From archive (archive)
From: billw@felix.UUCP (Bill Weinberger)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA
Subject: Review: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. BOOK
Date: 22 Feb 88 20:06:41 GMT




                   The Man from U.N.C.L.E Book 
                         by John Heitland

                  Reviewed by William Weinberger 

Here is a must-have book for any fan of THE MAN FROM UNCLE.  In 
it, Jon Heitland details the origins, success and eventual 
cancellation of this popular TV series.  Through numerous 
interviews with the cast, crew and writers, the reader gets a 
genuine feel for what the show was intended to be, what it took 
to get it on the air and make it successful, and its affect on 
television in the mid-1960's. 

This book is different from a similar book, THE MAKING OF STAR 
TREK, in a couple of ways.  First, being written several years 
after the fact, it loses a little of the first person feel of 
TMOST.  But it still reflects the enthusiasm of the series' 
creators and fans.  Second, being written several years after the 
fact, it can reveal a somewhat greater historical perspective 
then TMOST could.  Both are fascinating reading.  Both deserve a 
spot on the shelf of anybody interested in 1960's television. 

Few books are perfect.  This one suffers from name-itis.  After a 
while you lose track of who's who as Mr. Heitland mentions just 
about everybody involved in UNCLE, and what they did before. and 
what they've done since.  I was also a little disappointed that 
the chapter on UNCLE merchandise didn't go into more detail on 
exactly what was produced and what is truly collectable (what 
ever happened to *my* UNCLE special, or did I even have one?). 

THE MAN FROM UNCLE BOOK is liberally sprinkled with publicity 
photos, personal photos and photos of fan collections.  Of 
course, it includes an episode guide (with full credits, 
including THE GIRL FROM UNCLE), a list of UNCLE books, magazines 
and comic books from the '60s, and a complete index. 


The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book by Jon Heitland
   (1987, St. Martin's Press, New York, NY, 271 pages, trade 
   paperback) [ISBN 0-312-00052-9]
 

STAR TREK fans take note:

 o Harlan Ellison is given writer's credit on two Man from UNCLE 
   episodes and claims rewrite credit for several more. 
 o Norman Felton, the Executive Producer, was previously involved 
   with THE LIEUTENANT, for which Gene Roddenberry was producer.  
   Other veterans of THE LIEUTENANT include Robert Vaughn, and 
   several of the writers and crew.
 o Everyone knows by now that William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy 
   both guested on UNCLE (The Project Strigas Affair), but 
   skimming the UNCLE episode guide reveals several other Star 
   Trek players.  Ricardo Montalban (twice), Roger C. Carmel, 
   Joan Collins, and Kim Darby were also on UNCLE (I'm sure there 
   were more, but I didn't really want to do a complete cross-
   reference). 
 o Not from Star Trek but interesting to note: Robert Culp, 
   Carroll O'Connor, Kurt Russell, June Lockhart, Barbara Feldon 
   (agent 99),  Martin Landau, Jack Lord and many other 
   recognizables appeared on UNCLE. 
--
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Bill Weinberger      [UUCP: hplabs!felix!billw]       FileNet Corporation