The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair *** (1983, Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, Patrick Macnee, Tom Mason, Gayle Hunnicutt, Geoffrey Lewis, Anthony Zerbe, Keenan Wynn, George Lazenby) – Classic Movie Review 13,386

The 1983 action thriller film The Return of the Man from UNCLE stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin back to take on wicked Justin Sepheran (Anthony Zerbe) from their ancient enemy THRUSH.

Director Ray Austin’s 1983 American made-for-TV action-adventure spy thriller film The Return of the Man from UNCLE stars Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, and Patrick Macnee, along with Tom Mason, Gayle Hunnicutt, Geoffrey Lewis, Anthony Zerbe, Keenan Wynn, and George Lazenby.

Robert Vaughn and David McCallum pop back for an 80s update on their hit 1964-68 spy show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to take on wicked Justin Sepheran (Anthony Zerbe) from their ancient enemy THRUSH who steals an atom bomb in this Fifteen Years Later Affair.

The assets are a lively script by Michael Sloan, a good support cast and a much better production than the tatty, set-bound one they had in their series. But it’s the sprightly playing from the amiable stars as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin that makes it a pleasure for 60s nostalgists. With the performances and the tone just right, it is campy and fun.

Alas there is no Leo G Carroll as Mr Waverly (except in a photograph) but Patrick Macnee is a decent replacement as Sir John Raleigh, who has taken over as Number 1 of Section I, the Director of U.N.C.L.E.

It was screened on 5 April 1983 as part of The CBS Tuesday Movie and was a ratings success.

After its TV screenings, it was released on video back in the day, and now it is on DVD.

One-time James Bond star George Lazenby has cameo appearance as JB, driving an Aston Martin  DB5, with a license plate saying JB, and with an On Her Majesty’s Secret Service name check (‘It’s just like Her Majesty’s Secret Service’).

It’s a labour of love from fans:

Producer and writer Michael Sloan based his script on a treatment he had written at age 19 during the series’ original run.

Technical advisor Robert Short had acquired many props from the original series at an MGM auction 10 years earlier and incorporated many of them in the movie. He also loaned his personal Aston Martin DB5.

Gerald Fried writes the score as he did for the TV show. Its director of photography Fred J Koenekamp also returns for the film.

The full title is The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair.

They used the office building of the production company as a set for the UNCLE headquarters to save money in case this pilot did not start a series, and sadly none materialised.

The cast

The cast are Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo, David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin, Patrick Macnee as Sir John Raleigh, Gayle Hunnicutt as Andrea Markovich, Geoffrey Lewis as Janus, Anthony Zerbe as Justin Sepheran, Tom Mason as Benjamin Kowalski, Keenan Wynn as Piers Castillian, Simon Williams as Nigel Pennington-Smythe, George Lazenby as JB, John Harkins as Alexi Kemp, Susan Woollen as U.N.C.L.E. receptionist Girl Friday, Randi Brooks as Nude Model, Judith Chapman as Z, U.N.C.L.E. weapons designer, Dick Durock as Guiedo, and Jack Somack as Tailor Shop Proprietor.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,386

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