Man From U.N.C.L.E. Book: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of a Television Classic

very informative book ,everything you want to know about series and episodes even things you might not be intrested in

"The Man From UNCLE" was a part of my youth. I first heard about it when playing with other boys who had toy guns and other UNCLE merchandise. Eventually, I would see the toys in toyshops and read books and annuals, and something of it remained with me when on TV I saw some of the feature films of the series, and going back to programmes repeated and to DVD. It had a certain style that still gives pleasure, not least because of the perfomances of its two main stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, but also now I can appreciate some of the writing and production which was tight and often displayed panache.Written in the nineteen eighties, this book is still probably the definitive history of both series The Man From UNCLE and its less successful spinoff "The Girl from UNCLE." It tells the story of how initial ideas for the series came out of conversations between James Bond creator, Ian Fleming, and the series producer Norman Felton. Little remained of Fleming's input mainly because of his involvement with the Bond film franchise except some names, and the series was developed by Sam Rolfe. It was then offered as a vehicle for Robert Vaughn, but the chemistry with David McCallum worked so well that they became a sort of double act, with the latter adding an extra element which added to the shows success. The book itself chronicles the series rise to being on of the top shows of its time, before declining partly because of a decision to make the show in its third series into comedy to the point it parodied itself.The time of writing gives its author, John Heitland, the benefit of many of the stars, writers, directors, producers, cameramen being still being around who are interviewed. Robert Vaughn contributes a forward stating how it was a happy time for the team (something which he develops further in his more recent memoir "A Fortunate Life."). The book comprehensively covers all aspects of the show. Its stars guests, how the show was made and its look, as well as the merchandising that came about from it. There are also summaries of the plots of each episode of both the main series and its spin off.This is a comprehensive history of a series that is regarded as a classic. If there is a fault it is in the way that some of the exhaustive detail can read at times like a list. But that is common enough in books of this type. This is the definitive book of the UNCLE phenomenon, though there are some good more recent histories. Essential for all UNCLE fans, and those who would like to see what the show was about. If you haven;t seen them those DVDs of especially first and second series are also a joy.

A very detailed account of the highly popular US Tv series of the sixties. As detailed as it is, it is never a dry read and in addition to how U.N.C.L.E. came about it gives an insight in how many Tv series get commissioned & aired. My only unease with the book is that the writer & contributers seem to continually suggest & stress that it was something more than just a very good Tv series, set within its time, borrowing largely from the success of the Bond films, The book certainly takes you back to the days it was 1st screened (If you were alive In the Sixties) For me the book creates a much better feel for the series than rewatching any of the U.N.C.L.E. Tv series or films which in my opinion, even as a very big original fan, are so disappointing.

If you are at all a serious U.N.C.L.E. fan, you need this book. It's not new, having been first published in 1987, but actually benefits from that insofar as many of those involved with making this classic series were then still around and available for interview.Just to give one example of the treasure within, there won't be anywhere else you can read about the numerous options the makers agonised over for the name of the organisation that eventually became known as THRUSH. And why it had to be changed from the original WASP.In my opinion, the only other TV making-of book as good as this (or better) is  The Making of "Star Trek" .

This book is an ideal companion, and reference source, to the UNCLE novels and TV series - both Man and Girl from...It goes behind the scenes of the problems of creating and running a cult series; the producers, writers, actors, props etc. The book uses each chapter to home in on one particular aspect of the series, be it actors, props, product spin-offs etc. The book also discussed the reasons for the demise of the series, and the attempts to resurect it over the years.

So happy to have found this book! This is the first edition - my copy was damaged in a flood. I did buy the second edition, but the pictures are not as good as in the first one. Really happy to have this back in my collection!

An excellent book for Man from UNCLE fans. All the information you could possibly want on the series. This is my second copy, as the first fell to pieces with constant use.

The book is excellent. The condition is superb and it arrived very quickly. Ten out of ten