Tuesday, April 10, 2012

FINALLY ON UK DVD: 'THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.'

Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) and Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) get some adrenaline back into their lives, in the reunion movie: THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Images: CBS.

Thankfully not quite ready for the retirement home just yet, those fearless men from U.N.C.L.E. - the indomitable Napoleon Solo (always played with charm and exemplary panache and good manners by Robert Vaughn) and his super-cool Russian comrade Illya Kuryakin (the plucky and seemingly age-less David McCallum) - are back to fight one last battle against their dreaded nemesis, THRUSH (that's Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity to you and me!), in the lively and ratings successful one-off reunion film from April 1983: THE RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. - The Fifteen Years Later Affair, now finally available on UK DVD, after years of waiting, from FABULOUS FILMS.

Check out the KOOL TV overview and review of this underrated and enjoyable feature length TV film, with a starry cast and full of action and good humour from writer/director Michael Sloan, here: KOOL TV WANTS ON UK DVD: "RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E."

Together again after fifteen years: Robert Vaughn and David McCallum.

Picture quality-wise, this DVD has the nicest on-screen transfer of the movie yet, far removed from those grainy colour-less copies shown by ITV in the mid-eighties, or on its later poor condition, this tape will ruin your player, VHS release. Sadly, there are no extras accompanying this premiere DVD release beside a brief stills gallery and bios- its a shame that FABULOUS FILMS couldn't have at least tracked down Robert Vaughn for an audio commentary on it: he's been in the UK on and off for the last eight years doing HUSTLE!- but just to have the film in decent quality is fine and dandy with me, and proves a worthy addition to any U.N.C.L.E. or CULT TV fans growing collection.

It's the only time you'll ever get a type of THRUSH you'll enjoy!

DVD sleeve for the UK release. Image: FABULOUS FILMS.

Now, if only someone at WARNER BROTHERS could properly release the entire original series in the UK!

KOOL TV RATING (OVERALL PACKAGE): 3.5 out of 5

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