feature prominently in the original trailer.

TIME MAGAZINE 1965 MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. ARTICLE

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:44:00 -0500

It's worth a trip in the Cinema Retro Time Machine to travel back to 1965 to see how Time magazine portrayed Robert Vaughn, then 32 years old, as TV's answer to Horatio Alger in the starring role of Napoleon Solo, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Check it out here:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,839181,00.html

OUT OF THE PAST: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. MEETS THE KIDS FROM "PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES"

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 05:06:00 -0500

On the January 11 1966 episode of NBC sitcom Please Don't Eat the Daisies (inspired by the Doris Day/David Niven feature film), the kids suspect their father is a secret agent. This is reaffirmed when he has a chance encounter with Man From U.N.C.L.E. star David McCallum, in an early example of cross-promotion of two popular TV shows. The surprise ending has dad calling in someone to convince his boys that he is not a spy. To the surprise of no one, that person turns out to be McCallum's fellow U.N.C.L.E. star Robert Vaughn, seen here in a publicity photo. The show had the desired effect at the time, with kids enthusiastically talking about the cameos the next day. The only question we have is: where are those sweatshirts today? They would be worth a fortune on eBay!

(Thanks to reader Bill Parisho for the photo)

NORMAN FELTON, "MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E." PRODUCER, DEAD AT AGE 99

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:38:03 -0500

By Lee Pfeiffer

Producer Norman Felton has passed away at age 99. Born in London, Felton emigrated to America as a teenager and became a successful TV producer. By the mid-1950s, he was directing episodes of such high profile series as Robert Montgomery Presents and The Alocoa Hour. In the early 1960s, he produced the smash hit Dr. Kildare TV series, a spin-off of a successful 1940s film franchise. The show made Richard Chamberlain a star. Another series, The Lieutenant, was not successful but one of the stars, Robert Vaughn, impressed Felton. In 1964, Vaughn co-starred with David McCallum in the Bond-inspired TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. The show ran until 1968 and became an international phenomenon, spawning 8 feature films derived from two-part episodes. Felton also produced the less successful Girl From U.N.C.L.E. spin-off starring Stefanie Powers and Noel Harrison. Felton remained active in the TV industry through the 1970s before retiring. The U.N.C.L.E. phenomenon lives on, with director Guy Ritchie developing a big screen update. For more click here

ROBERT VAUGHN DISCUSSES HIS ROLE ON "CORONATION STREET" AND HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH STEVE MCQUEEN

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:18:00 -0600

McQueen and Vaughn between takes on The Magnificent Seven.

Vaughn plays a rich American visiting Coronation Street in the legendary British TV series.

Robert Vaughn is acting royalty in England, as evidenced by his nine years on Hustle and his appearances on the legendary Coronation Street. In a wide-ranging interview, he discusses this new venture as well as his friendship with Steve McQueen and his enthusiasm to do a cameo in a Man From U.N.C.L.E. feature film- if it ever gets off the ground!

ROBERT VAUGHN GETS PERSONAL

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:44:00 -0600

Robert Vaughn at the Players Club for a Cinema Retro tribute in 2009. The former Man From U.N.C.L.E's career has been red hot in the UK, where he just wrapped the 9th season of Hustle. He's also shooting a new feature film and will join the cast of Coronation Street. (Photo: Tom Stroud.)

In a fun and revealing Q&A with The Independent, Robert Vaughn opens up about his childhood, his personal likes and dislikes and his regrets in life. Click here to read

BLAST FROM THE PAST: SPY TOYS FOR 1966 HOLIDAY SEASON!

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:26:00 -0600

Here's a rarity from a Western Auto stores catalog for the 1966 Christmas holiday season: an abundance of those great toys tied in with the spy movie rage of the era. In addition to the generic non-licensed stuff, check out the ad for the Man From U.N.C.L.E. rifle and the James Bond shooting camera. If you had these in mint, boxed condition today, you could buy your own hollowed-out volcano from which you could plot to rule the world!

PRESS STILL PLAYING UP IMAGINARY DAVID MCCALLUM-ROBERT VAUGHN "FEUD"

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:00:00 -0600

McCallum and Vaughn jokingly grapple over possession of the Golden Globe awarded to The Man From U.N.C.L.E. in 1966. Despite both stars' assurances to the contrary, rumors of a "feud" between them have persisted for decades.

By Lee Pfeiffer

During the heyday of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. the press had a field day reporting that the show's stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum were locked in a bitter feud. In fact, both men got along famously. They rarely socialized, however, because Vaughn was one of Hollywood's swinging bachelors and McCallum had a wife and kids. At the end of a long day's work, Vaughn would take in the night life, while McCallum spent time with his family. Yet, the rumors still persist. The National Enquirer is spinning McCallum's reluctance to use his long-running hit show NCIS as a platform to reunite with Vaughn as evidence of bitter feelings toward his former co-star. Apparently, many NCIS viewers have been pushing to have Vaughn guest-star in an episode and McCallum's reluctance to agree to the reunion is reigniting old rumors about a feud.

Reached by Cinema Retro for comment, McCallum confirmed that he has always tried to keep the U.N.C.L.E. series separate from his other endeavors but it has nothing to do with his personal affection for Vaughn. He said that Vaughn fully understands his feelings and knows that any hint of a slight in his direction is a "total fabrication". In fact, McCallum did reunite with Vaughn for the 1983 TV movie Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. His respect for Vaughn also led him to co-star with him in a 1980s episode of The A Team, in which both actors were cast as Cold War adversaries.

A couple of years ago, I hosted a dinner for Vaughn at the Players club in New York, where we are both members. I invited McCallum to attend, but it seemed more like a Mission:Impossible scenario than anything related to U.N.C.L.E. McCallum said he was filming at the time and he doubted he would be able to show up. Vaughn said he probably wouldn't attend anyway because McCallum tends to loathe black tie events. Lo and behold, however, McCallum did adjust his schedule and showed up as a surprise guest, much to the delight of everyone. Vaughn was very moved -especially when David addressed the crowd and expressed his great respect for his former co-star in a wonderful and moving speech. So if there is a "feud", this is a pretty strange way of carrying it out. For more click here

(For Cinema Retro's coverage of the Vaughn dinner click here)

STEVEN SODERBERGH CRIES "U.N.C.L.E."- DROPS OUT OF FEATURE FILM PROJECT

nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:22:35 -0600

U.N.C.L.E. fans may have to settle for their DVD collections- it looks like the feature film won't happen.

We may have been the first media outlet to refer to the Man From U.N.C.L.E. curse years ago when we began writing about all the aborted attempts to transfer the classic TV series to the big screen. We certainly weren't the last to use that term, as indicated by the many web sites now commenting on yet the latest bad news relating to director Steven Soderbergh's long-planned U.N.C.L.E. feature film. Not only did George Clooney drop out of playing Napoleon Solo, but Bradley Cooper declined to replace him. Now Soderbergh appears to have dropped out of the project himself, citing budget decreases that would make it impossible for him to film a retro-based major film. For more click here