Joseph Sargent Movies
One of the earliest alumni of New York's New School of Social Research, director Joseph Sargent spent his first professional decade in television. His first theatrical "feature" was One Spy Too Many (1966), an expansion of one of his Man From U.N.C.L.E. episodes. In both his small-screen work and his large-screen output, Sargent's work was distinguished by speed, efficiency, and equitable treatment of talented ensemble casts. Joseph Sargent's best features include The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) and MacArthur (1977); his best TV films include Tribes (1970), Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring (1971), and the multipart Lonesome Dove sequel Streets of Laredo (1995). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1965
Two superb comic actors, Judy Carne and Charles Ruggles, are respectively cast as the heroine and the villain of this Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode. Solo and Illya infiltrate a Latin American penal colony run by Governor Callahan (Ruggles) and his head guard Cervantes (Roger C. Carmel). The two UNCLE agents hope to locate THRUSH's new, all-powerful computer. They are aided by social worker Salty Oliver (Judy Carne), who briefly poses as Solo's wife. Written by Peter Allan Fields, "The Ultimate Computer Affair" originally aired on October 1, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Solo and Illya escape the death traps set for them by mad industrialist Alexander (Rip Torn), who intends to both take over the world and break every one of the Ten Commandments. Resuming their pursuit of Alexander, the two agents are again joined by the villain's alimony-seeking former wife Tracey (Dorothy Provine). In the course of events, Illya is captured and (a) nearly mummified alive by Alexander's henchman Kavon (David Opatoshu) and (b) almost rent asunder by rogue farm equipment. Written by Dean Hargrove, "The Alexander the Greater Affair, Part Two" was first telecast on September 24, 1965. In 1967, parts one and two were spliced together as a theatrical feature, One Spy Too Many, with several new scenes featuring Yvonne Craig as Mr. Waverly's daughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. went "full color" for its second season, which began on Friday, September 17, 1965, with the first episode of the two-part adventure "The Alexander the Greater Affair." Rip Torn is delightfully over the top as megalomaniac industrialist Alexander, who not only wants to emulate his namesake by taking over the world, but also intends to spectacularly break every one of the Ten Commandments. UNCLE agents Solo and Illya are brought into the scene when Alexander and his aides Dr. Kavon (David Opatoshu) and Parvix (David Sheiner) steal a new gas that destroys willpower. Also dogging Alexander's trail is his ex-wife Tracey ($David Sheiner), who is determined to collect her back alimony. Part one ends with Solo, Illya, and Tracey facing certain death by way of a bottomless pit and a Poe-inspired descending scimitar. The scene in which the UNCLE agents rescue Alexander's mother and father (Madge Blake and Charles Lane) from a chain gang was removed from the theatrical-feature version of the episode, One Spy Too Many, which included a sprinkling of new sequences featuring Yvonne Craig as the daughter of UNCLE chieftain Waverly. "The Alexander the Greater Affair, Part One" was written by Dean Hargrove. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Martin Balsam guest stars as Albert Sully, a semi-retired UNCLE agent. Somewhat miffed at being put out to pasture for bungling his last few missions, Sully is gratified when Solo and Illya ask him to impersonate a crime syndicate boss. But he also nearly scuttles the plan by insisting upon running the assignment himself. As Solo and Illya try to prevent the stubborn Sully from being knocked off, the resourceful ex-agent, assisted by his wartime confederate Bryn Watson (Barbara Shelly), fearlessly -- and somewhat foolishly -- tracks down a secret crime conclave. Written by Dick Nelson, "The Odd Man Affair" originally aired on April 19, 1965, as the final episode of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'s first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
A pre-Get Smart Barbara Feldon guest stars as perky UNCLE Portuguese translator Mandy Stevenson. Bored with her unexciting job, Mandy begs Solo to give her a dangerous assignment. Hoping to placate the girl, Solo sends her off on a fake courier mission with Mr. Waverly's favorite humidor -- little suspecting that the object contains a list of France's THRUSH agents. The episode's best scenes find Mandy matching wits with urbane THRUSH operative Victor Gervais (Cesar Romero). Originally telecast on March 22, 1965, "The Never-Never Affair" was the first Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode scripted by Dean Hargrove. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
William Shatner guest stars as Tony Burrell, a former policeman who runs a boy's athletic club. Posing as "John Evans", Kimble goes to work for Burrell just as the neighborhood is buzzing about the brutal murder of two cops. As the story progresses and another murder occurs, Kimble begins to wonder if the outwardly affable but inwardly troubled Burrell could possibly be a serial killer. The supporting cast includes future Matlock regular Julie Sommars) as Burrell's wife Carole, and Norman Fell, Three's Company's "Mr. Roper", as Lieutenant Green. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Solo and Illya are sent to Japan to locate and destroy THRUSH's new volcano-activating device. In the course of events, a fireworks factory explodes, the two agents battle the graduates of a karate school, several villains meet sticky ends in a spike-festooned pit, and Solo is nearly sliced to ribbons by a life-sized samurai puppet. France Nuyen guest stars as Japanese motion-picture voice-over actress Cricket Okasada (an early scene shows her dubbing over actress Kathy Kurtz in outtakes from the TV series Dr. Kildare), while the villainy is in the capable hands of Woodrow Parfrey (as Kutuzov) and Jerry H. Fujikawa (as Harada). Scripted by Mark Weingart from a story by Sherman Yellen, "The Cherry Blossom Affair" originally aired on November 19, 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
If for no other reason, this Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode is memorable for its brief scene between future Star Trek leads William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Shatner is cast as Mike Donfield, a down-and-out pest exterminator who joins UNCLE agents Solo and Illya in a scheme to discredit a power-hungry Balkan diplomat named Kurasov (played by a pre-Hogan's Heroes Werner Klemperer). Nimoy appears as Kurasov's somewhat thick-eared aide, while former child star Peggy Ann Garner plays Donfield's wife Anne. First telecast November 24, 1964, "The Project Strigas Affair" was written by Henry Misrock. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
In this sequel to "The Waiting Game", Kathie Browne returns in the role of Laura Dayton, erstwhile sweetheart of Adam Cartwright. A smooth stranger named Ward Bannister (Peter Breck) arrives in town claiming that Laura's husband had willed her a fortune. Unaware that the duplicitous Bannister is harboring ulterior motives, Laura becomes attracted to the man, causing friction between herself and Adam. Katie Sweet) rounds out the cast as Laura's daughter Peggy. Originally broadcast on February 9, 1964, "The Cheating Game" was written by William L. Stuart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Based on real incidents in the life and death of Lt. Joseph Petrosino (Ernest Borgnine) of the New York police force, this tale set between 1906-1909 details the history of the lieutenant's fight to prove Sicilian Mafia involvement in crimes in his city. Lt. Petrosino has a series of dangerous close calls as he distinguishes himself by saving singer Enrico Caruso from a Mafia bomb outside the Metropolitan Opera, and by also saving the father of Adelina (Zohra Lampert) the woman he loves. Several other exploits eventually lead to Petrosino's trip to Sicily to nail evidence for the Mafia's activities in New York, and for a final meeting with destiny. This represented the last screen credit of scenarist Bertram Millhauser, who died in 1958; he had received his penultimate credit nine years before that, on the 1949 Tokyo Joe. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Borgnine, Zohra Lampert, (more)
- 1958
A child star becomes a brat to hide her loneliness in this drama. The popular little actress is quite insolent and refuses to allow anyone to push her around. She becomes quite stubborn when a studio publicist asks her to do an interview with his ex-wife, a prominent columnist. He finally bribes her into it, and when the contrary miss meets the journalist she takes an immediate shine to her. The lonesome girl becomes so enamored with the woman that she runs away from home to be near her. Trouble ensues when the publicist is arrested for kidnapping. Fortunately the girl turns up, affects a new attitude and happiness ensues all around. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Duryea, Patty McCormack, (more)
- 1957
Prim and proper Ann Cabot (Susan Morrow) arrives in Dodge in hopes of being reunited with her fiance Jack Shomer (played by future director Joseph Sargent). Though Matt tries to hide the truth from Ann, she soon learns that Jack has become a self-pitying alcoholic, who insists that he is no good to anyone. A chance for redemption comes when Ann is accosted by town bully Hank Groat (Guinn Williams)...but a happy ending may not be in the cards, no matter how much Matt hopes that things will turn out for the best. This episode is adapted from the Gunsmoke radio broadcast of April 9, 1955. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
