WHV Press Release: The Man From U.N.C.L.E: The Complete Series

Ronald Epstein · 07-08-2008, 02:06 PM

HOME ENTERTAINMENT FANS CAN KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE SPIES JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

WARNER HOME VIDEO RELEASES
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: THE COMPLETE SERIES
ON DVD OCTOBER 21

Collection Includes All 105 Complete Series Episodes With
Over 10 Hours of Viewing Extras

BURBANK, CA, (July 8, 2008) – It was the height of the Cold War, a time when most Americans had only the vaguest understanding of international espionage. Then, in 1964, the televised spy genre exploded on the screen in the U.S. and around the world when the groundbreaking series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. pulled the covers off of the spy game in what became must-watch television for the next four years on NBC. Now, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, Warner Home Video (WHV) releases The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete Series, beautifully packaged in a 60’s style high tech attaché case, complete with all episodes along with hours of viewing extras.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete Series offers fans and collectors all 105 complete series episodes with more than 10 hours of special features in a 41-disc set. The set will retail for $199.92.

From 1964 to 1968, at a time when James Bond was defending the Free World for the British Secret Service, two brilliant and dashing spies joined forces to combat international crime as agents of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. From U.N.C.L.E.’s New York headquarters, cleverly hidden behind Del Floria’s Tailor Shop, they journeyed to every corner of the earth to battle the evil plans of a vast organization, Thrush, and other power-hungry villains and scoundrels. It was a unique collaboration between an American and a Russian.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. represented a series of firsts. It wasn’t just the first successful spy show on American television, it was one of the first TV series to become an international phenomenon, the first to gather a rabid cult of lifelong fans around the world—long before Star Trek, Dark Shadows and other, lesser series gained their following. And, perhaps most importantly, it was the first to demonstrate that American viewers would embrace heroes who did not spring from the traditional John Wayne mold—and who, in some cases, weren’t even American.

The series was nominated for seven Emmy Awards® during its four-year run.

Enhanced content featured on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete Series includes:

SEASON ONE:

PFeaturette – The Cloak and Swagger Affair: The Untold History of “ The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”
PSolo – The Original Color Pilot
PBonus Featurette – U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S: A Celebration of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” Guest Stars

SEASON TWO:

PFeaturette – The Spy-Fi Tour: Archives, Art and Artifacts
PFeaturette Film – One Spy Too Many, 1966
PBonus Feature - U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S: A Celebration of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” Guest Stars

SEASON THREE:

PInterview – Double Agents: The David McCallum and Robert Vaughn Reunion
PThe Secret Tapes of Illya Kuryakin: Home Movies from the Set of “ The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
PBonus Feature - U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S: A Celebration of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Guest Stars”

SEASON FOUR:

PFeaturette – MGM’s Secret Operations
PBonus Feature - U.N.C.L.E. V.I.P.S: A Celebration of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” Guest Stars

BONUS DISC ONE:

N Six Original Featurettes:
PCold War, Hot Spies: U.N.C.L.E. and the Cold War
PGuns, Gizmos, Gadgets and Garb
PBehind the Wheel: U.N.C.L.E.’s Piranha
PFandemonium
PThe Music from U.N.C.L.E.
PThe Girls from U.N.C.L.E.
N Official Debriefings: Interviews with U.N.C.L.E. Actors and Production Staff:
PDean Hargrove, Writer, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
PDavid McCallum, Illya Kuryakin

BONUS DISC TWO:

N Official Debriefings: Interviews with U.N.C.L.E. Actors and Production Staff:
PRichard Donner, Director, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
PGeorge Lehr, Assistant Producer, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
PJoseph Sargent, Director, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
PRobert Vaughn, Napoleon Solo
N TV Appearances and Spots:
PThe 1965 Golden Globe® Awards, aired live on The Andy Williams Show,
January 31, 1966, NBC - Winner, Best TV Show
P1965 Emmy® Broadcast, September 12, 1965 – Robert Vaughn and David
McCallum, Presenters
PDavid McCallum on The Andy Williams Show September 20, 1965
PTom & Jerry Cartoon – “The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R.,” MGM 1967
NPhoto and Image Galleries:
PBehind the Scenes: Designs and Blueprints frm the Set of U.N.C.L.E.
PHidden Camera: An U.N.C.L.E. Photo Gallery
PClassified Files: Network and Studio Documents
PFor Collectors Only: U.N.C.L.E. Memorabilia
PTop Secret: U.N.C.L.E. Motion Picture Advertising and Publicity

“The Man From U.N.C.L.E. remains one of the most influential series in television history, whose impact can still be seen in contemporary genres,” commented Rosemay Markson, WHV Vice President, TV and Special Interest Marketing. She added, “We anticipate strong consumer response to this collection from the show’s loyal, enthusiastic fans.”

Nelson Au · 07-08-2008, 05:17 PM

Wow, this looks like huge news. I forget, but wasn't there some issues a few years back about getting this series out on DVD? I am not a huge fan, so I don't follow this series very closely. I might go for this!

I have a Laserdisc box set that had a mixture of episodes that were picked I'm sure for the guest stars being William Shatner, Leoard Nimoy, Barbara Feldon and Ceasar Romero, plus a few other notables.

Thanks for the news Ron.

Ronald Epstein · 07-08-2008, 05:34 PM

Warner will be announcing GET SMART:The Complete Series shortly
as well. Same set sold by Time/Life.

Bill Parisho · 07-08-2008, 09:26 PM

Good news,bad news,better news:
Good news for me: I already have this wonderful set from the Time-Life release.
Bad news: I paid more for this set that you will pay when it's released to stores in October.
Better news: You will not only pay less, but will still get all of the marvelous bonus features that were in the original release.
Now maybe we can encourage Warner to release "The Girl From UNCLE: The Complete Series" (I can hope, can't I?)

Bill Parisho

Mike*HTF · 07-08-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein

Warner will be announcing GET SMART:The Complete Series shortly as well. Same set sold by Time/Life.

You just made my day!

**HTF Ads**

FrosteyV · 07-08-2008, 10:26 PM

Could good sales on this series, spur Warner to take a chance on their stable of westerns and PI shows? I can dream, can't I?

Nelson Au · 07-08-2008, 10:40 PM

Hmm, I totally missed that this came out from Time/Life!

Ron68 · 07-09-2008, 01:22 AM

This is great news on both counts, been looking forward to getting both the U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart sets. I don't recall ever seeing U.N.C.L.E but I really enjoy spy shows and that set looks awesome. Glad to know there will be a Smart announcement soon, I'll hold off ordering the set from Time/Life for now and see if it will be more affordable if I wait.

DavidJ · 07-09-2008, 01:28 AM

The U.N.C.L.E. set is up for pre-order at the WHV store. It is also at Amazon, but as of now it is much cheaper at WHV. $150 and there are coupons around that will make it cheaper.

Just season one of Get Smart.

Marty McKee · 07-09-2008, 12:18 PM

Argh. I just bought the Time-Life GET SMART set last weekend, after learning that the general release of Season One was sans extras. I assumed that, if there was to be a complete series set, it would also be without the Time-Life extras. Ah, well, I hope I'm wrong, for the sakes of those of you who haven't bought GET SMART yet.

Yee-Ming · 07-10-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson Au

Hmm, I totally missed that this came out from Time/Life!

"Lucky" you!

I have the TimeLife set, so won't be buying the Warner version. One thing I will say, at least there isn't anything added to the Warner set not available on the TimeLife set, otherwise I would be seriously pissed off.

On the plus side, I've already had it a while and enjoyed it. On the minus side, not really, I've hardly had time to watch much of it, just watching the original pilot (in colour) and disc one of season 1, with the edited pilot and two other eps. Oh well.

Art_AD · 07-10-2008, 10:22 AM

I already have this set (just finished the last season a few weeks ago). It is a great series. I wish Warner would have put out a box set this year of the UNCLE movies and also put out the Girl from UNCLE. They know UNCLE sells as they are now puttin