It was the height of the Cold War, a time when most Americans had only the vaguest understanding of international espionage. Then, in 1964, the televised spy genre exploded on the screen in the U.S. and around the world when the groundbreaking series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. pulled the covers off of the spy game in what became must-watch television for the next four years on NBC. Here is The Complete Series, beautifully packaged in a 60's style high tech attaché case, complete with all episodes along with hours of viewing extras.

CRITIQUE

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. premiered on people’s televisions 44 years ago, lasting four seasons and producing 105 episodes during that run. Now available as a Complete Series set, those interested in vintage TV, spy shows and espionage can catch up on the landmark show thanks to Warner Bros. releasing this mega 41-disc set. Throughout my life I have heard of the show a few times, mentioned in different places and mediums, but I have never seen an episode until now. Getting through these 105 episodes has been fun, but at the same time a very time consuming “affair”. The final run time of all episodes clocks in at a whopping 5,620 minutes.

The concept of the show is this: Working as part of the New York based covert agency U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law Enforcement), American agent Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn, Hustle, and The A-Team fame) teams up with Russian agent Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum, NCIS) to battle a ruthless organization called TRUSH (Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity), who will stop at nothing to achieve global domination, and it’s up to both agents to thwart their attempts to do so, using their charm, intelligence and a never-ending collection of gadgets.

THE VIDEO

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is presented in its original 1.33:1 full frame aspect ratio. Season 1 was broadcast in black & white, and these episodes look the cleanest. The rest of the way the show broadcast in color, and quality for the episodes varies, some are real good while others suffer from dirt and scratches. Optional subtitles are available in English and Spanish.

THE AUDIO

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is presented in English Mono, and you’ll be able to hear everything just as it was broadcast on TV several decades ago. Dialogue is clear as is the music. Pretty standard stuff.

THE EXTRAS

Each season gets a bonus disc filled with brand-new featurettes and vintage footage, and they’re all very well done. Additionally, there are 8-page booklets included with each of the four season sets that offer introductions by Vaughn and McCallum, an episode guide and a recap of the individual season.

Season 1:

The Cloak & Swagger Affair (28 minutes) is a fantastic documentary that finds Vaughn and McCallum hosting a look back at the show, addressing its origin, production, and achieved cult status. Also includes new interviews with several crew members, such as directors Richard Donner and Joseph Sargent, exec producer Norman Felton and writer Dean Hargrove, among others.

Solo (70 minutes) is the show’s pilot episode, a rarely seen “color” film that spawned the series; a neat inclusion, and surely great for the ardent fans.

U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S. (10 minutes) celebrates the guest stars of the first season, which among many others include Kurt Russell, Robert Culp, Lee Meriweather, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Sharon Tate and Slim Pickens.

Season 2:

The Spy-Fi Tour: Archives, Art and Artifacts (23 minutes) has a look at a fantastic display of show memorabilia.

One Spy Too Many is a 1966 theatrical film (among others released to theaters) that was comprised of two episodes, parts 1 and 2 of Alexander the Great Affair, with additional material produced to fill out the run time. It’s too bad the quality of the video here is rather dreadful.

U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S. (6 minutes) celebrates the guest stars of the second season, which among many others include Ricardo Montalban, Angela Lansbury, Martin Landau, Rip Torn, Diane McBain, Leigh Chapman and Vincent Price.

Season 3:

Double Agents: The Robert Vaughn and David McCallum Reunion (68 minutes) is the complete interview from 2007 that brought them both back to discuss the show. There’s a lot of interesting information here, stories from the production and some trivia as well. (Parts of this interview appear in the other featurettes.)

The Secret Tapes of Illya Kuryakin (17 minutes) is a really neat collection of home video footage captured by McCallum during the production; the actor narrates over the moving images, recounting stories and so forth.

U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S. (7 minutes) celebrates the guest stars of the third season, which among many others include Jack Palance, Joan Crawford, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny Bono, Telly Savalas, Kim Darby, Jill Ireland and Joan Collins.

Season 4:

MGM's Secret Operation (28 minutes) is an enlightening piece on the show’s production set on the MGM backlot with an good amount of stories and trivia.

U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S. (8 minutes) celebrates the guest stars of the final season, which among many others include Jack Lord, Leslie Nielsen, Darren McGavin, Lola Albright, Julie London, John Carradine and Barbara Moore.

Bonus Disc 1

Cold War, Hot Spies: U.N.C.L.E. and the Cold War (21 minutes) is another interesting documentary looking at the politics of the show. Vaughn and McCallum, as well as several crew members again, are back to offer their thoughts.

Guns, Gadgets, Gizmos & Garb (19 minutes) is exactly that, a piece on weapons and toys shaped from the show.

Behind the Wheel: U.N.C.L.E.'s Piranha (17 minutes) is a neat featurette about the Piranha spy car!

Fandemonium (25 minutes) deals with all things popularity, from fans who adored the show and the U.N.C.L.E. related products that came with it.

The Music from U.N.C.L.E. (23 minutes) focuses on the show’s music, its history and much more.

The Girls from U.N.C.L.E. (23 minutes) is a look back at the beautiful girls featured on the show, to which Vaughn and McCallum have some fun with.

Official Debriefings presents two lengthy/good interviews, one with Dean Hargrove (27 minutes) and another with David McCallum (21 minutes), about their involvement with the show.

Rounding out the extras are an assortment of promos and trailers

Bonus Disc 2

Official Debriefings presents additional lengthy interviews, with Richard Donner (27 minutes), Joseph Sargent (21 minutes), Robert Vaughn (26 minutes) and associate producer George Lehr (70 minutes).

TV Appearances and Spots is exactly that, a collection of archival footage. Interesting to see these dug up for this Complete Series set.

The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. is a Tom and Jerry cartoon that lampooned the show. (Video quality is not very good.)

Photo and Image Galleries include a wide variety of BTS photos, drawings, NBC memos, personal photographs, sheet music, toys, publications, and movie posters for the theatrical films.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Simply W.O.W.  The bonus material is seriously exhaustive, amazing. The featurettes are well edited and produced, and the new interviews are a treasure. Fans owe it to themselves to pick up this mega 41-disc set. To those who haven’t seen the show yet, it is highly recommended.