This is a fun, exciting, and milestone episode for "It Takes a Thief" episode.
Adolfo Celi (Emilio Largo of the James Bond "Thunderball" movie) again plays the villain as Eric "the Red" Redman. His participation and the on-location filming in Europe immediately give the viewer a James Bond feel from the start of the episode. Adolfo Celi defines the super villain and immediately raises the level of the episode.
Introducing the acting and dancing legend Fred Astaire as Alexander's Father, Alister Mundy, was a truly brilliant move by the producers. His performance was fun and made you want to believe from the beginning to the end. The performance by Robert Wagner and Fred Astaire left one convened they were Father and Son (if not here, in some parallel universe).
As any loving Father, Alister Mundy looked after his Son by arranging a five point plan for his Son. In exchange for his services, the U.S. Government would provide Alexander:
1 Full and complete pardon and clean criminal record
2) No more threat of returning to prison
3) Negotiate for his talents based upon the risks
4) Keep him on a retainer - a base pay arrangement, as you would an attorney or any other professional man you don't need full time
5) He has the right to refuse any assignment he feels is beneath the dignity of his station or is in way detrimental to his career.
Honestly, the producers short changed themselves and the viewers by not turning this story line into a two part episode. This cast could do an "It Takes a Thief" mini-series or TV movie. The extended possibilities were, at the time, limitless.
I can only hope Neal Caffrey, of White Collar, has a Father of the same caliber as Fred Astaire! It wasn't till I again watched this series I realized how White Collar is a remake of this ground breaking series. May the great aspects of this episode appear in White Collar and may it last for a decade or more.moreless
AIRED:
Wally wants Al to hit the Banco de Casino, where Eric the Red, the biggest all-night banker in the world, is passing counterfeit money. The S.I.A. wants to find the source of this money by forcing Redman to speed up his timetable for distribution. To even have a chance of pulling off the job, Al needs help from the greatest thief who ever lived, his father.moreless
 Malachi Throne |
Noah Bain |
 Robert Wagner |
Alexander Mundy |
Adolfo Celi |
Eric Redman |
Guest Star |
Francesco Mule |
Funello |
Guest Star |
Gerard Herter |
Plummit |
Guest Star |
Edward Binns |
Wally |
Recurring Role |
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
-
TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA-
The episode marks the end of Alexander Mundy prison sentence, criminal record, and his indentured servitude to the U.S. Government. As his Father's fee, the U.S. Government must agree to give Alexander:
1) A full and complete pardon.
2) No more threats about going back to jail.
3) Negotiated fees based upon the risks.
4) Retainer (base pay arrangement as one does with an attorney or other professional not needed on a full time basis).
5) Last he has the right to refuse any assignment he feels is below the dignity of his station or detrimental to his career.
-
-
QUOTES (0)
ADD QUOTES- ADD QUOTES from this episode.
-
NOTES (1)
ADD NOTES-
Fred Astaire appears in the opening credits and does the intro at the end which was done in the past by either Malachi Thorne or Robert Wagner. And what he says is "I heard of stealing from the government but for the government."
-
-
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
|
Sunday
No results found.
Monday
No results found.
Tuesday
No results found.
|
-
This show is great for...
03/18/102
-
Is this the same show I watch, 'cause it doesn't sound like it!
08/19/076
-
The Lay of the Land
S 1 : Ep 16
Aired 4/30/68 (50:47)
-
A Matter of Royal Larceny
S 1 : Ep 15
Aired 4/23/68 (50:50)
-
Locked in the Cradle of the Keep
S 1 : Ep 14
Aired 4/16/68 (50:49)
-
The Radomir Miniature
S 1 : Ep 13
Aired 4/9/68 (50:48)
Season 3 Episodes
See AllEp 24
Project "X"
Ep 23
Beyond a Treasonable Doubt
Ep 22
An Evening With Alister...
Ep 21
The Suzie Simone Caper
Ep 20
To Sing a Song of Murder
Ep 19
Situation Red
Ep 18
Fortune City
Ep 17
Touch of Magic
Ep 16
The Steal-Driving Man
Ep 15
Nice Girls Marry Stockb...
Ep 14
The Scorpio Drop
Ep 13
To Lure a Man
Ep 12
The Old Who Came in Fro...
Ep 11
The Second Time Around
Ep 10
A Friend in Deed
Ep 9
The King of Thieves
Ep 8
Payoff in the Piazza
Ep 7
The Three Virgins of Rome
Ep 6
The Blue, Blue Danube
Ep 5
Flowers From Alexander
Ep 4
The Great Casino Caper
Ep 3
The Beautiful People
Ep 2
Who'll Bid Two Million ...
Ep 1
Saturday Night in Venice
-
DennisKytasaari USER EDITOR
User Score: 358
-
Gislef TRUSTED
User Score: 116
-
pounder19r
User Score: 27
-
char2renee
User Score: 23
-
Mafeu
User Score: 8
-
AprilFox
User Score: 6
-
sounddude
User Score: 6
-
jaynashvil
User Score: 6
-
jlawn
User Score: 5
-
bboys577
User Score: 5
More
Less