"Odd Man Affair": the complete Man From UNCLE 29th episode

- July 17, 2019

The Man From UNCLE Episode 29
"The Odd Man Affair"
Writer: Dick Nelson
Director: Joseph Sargent
Guests: Martin Balsam (Albert Sully), Barbara Shelly (Bryn Watson), Mister Zed (Ronald Long)
Filmed: 01-08 March 1965
Premiere: 19 April 1965
Places: English Channel, New York (USA), London (UK)
Acts Titles:
1 - "Paris to London Airdrop"
2 - "The Hyde Park Debate Society"
3 - "Look at Her Hands"
4 - "You're Mad - All of You"

Guest stars Martin Balsam and Barbara Shelley

The affair: On a plane to Paris, Illya Kuryakin is observed by Marcel Raymond. The pilot is ordered to hold Raymond, who locks himself in the bathroom, explodes a bomb and gets out through the hole. In New York UNCLE HQ, Alexander Waverly says Raymond was on his way to London for a meeting with left-wing extremists. Solo and Kuryakin goes to Albert Sully, a master of disguise. Sully once worked for the former OSS (the pre-CIA american intelligence organization) and was retired by UNCLE. They travel to London. Sully wants to work alone and finds the also retired spy Bryn Watson, who is a widow with two daughters. Sully asks Bryn to help find the extremists. They go to the Hyde Park. Sully is recognized by Ecks, who warns Mr. Zed that Raymond is in the park. Solo is injured. Kuryakin, Sully and Bryn goes to a Soho night club full of spies. Sully (acting as Raymond) finishes the alliance of the extremist. Sully says it will continue to discover plots and denounces them to UNCLE.

FYI - Martin Balsam (1919-1986) was one of the greatest (and least recognized) actors in Hollywood in the 1960s. He starred in remarkable films like Psycho (1960), The Waterfront (1954), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), The Anderson Tapes (1971) and Catch 22 (1971). This script is very sharp, dealing with a universal problem: the denial of retirement. The end is very positive about it. As everybody knows, THRUSH villains have a retirement plan. This combination of espionage and maturity reminds the future comic book (and movie) REDS (from 2010). The Man From UNCLE first season ends well, promising a very good second year.

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