It Takes a Thief

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ABC (ended 1970)

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It Takes a Thief

Show Summary

Alexander Mundy was a cat burglar and professional thief who had style, class and talent. He made only one mistake -- getting caught. While serving a sentence in San Jobel Prison, he was contacted by representatives of the US Government spy agency, SIA. They offered to get him out if he would put his talents to work stealing for the government. Accepting the offer, he worked closely with an SIA department head, Noah Bain, who was his boss, aide, associate, friend and watchdog. During the second season he was now a free agent and his new SIA contact was Wallie Powers. Alexander's dad Alister became a semi-regular who was also a retired thief, from whom he had learned all his skills, and who occasionally teamed with his son on special jobs.
First air date: January 9, 1968 Last air date: March 23, 1970 Original air time: Tuesday 8:30:00 pm (Eastern)moreless

Episode Guide

S 3 :  Ep 24 Aired 3/23/70
S 3 :  Ep 23 Aired 3/16/70
S 3 :  Ep 22 Aired 3/9/70
S 3 :  Ep 21 Aired 3/2/70
S 3 :  Ep 20 Aired 2/23/70
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Cast & Crew

Malachi Throne

Malachi Throne

Noah Bain
Robert Wagner

Robert Wagner

Alexander Mundy
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Fan Reviews (7)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • The Absolute Best TV Show... Ever!

    10
    By JudyDevereaux, Feb 07, 2012
    This show started it all for me--at 13 years old, I was swept away by the hot, suave, Alexander Mundy--the "thief who wasn't really a bad guy." I was beyond elated when it finally came out in dvd, but while I was waiting, I wrote my own 3-book series--kind of an updated version, but with my own characters. REQUISITION FOR: A THIEF. Book 1, A Diamond for the Taking will be out and available at Amazon.com in March 2012, Book 2 to follow in the fall. My series, just like "It Takes a Thief," (and unlike the new cable series "White Collar") revolves around the thief being brought into a covert espionage team--literally to steal for the U.S. government.

    All kudos to Roland Kibbee--this created gem was the highest form of brilliance!moreless

  • A wonderful show that keeps on giving those warm, wonderful, delightful feelings we look for in a TV series.

    10
    By bmoshier, Jan 25, 2011
    This is an absolutely wonderful series, especially the last season when the threat of prison no longer exists. Honestly, the highest praise I give for a series is "Outstanding, let's have a remake!" and I give it to "It Takes a Thief." I don't want to see a corny remake, but a serious one. One along the lines of "White Collar," which actually one could consider to be a "It Takes a Thief" remake, but on a more low key energy plain.



    I realize this review is late to the game, as the series has been over for awhile. "Me Too," a local Chicago TV station is replying the third season and with it a flood of old first run memories from when I was a kid are coming back. If after 40 years the positive memories come back, the series really was that good. If you get a chance watch some of the "It Takes a Thief" episodes (especially the third season with Fred Astaire) and while you're at it fire up the DVR and add "White Collar" as the modern day version.moreless

  • Just out on Parole from the San Jobel prison to work for the SIA. All a tongue in cheek spoof from the time appropriate late 60s. A shot at the Bonds, CIA, Prison reform and general morals of the times.moreless

    10
    By johnniedoo, Apr 08, 2010
    Al Mundy by Robert Wagner the parolee with class, style and unmatched talent, with the exception of his father, Fred Astaire who was introduced in the last season to bolster ratings i think.

    I remember when the show came out, scam, con and hustle type shows were hot. Having tv where a crook could get away with a caper was new. The Hayes doctrine stretched to tv and morals and virtue were in movies and tv shows. We were waiting for some of the good guy, robin hood types to be able to get away with some of their crimes particularly when the government or big business was the victim.

    Al could climb up the sides of buildings break into any safe known to man and charm the jewels right off the necks of the hot society ladies. He had charm and finesse.

    I miss that kind of fantasy, harmless capers saving western civilization with one masterful theft. I am glad it is available on Hulu. It isnt the most inventive and does get a bit repetitive but it was cut to only 3 seasons. I had looked for it prior to Hulu and couldnt locate it, even for sale on dvd. there were some vhs episodes but they werent of great quality.

    There were 67 or 69 episodes lots of stars from the golden age of the silver screen got to guest on the show so getting to rewatch them now some 40years after seeing them for the first time is a treat for me. I was an impressionable youth late teens and took to heart some of the wisdom imparted by the suave cat burgler who was able to fool so many foreign police agencies with his disguises which all looked alike to even me as a kid. Wagner did not posess the skills of some of the more talented character actors but still could pull off the show using his one accent and harsh whisper voice to be a german, russian, brit or whatever and his coveralls, moustache and cap made him any nationality. Very low brow for sure but for some reason he made it work for lots of us.

    thanks to hulu and hope netflix can get it or alpha or some house will take over and release the dvdsmoreless

  • A fun show to watch, after a while it is a bit repetitive.

    8.3
    By tiewashere, Jan 24, 2007
    This WAS a very interesting show when I first watched it. I watched it almost every night because I loved it so much. After the first week, I kept on receiving the same thing. Pick house, break in, doesn't get caught, takes things, family upset, confront burglar, new alarm, try again, YAY! It is the same every episode. It is a wonderful, fresh, and fun new show but seriously needs some tuning around the new events list.moreless

  • A classic and fun show...

    9.0
    By MyCritique, Jan 01, 2007
    I remember my sister and I watching this show back in the day, fascinated by some of the antics. This was probably the main show that made me a Robert Wagner fan and I proceeded to seek out anything that he was in. Malachi Throne, as a prolific character actor, added alot of gravity to the show, and of course, what could one say about Fred Astaire? Ironically, Fred would later guest star in a Battlestar Galactica episode in a similar role mentoring new-found son Starbuck in the...ahem.... arts.



    Interestingly, this type of drafting of criminals to work for the gov't formula would occur over and over in network television and it seems that this show helped to further typecast Wagner into the mischievous playboy roles that would populate his later film and television credits.moreless
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    Categories

    Drama

    Themes

    failed crime, illegal activities, paranoia, suburban life, Classics

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