The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series) The Bridge of Lions Affair: Part II (1966) User Reviews

"What do you think, we are science fiction?"

[ShadeGrenade · 8/10 · 30 June 2009]

Part One concluded with a youthful Sir Norman Swickert emerging from the rejuvenation machine. However, Part Two begins with Sir Norman still old. Gritsky ( Harry Davis ) tells Madame de Sala that he has merely initiated the process.

Meanwhile, in the wine cellar, our intrepid heroes are about to be crushed in a press. Jordin stops the machine, and believing Illya dead, tries to question Solo. Illya emerges, and throws a money-clip bomb. Jordin escapes.

The rejuvenated Sir Norman plans to marry de Sala, and resume his political career, but the process is not permanent and he must receive regular treatment. He becomes angry with de Sala, feeling he is being manipulated.

Jordin leads a raid on the House of de Sala in Paris, killing Olga and snatching Gritsky. Now THRUSH has the process...

Part 2 boasts some action, but drags a bit. Perhaps the story would have worked better as a single episode. Maurice Evans gives a remarkable performance as the Churchillian 'Sir Norman'. Vera Miles' 'de Sala' is overshadowed by Bernard Fox's charming 'Jordin'. The rejuvenation machine contains the head of 'Robby The Robot' from the classic 'Forbidden Planet' ( 1956 ).

One question - when Gritsky uses the process on himself, why does his moustache not disappear? Did he have a 'tash' when he was eight years old?

Good to see Leo G.Carroll getting some of the action for once. Love the bit where he knocks out a THRUSH guard!

Cats to Kittens part 2

[gordonl56 · 7/10 · 1 January 2015]

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. – The Bridge of Lions Affair – 1966 Pt - 2

This is the 50th episode of 1964 to 1968 spy series, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. The series ran for a total of 105 episodes. The first season was filmed in black and with the remainder shot in colour. Robert Vaughn plays agent Napoleon Solo while David McCallum, plays Illya Kuryakin, Leo G Carroll plays Mister Waverly, the boss of the secret agency known as U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law & Enforcement) Their main enemy is THRUSH, an organization out to take over the planet.

This one is episode two of a two part story. The review will cover parts one and two.

UNCLE is out looking for a youth rejuvenation machine. They have photos of a scientist who looks 30 years younger than he is. Robert Vaughn is sent off to Paris to look into the matter. David McCallum is sent to London looking for why cats of all things are disappearing off the streets of London. (The cats play an important part later)

Both agents find that there searches lead to the same location. A lab ran by another scientist, Harry Davis. Davis works for Paris beauty salon owner Vera Miles. Miles is in love with a retired UK political type, Maurice Evans. The man is old and confined to a wheel car. Miles wants to give him the treatment.

Needless to say THRUSH finds out about the machine and sends a top man, Bernard Fox to grab the device. UNCLE and THRUSH types do the old cat and mouse thing as each tries to get the upper hand. Even UNCLE boss, Leo G Carroll gets into action on this assignment.

Plenty of red herrings abound with bodies piling up as both hit men and hit women ply their trade. All the plotting and such goes for nothing as the machine is destroyed and the only man who can operate it, Davis, is killed. Miss Miles also takes a bullet for true love. (The cats were being used by the machine to test the results.)

I wanted to like the two parts, but it really does not gel well. There were a bit too many story arcs that go nowhere. The screenplays for both episodes are based on the novel of the same name by Henry Slesar. James (Scotty) Doohan has a small bit in the first episode.