When VIPs start committing suicide in mysterious circumstances, UNCLE agents Solo and Kuriyakin are assigned to the case. Their quest takes them to the exclusive Club Thanatopsis on a Caribbean island; a casino run by ambitious THRUSH man Barnaby Partridge (played by Michael Rennie). He specialises in brainwashing prominent guests who carry sensitive information with the aid of Dr Ieato (played by Robert Ellenstein) who discovers their fears before programming them to take their own lives if they do not betray their secrets. Their latest victim is Ambassador Vanderloon (played by Charles H. Radilack) who cracks under pressure and reveals the location of the International Security Conference. Kuriyakin infiltrates the club, but is overpowered and hypnotised to kill Solo who has recruited eccentric, multimillionaire playboy Taggart Coleman (played by Charles Drake) to help him bring down Partridge's operation. Taggart is persuaded because his former girlfriend, Monica (played by Nobu McCarthy), is employed at the club and is unable to break free from Partridge's clutches...
All in all another solid and enjoyable entry from the fourth and, sadly, final season of the classic spy series, The Man From UNCLE. The episodes took on a more serious, hard-edged approach and were all the better for it following the patchy third season. Michael Rennie offers a strong performance as the ruthless villain who stops at nothing to achieve his ends and fulfil his goal of getting to the top level of THRUSH. Robert Ellenstein is suitably evil as the sinister scientist who specialises in psychological torture, hypnotism and brainwashing in order to get prominent people to betray their secrets. Charles Drake is also noteworthy as the multimillionaire playboy and tycoon who allows himself to be roped into UNCLE's mission because he wants to make up with his former girlfriend, whom he had been led to believe was dishonest to him, and she herself is trapped by THRUSH and its evil doing. This provides the all-important emotional element to the story. Vaughn and McCallam are their usual impressive selves as Solo and Kuriyakin and there is a terrific, suspense-filled finale where Kuriyakin has been programmed to assassinate his friend and colleague, but how will it end? The assured direction is by Sherman Marks who keeps the action and excitement going throughout.
All in all another solid and enjoyable entry from the fourth and, sadly, final season of the classic spy series, The Man From UNCLE. The episodes took on a more serious, hard-edged approach and were all the better for it following the patchy third season. Michael Rennie offers a strong performance as the ruthless villain who stops at nothing to achieve his ends and fulfil his goal of getting to the top level of THRUSH. Robert Ellenstein is suitably evil as the sinister scientist who specialises in psychological torture, hypnotism and brainwashing in order to get prominent people to betray their secrets. Charles Drake is also noteworthy as the multimillionaire playboy and tycoon who allows himself to be roped into UNCLE's mission because he wants to make up with his former girlfriend, whom he had been led to believe was dishonest to him, and she herself is trapped by THRUSH and its evil doing. This provides the all-important emotional element to the story. Vaughn and McCallam are their usual impressive selves as Solo and Kuriyakin and there is a terrific, suspense-filled finale where Kuriyakin has been programmed to assassinate his friend and colleague, but how will it end? The assured direction is by Sherman Marks who keeps the action and excitement going throughout.
