Edgar Wallace

Back in the late 60s & early 70s when I was growing up, I always was on the lookout for old horror and science fiction movies on TV. I'd watch the various "Creature Feature" packages that would run various films from the 50s & 60s on weekday and weekend afternoons and evenings. Then one day I came across one of the films made in (the then-existing) West Germany -I believe it was 1961's Dead Eyes of London , and I was hooked! I soon discovered these films (which included 1958's The Fellowship of the Frog and 1965's The Sinister Monk ) were based on the works of British mystery writer Edgar Wallace (1872-1932).

At the Movie Morlocks blog, Richard Harland Smith gives an excellent overview of Mr. Wallace's life & works, and of course the German krimi films made based on his books during 1958-1972. Mr. Smith also includes links of related interest as well. Here's the opening scene from one of the later Wallace adaptations. -Ed

From In2TV: The Original Man From U.N.C.L.E. Pilot: Solo

There's a great online source called In2TV where you can download episodes of old TV shows. Plus a few surprises like this color pilot film for The Man From U.N.C.L.E. entiled Solo from early 1964:

The pilot was very loosely based on an idea by James Bond creator Ian Fleming , who contributed the name of the "Napoleon Solo" character (played by Robert Vaughn) and was "fleshed out" by writer Sam Rolfe for producer Norman Felton . (it was Rolfe who came up with the whole multinational U.N.C.L.E. concept and the "Illya Kuryakin" character played by co-star David McCallum). After footage from it was used for a reedited black and white version to kick off the series in September, 1964, it was re-released in color two years later,with added scenes and characters, as the theatrical film To Trap A Spy . The latter version isn't on DVD domestically but the two earlier versions can be found on the recently released Time Life set.

I always get a kick seeing the evil THRUSH assassins invading U.N.C.L.E.'s New York's "futuristic" (well, for 1964, anyway) headquarters in the opening act and the cool Jerry Goldsmith musical score, as well as screenwriter Rolfe's attempts to stress characterzation. Guest star Fritz Weaver's "Vulcan" character may be a rotten opportunist and killer (and by today's standards, definitely what we'd now call a terrorist), but he's also a lonely, bitter guy who never got over losing his first love despite all his millions. The chemistry between stars Vaughn & McCallum, however brief their scenes together are in this first installment, are evident, and McCallum would get more opportunities to strut his stuff in subsequent episodes.

Anyway, enjoy! -Ed