....the other three "Man From U.N.C.L.E" theatrical movies I've seen so far ("To Trap A Spy", "One Of Our Spies Is Missing", "One Spy Too Many"). This one is more tightly paced (running under 90 minutes), and it has an engaging story; it's true that the "double" plot gimmick has been used many times, before and since, in the spy genre, but there is a reason for that: it usually works well. This film also has some clever spy tricks, sexy women (Solo gets to make out with, in chronological order, Sharon Farrell, Senta Berger, and in a brief but memorable role, Donna Michelle - even James Bond would be green with envy!), a surprisingly violent opening action sequence, and a couple of risqué moments that I'm assuming were added to the theatrical version of the original TV episode. Unfortunately, it also has a pretty weak climax, with one important character showing a very sudden change of heart. **1/2 out of 4.
12 Reviews
What a joy?
cathyannemoore-661961 May 2023
I grew up in the 1960s and the man from U. N. C. L. E was one of my favourite TV shows. Not meant to be comedies but now watching in my late 60s I can see it is very tongue in cheek. As was the Batman and Robin series around the same time. What's so refreshing to watch is that like the James Bond films at the time there is no PC around how women are attracted to Napoleon Solo. Love the ridiculous storyline and how the test to distinguish the real one is by a snog. Really good to watch from the point of view of how the 1960s were and filmmakers didn't feel the need to have a credible plot. Don't take it too seriously.
Second 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Feature Offers Undemanding Entertainment
jimdoyle11110 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
There was more of an expectation for the release of "The Spy With My Face" as it was the first feature released after 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' had established itself as a TV favourite and I must admit, I was pretty pleased with it in 1965 and I find I run it at least three times a year fifty years later.
I saw it on its initial theatrical run with a fairly full house and you can tell the audience were enjoying it all, knowing that when a sign went up saying 'Somewhere In Australia' or 'The Austrian Alps', we were really seeing the back lot of MGM, but we all went along with the joke.
The story wasn't that original – a double being planted in an organization, but it's done with a certain amount of flair and originality (although the scene where Solo meets his double by opening the door is exactly the same as the scene in "Thunderball"), and there are some unintentionally hilarious moments, like no one thinks it's unusual for a man with a completely bandaged head to sit behind Solo in a restaurant, THRUSH headquarters are designed in such a way that they can be blown up by a dying agent flicking one switch, and the other agents who join Napoleon and Illya are from U.N.C.L.E. in Sicily and UNCLE in Africa. So a small island in Italy has its own operation, but there is only one for the entire continent of Africa – and the Sicilian is such a cliché with the sharp suit and when asked how things are going at home he says 'If it's not THRUSH, it's the Mafioso'. But there are some really good moments Donald Harron as the Australian agent, and quite an imaginative sequence where the McGuffin is transferred in the air plane, and we get to see the (rather impractical) agent's entrance to the Washington U.N.C.L.E. office.
So you get all this and Senta Berger who looks gorgeous and Sharon Farrell (in the first of three appearances in 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.') and an exciting breakout then a shootout. Great escapist stuff.
Here's what I wrote about it in my book "What We Watched In The 1960s (In The Cinema)" when it arrived in Glasgow during week commencing 26 September 1965.
'The Man From UNCLE' had started quietly on TV in June but was now a staggeringly popular top 10 show, especially with the younger age group, so although the pilot "To Trap A Spy" had arrived without much of a fanfare, the crowds flocked to see "The Spy With My Face", the second feature length spin-off which arrived at the Regal and Bedford. This one was based on 'The Double Affair', an episode not due for broadcast on TV in the UK – with additional footage from 'The Four Steps Affair' and some extra footage mainly of Napoleon solo having romantic liaisons with Senta Berger and Sharon Farrell. Despite being made for TV it didn't seem out of place on a cinema screen and audiences got two Napoleon Solos for the price of one when villains THRUSH make a double of him. "Son Of A Gunfighter" on the same bill was an old fashioned western, but more than adequate and pleasing.
Something to look out for – the sequence where the duplicate Solo enters U.N.C.L.E. HQ and walks through to Mr Waverley's office is re-used under the opening credits of "One Of Our Spies Is Missing".
Jim Doyle is the author of 'What We Watched In The 1960s (In The Cinema)', 'What We Watched In The 1970s (In The Cinema)" and 'What We Watched In The 1980s (In The Cinema And On Video)'
I saw it on its initial theatrical run with a fairly full house and you can tell the audience were enjoying it all, knowing that when a sign went up saying 'Somewhere In Australia' or 'The Austrian Alps', we were really seeing the back lot of MGM, but we all went along with the joke.
The story wasn't that original – a double being planted in an organization, but it's done with a certain amount of flair and originality (although the scene where Solo meets his double by opening the door is exactly the same as the scene in "Thunderball"), and there are some unintentionally hilarious moments, like no one thinks it's unusual for a man with a completely bandaged head to sit behind Solo in a restaurant, THRUSH headquarters are designed in such a way that they can be blown up by a dying agent flicking one switch, and the other agents who join Napoleon and Illya are from U.N.C.L.E. in Sicily and UNCLE in Africa. So a small island in Italy has its own operation, but there is only one for the entire continent of Africa – and the Sicilian is such a cliché with the sharp suit and when asked how things are going at home he says 'If it's not THRUSH, it's the Mafioso'. But there are some really good moments Donald Harron as the Australian agent, and quite an imaginative sequence where the McGuffin is transferred in the air plane, and we get to see the (rather impractical) agent's entrance to the Washington U.N.C.L.E. office.
So you get all this and Senta Berger who looks gorgeous and Sharon Farrell (in the first of three appearances in 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.') and an exciting breakout then a shootout. Great escapist stuff.
Here's what I wrote about it in my book "What We Watched In The 1960s (In The Cinema)" when it arrived in Glasgow during week commencing 26 September 1965.
'The Man From UNCLE' had started quietly on TV in June but was now a staggeringly popular top 10 show, especially with the younger age group, so although the pilot "To Trap A Spy" had arrived without much of a fanfare, the crowds flocked to see "The Spy With My Face", the second feature length spin-off which arrived at the Regal and Bedford. This one was based on 'The Double Affair', an episode not due for broadcast on TV in the UK – with additional footage from 'The Four Steps Affair' and some extra footage mainly of Napoleon solo having romantic liaisons with Senta Berger and Sharon Farrell. Despite being made for TV it didn't seem out of place on a cinema screen and audiences got two Napoleon Solos for the price of one when villains THRUSH make a double of him. "Son Of A Gunfighter" on the same bill was an old fashioned western, but more than adequate and pleasing.
Something to look out for – the sequence where the duplicate Solo enters U.N.C.L.E. HQ and walks through to Mr Waverley's office is re-used under the opening credits of "One Of Our Spies Is Missing".
Jim Doyle is the author of 'What We Watched In The 1960s (In The Cinema)', 'What We Watched In The 1970s (In The Cinema)" and 'What We Watched In The 1980s (In The Cinema And On Video)'
Fans of the TV series won't be disappointed
bob the moo29 October 2001
UNCLE (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement agents Napoleon Solo (Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (McCallum) are sent in a group of ten to deliver secret codes to a computer vault controlling project "earth save". Earth Save is an immensely powerful weapon designed to deal with potential attack from outer space. THRUSH meanwhile create a double of Solo to infiltrate the team to gain access to the weapon.
Another in the series of UNCLE films following the TV series. This film plays just like the shows so if you like them then you'll like this. Plenty of girls & romantic interludes, plenty of gentle action and gentle laughs all done in a 1960's sense of innocence and spoof-fun. There are of course plenty of weakness in this, it is after all a cheap bond spoof and always was, but it is a gently enjoyable film. For me, as a fan of UNCLE, the biggest disappointment of the film was the lack of the UNCLE theme music.
All the regular actors (Vaughn, McCallum & Leo G. Carroll) are as good as ever, being comfortable in their roles, the women are all pretty as required. The only thankless task is Donald Harron in the role of Kitteridge who has to do a very dodgy Australian accent whilst wearing a really bad fake beard.
It's not brilliant but it's all a bit of 60's fun. How serious can you take it when McCallum is ambushed outside a drycleaners by two small toy robots firing rockets!?
Another in the series of UNCLE films following the TV series. This film plays just like the shows so if you like them then you'll like this. Plenty of girls & romantic interludes, plenty of gentle action and gentle laughs all done in a 1960's sense of innocence and spoof-fun. There are of course plenty of weakness in this, it is after all a cheap bond spoof and always was, but it is a gently enjoyable film. For me, as a fan of UNCLE, the biggest disappointment of the film was the lack of the UNCLE theme music.
All the regular actors (Vaughn, McCallum & Leo G. Carroll) are as good as ever, being comfortable in their roles, the women are all pretty as required. The only thankless task is Donald Harron in the role of Kitteridge who has to do a very dodgy Australian accent whilst wearing a really bad fake beard.
It's not brilliant but it's all a bit of 60's fun. How serious can you take it when McCallum is ambushed outside a drycleaners by two small toy robots firing rockets!?
Somehow entertaining!
RodrigAndrisan27 December 2021
There is a scene when the real Napoleon Solo gets a
very sexy massage from a character named Nina, played by Donna Michelle, that's the coolest scene in the whole movie. I would have preferred an identical
double look-alike of Nina to be made by those from
T. H. R. U. S. H. and somehow sent to me. OK, the movie isn't bad, you can watch it, you got my approval, if you put a yellow triangle-shaped card on your chest to give the impression that you are working
yourself for U. N. C. L. E.
Average UNCLE movie.
stevenaldous22 September 2003
The second big screen outing for "The Man from UNCLE" is a notch down from the first. It is made up primarily of the first season episode "The Double Affair" and contains additional footage from "The Four Steps Affair". The doppelganger plot is never fully exploited and there is an excessive amount of padding centred around Vaughn's romantic dalliances. Sharon Farrell delivers a feisty turn as Vaughn's put-upon air hostess girlfriend and McCallum has a bigger role than in the first film (TO TRAP A SPY), but overall this is a routine mission.
Kinda slow. Need to like series to like this
rndhyd4 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Downloaded this by chance. Watched it 6 months later.
Cannot actually give full review because I stopped at 40% in -- too boring, and I even have 2 screens, so was doing something else too. Otherwise, I would've stopped watching sooner.
This is too TV-like. Although that's not necessarily bad, but it is just too cheesy, campy & borderline $hit, but I'm being too harsh. It's not actually real bad.
Other persons' taste will certainly vary.
Cannot actually give full review because I stopped at 40% in -- too boring, and I even have 2 screens, so was doing something else too. Otherwise, I would've stopped watching sooner.
This is too TV-like. Although that's not necessarily bad, but it is just too cheesy, campy & borderline $hit, but I'm being too harsh. It's not actually real bad.
Other persons' taste will certainly vary.
"A time capsule of the 1960's."
jamesraeburn200318 September 2003
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
THRUSH kidnaps Napoleon Solo (Vaughn) and replaces him with a double in order to infiltrate a secret UNCLE operation called 'The August Affair', which will enable them to get their hands on 'Project Earthsave', an intense energy force that is being stored for use in the event of attacks from outer space. Such a weapon could give THRUSH what it always wanted - control of the world!
THE SPY WITH MY FACE was the second spin-off movie from the popular MAN FROM UNCLE spy series. It is an extended version of a season one episode called 'The Double Affair' (originally broadcast 17/11/64) and contains additional footage that was considered too risqué for television. For example the scene where Vaughn takes a shower with Senta Berger and Vaughn in bed with Sharon Farrell. The opening sequence where UNCLE invade THRUSH headquarters Australia was also an extra scene that didn't feature in the TV original.
THE SPY WITH MY FACE is one of the best of the UNCLE films in that it's slickly produced and stands up as a time capsule of it's era, the 1960's when spy thrillers were all the rage. Series regulars Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo, David McCallam as Illya Kuriyakin and Leo G Carroll as Mr Waverly are a joy to watch as always.
THRUSH kidnaps Napoleon Solo (Vaughn) and replaces him with a double in order to infiltrate a secret UNCLE operation called 'The August Affair', which will enable them to get their hands on 'Project Earthsave', an intense energy force that is being stored for use in the event of attacks from outer space. Such a weapon could give THRUSH what it always wanted - control of the world!
THE SPY WITH MY FACE was the second spin-off movie from the popular MAN FROM UNCLE spy series. It is an extended version of a season one episode called 'The Double Affair' (originally broadcast 17/11/64) and contains additional footage that was considered too risqué for television. For example the scene where Vaughn takes a shower with Senta Berger and Vaughn in bed with Sharon Farrell. The opening sequence where UNCLE invade THRUSH headquarters Australia was also an extra scene that didn't feature in the TV original.
THE SPY WITH MY FACE is one of the best of the UNCLE films in that it's slickly produced and stands up as a time capsule of it's era, the 1960's when spy thrillers were all the rage. Series regulars Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo, David McCallam as Illya Kuriyakin and Leo G Carroll as Mr Waverly are a joy to watch as always.
I'm seeing double here... four Solos!
Pjtaylor-96-13804427 March 2022
From what I understand, 'The Spy With My Face (1965)' is essentially an extended version of an episode of 'The Man From U. N. C. L. E (1964 - 1968)' that already aired on television in 1964. It seems to be a single episode padded with extra scenes, which thankfully only stretch the runtime to a merciful eighty-six minutes. Its roots in television are incredibly evident right from the outset, with cheap sets and flat cinematography perforating pretty much every scene. Its structure also mimics a typical tv episode, lacking the sense of escalation typically found in big-screen efforts and culminating in a bit of a low-budget whimper. The plot is really weak, consisting primarily of stuffy spies spelling out their surprisingly mundane plans before going about them uninterrupted. It has very little tension or suspense; as such, it's just really dull. It isn't intriguing in the slightest and it's too vague for its own good. Ultimately, the entire affair barely feels like anything at all. It isn't achingly boring, but it gives you very little reason to care or, even, keep watching. I don't hate it, don't get me wrong. It's inoffensive, fairly snappy for what it is and features a couple of serviceably suave performances. I'm very apathetic towards it, though. It's the sort of thing I'll forget about as soon as I submit this review. It's as dull as dishwater, if I'm honest. Maybe fans of the series (which I've never seen) will find more fun here, but they'll probably have also seen the original episode that this is extended from and that's likely the superior version. 4/10.
"You wouldn't put a bullet through your own head, would you?"
ShadeGrenade10 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
'The Spy With My Face' was the second of eight feature films compiled from episodes of 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' series, and the last to be formed using a single episode extended by specially shot footage. The original was titled 'The Double Affair'. Subsequent features would be based on two-part stories.
It opens in Australia, where Napoleon Solo ( Robert Vaughn ) accompanies fellow U.N.C.L.E. agent Kitt Kittridge ( Donald Harron ) on a mission to destroy a THRUSH stronghold. They are successful; but THRUSH are secretly watching their every move. They have created a double for Solo, but before they can use him try to murder the one man closest to the agent - Illya Kuryakin ( David McCallum ). Illya is leaving Del Floria's one evening when two toy robots with swivelling eyes glide towards him, and open fire. The Russian shoots one, and deactivates the other. "I think someone's sending their Christmas presents a little early this year!", he quips.
Solo is dining with his current-girlfriend, air stewardess Sandy ( Sharon Farrell ) when he receives a call from Serena ( Senta Berger ), a THRUSH agent claiming to have knowledge of 'The August Affair'. Back at her flat, they make love, then she gasses him, and the double takes over.
The fake Solo is assigned to travel to Austria - along with Illya and two other U.N.C.L.E. agents - with the combination to open an underground vault containing a deadly new form of radiation, to be used only in the event of Earth being assaulted by creatures from outer space. THRUSH intends to use it to conquer the world...
Like all the U.N.C.L.E. films, this one charmingly betrays its origins as a television product. However, such was the show's popularity at the time that audiences did not care, and lapped up each new one as it was released. The films were shown on I.T.V. in the '70's, and a decade later the B.B.C. screened them in two bumper seasons in 1982/83.
As both Solo and his impostor, Robert Vaughn is excellent, providing a nice contrast between the real man from U.N.C.L.E. and his arrogant counterpart. McCallum here shows why the character of Illya developed a following of his own. Next to Patrick McGoohan's 'John Drake', he was the coolest spy on television at that time. Senta Berger provides glamour as 'Serena', a task she also performed on the movies 'The Quiller Memorandum' and 'The Ambushers'. Donald Harron's 'Kitt Kittridge' is extremely likable. Asked by Mr.Waverly if his beard is real, he says: "Its fake. The real one is in my pocket!". The U.N.C.L.E. boss is not amused. The Director of 'Project: Earthsave' is a woman ( Paula Raymond ). U.N.C.L.E. sexist? Never!
No big set-pieces of the Bond variety as such, but the opening gun battle, briefcase-switching scene on the plane and motorbike chase and subsequent fight are some compensation. Michael Evans is fun as THRUSH villain 'Darius Two' ( so what happened to Darius One? ), delivering his lines in a manner which put me in mind of Rex Harrison. Catching a guard spying on Solo's romantic tryst in a cell, he orders him from the scene with "Go away, you filthy pervert!", before peering through the door himself!
( One thing I wish they had done with the movies was create new titles, rather than slow down footage and impose the credits over it. 'Face' suffers especially badly, as when the footage returns to normal speed Solo and Kittridge look like something out of Mack Sennett. )
It opens in Australia, where Napoleon Solo ( Robert Vaughn ) accompanies fellow U.N.C.L.E. agent Kitt Kittridge ( Donald Harron ) on a mission to destroy a THRUSH stronghold. They are successful; but THRUSH are secretly watching their every move. They have created a double for Solo, but before they can use him try to murder the one man closest to the agent - Illya Kuryakin ( David McCallum ). Illya is leaving Del Floria's one evening when two toy robots with swivelling eyes glide towards him, and open fire. The Russian shoots one, and deactivates the other. "I think someone's sending their Christmas presents a little early this year!", he quips.
Solo is dining with his current-girlfriend, air stewardess Sandy ( Sharon Farrell ) when he receives a call from Serena ( Senta Berger ), a THRUSH agent claiming to have knowledge of 'The August Affair'. Back at her flat, they make love, then she gasses him, and the double takes over.
The fake Solo is assigned to travel to Austria - along with Illya and two other U.N.C.L.E. agents - with the combination to open an underground vault containing a deadly new form of radiation, to be used only in the event of Earth being assaulted by creatures from outer space. THRUSH intends to use it to conquer the world...
Like all the U.N.C.L.E. films, this one charmingly betrays its origins as a television product. However, such was the show's popularity at the time that audiences did not care, and lapped up each new one as it was released. The films were shown on I.T.V. in the '70's, and a decade later the B.B.C. screened them in two bumper seasons in 1982/83.
As both Solo and his impostor, Robert Vaughn is excellent, providing a nice contrast between the real man from U.N.C.L.E. and his arrogant counterpart. McCallum here shows why the character of Illya developed a following of his own. Next to Patrick McGoohan's 'John Drake', he was the coolest spy on television at that time. Senta Berger provides glamour as 'Serena', a task she also performed on the movies 'The Quiller Memorandum' and 'The Ambushers'. Donald Harron's 'Kitt Kittridge' is extremely likable. Asked by Mr.Waverly if his beard is real, he says: "Its fake. The real one is in my pocket!". The U.N.C.L.E. boss is not amused. The Director of 'Project: Earthsave' is a woman ( Paula Raymond ). U.N.C.L.E. sexist? Never!
No big set-pieces of the Bond variety as such, but the opening gun battle, briefcase-switching scene on the plane and motorbike chase and subsequent fight are some compensation. Michael Evans is fun as THRUSH villain 'Darius Two' ( so what happened to Darius One? ), delivering his lines in a manner which put me in mind of Rex Harrison. Catching a guard spying on Solo's romantic tryst in a cell, he orders him from the scene with "Go away, you filthy pervert!", before peering through the door himself!
( One thing I wish they had done with the movies was create new titles, rather than slow down footage and impose the credits over it. 'Face' suffers especially badly, as when the footage returns to normal speed Solo and Kittridge look like something out of Mack Sennett. )
remote controlled, poison-gas delivering robots will ALWAYS be righteously rad prospect!
Weirdling_Wolf18 November 2020
The very first big screen mission for sickeningly suave TV spy icons, Napoleon Solo & Illya Kuryakin in 'Spy With My Face' (1965) is given some considerable pep by the luminous addition of zesty, Euro-cult screen goddess, the sensationally sultry, sweetly sinister, serially spy duping, Senta Berger! Right on!!!!!! And if I'm being honest, I was genuinely surprised at how well this glossy, high-voltage hokum stands up today; hella' stoopid, super-slinky, face-swapping, super-spy-hi-jinks, slap n' tickle, super-weapon stealing, fluff n' stuff that ALMOST moves fast enough to forget the cheap-jack dumb stuff! (and, for me at least, remote controlled, poison-gas delivering robots will ALWAYS be righteously rad prospect!) 😍
Two Napoleon Solos
coltras3510 August 2021
U. N. C. L. E. Agents Solo and Kuryakin fly to Switzerland guarding the combination to a vault containing the world's most deadly nuclear weapon. In a desperate plot to use the weapon for their own evil purposes, T. H. R. U. S. H. has turned a man into Solo's exact double by means of plastic surgery. The counterfeit Solo is so convincing that even Illya is taken in ...
You get two Napoleon Solos for the price of one - one of them is an imposter, and does a good job fooling the UNCLE agents. And you wonder when he's going to get caught out. This forms part of the interesting plot, and it's not just enjoyable, but has some good suspense. There's a good motorbike chase sequence which leads up to the confrontation between Solo and his doppelgänger. Santa Berger and Sharon Farrell sizzle. Used to watch this a lot as a kid on BBC2 in the 80's, and I just wanted to be Napoleon Solo!!
You get two Napoleon Solos for the price of one - one of them is an imposter, and does a good job fooling the UNCLE agents. And you wonder when he's going to get caught out. This forms part of the interesting plot, and it's not just enjoyable, but has some good suspense. There's a good motorbike chase sequence which leads up to the confrontation between Solo and his doppelgänger. Santa Berger and Sharon Farrell sizzle. Used to watch this a lot as a kid on BBC2 in the 80's, and I just wanted to be Napoleon Solo!!
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