The Man From UNCLE Episode 34: "THE Discotheque Affair"

- June 08, 2020

The Man From UNCLE
Episode 34
"The Discotheque Affair"
Writer: Dean Hargrove
Director: Tom Gries
Guests: Judy West (Sandy Wyler), Ray Danton (Vincent Carver), Harvey Lembeck (Ted Carter), Eric Braeden (Oakes)
Filmed: 06-13 August 1965
Premiere: 15 October 1965
Places: New York NY (EUA)

Judi West

The affair: in a New York street, a Madax Vacuum Cleaner truck parks in the company's garage and unload THRUSH’s weapons. Napoleon Solo breaks in and shoot all enemy agents. The van escapes but is interrupted by the bazooka shot of Illya Kuryakin. Vincent Carver, owner of the night club The Bealers (and a THRUSH operative), detonates a bomb. At UNCLE headquarters, Kuryakin tells Waverly that THRUSH are moving files to Eastern Europe and that they are probably temporarily hidden in New York. Illya must search the files. Napoleon (with a broken arm) should treat real estate issues with neighboring apartments sublet by UNCLE. In The Bealers there is a party for Ed Tiger with dancers a go go (including Sandy). THRUSH agent Oaks meet the owner of Bealers, Vincent Carver.

Ray Danton

FYI: Another nice episode, balancing adventure with comedy. One of its images is iconic: Illya Kuryakin in sunglasses playing acoustic bass with a jazz group at Bealer's. It is the very cool setting in 1965. Another striking scene is Napoleon Solo knocking THRUSH agents with one plastered arm. Curious and well made connection between the spy fiction, show business and pop art. Henchman Ted Tiger is played by Harvey Lembeck, who was a big hit as the villain Eric Von Zipper in the Beach Party movies (with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon).

(From "Open Channel D: The Man From UNCLE Affair")