The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Brain-Killer Affair (1964–1968) watch online HD

(continued): which of course any agent can tell you means that Mr. Waverly, section chief of U.N.C.L.E. is down. More specifically, he's been poisoned by THRUSH in this exceptional entry that has just about everything you could ask for in a "Man From U.N.C.L.E." episode.

The unconscious Waverly is rushed to a hospital where, unbeknown-st to Solo and Kuryakin, the demented Dr. Debree (played by the "Bride Of Frankentstein" herself, Elsa Lanchester) is experimenting with a machine that can alter the brains of top government officials and diplomats. While the agents try to ascertain who it was that poisoned their chief, Dr. Debree secretly prepares to add Mr. Waverly to the list of those who've been rendered "half-killed" by her machine.

In addition to the marvelous casting of Lanchester, there's also fine support from guest star Abraham Soefar as the head of U.N.C.L.E.'s Eastern division who arrives to take charge in Waverly's absence. Ex-pro football player turned actor Rosie Grier plays an U.N.C.L.E. agent assigned to protect Waverly, and future "Bat-Girl" Yvonne Craig plays the episode's requisite "innocent" haplessly dragged into the middle of another conflict between U.N.C.L.E. and the forces of THRUSH.

"The Brain Killer Affair" excellently showcases the charisma co-stars Vaughn and McCallum possessed that made them so great in their respective roles. In one scene, Vaughn stands in a room full of mannequins and as he ponders his next move he scratches his chin using the hand off of one of the mannequins. In fact, this suave actor was quite a master when it came to injecting sly humour into almost any episode, but never at the expense of the dramatic and suspenseful aspects of the story.

Likewise, David McCallum, by simply emerging from of an elevator, demonstrates that he is an actor possessed of undeniable presence. Whether it was his physical appearance or perhaps something about the way he carried himself, McCallum made Illya Kuyakin fascinatingly cool to watch, and without having to say much of anything at all.

Featuring some nicely staged action in the 4th act showdown, the proper balance of intrigue and humour is well maintained by the great James Goldstone, demonstrating once again that he was one of the best directors ever to work in television. A shame this was his only episode for the series.

"The Brain Killer Affair" also features possibly the best scoring for any single episode, courtesy of music legend, Jerry Goldsmith who also supplied the U.N.C.L.E. main title theme. In fact, several of his cues from this episode were used in later episodes.

Aside from the fact that the brain draining machine sounds more like a cake mixer than it does a sophisticated device, this is still pretty much a perfect episode that holds up extremely well despite the decades that have passed since it was first broadcast.

THRUSH in the medical profession. A hospital serves as the organization's setting to create mayhem by altering the brains of UNCLE people so that they can be subservient to the deviants.

Look what Elsa Lanchester, a THRUSH doctor, looks like. Her hair resembles Bette Boop or Little Orphan Annie and she is up to many sinister ways with her potions to control the mind.

The bodies begin to pile up and you are left wondering how Lanchester fell down the elevator shaft and was able to survive and state that she will get Solo for what he has done.

Watch out when you check into a hospital. The personnel there may be quite dangerous to your health.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. – The Brain Killer Affair – 1965

This is the 23rd episode of 1964 to 1968 spy series, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. The series ran for a total of 105 episodes. The first season was filmed in black and white with the remainder shot in colour. Robert Vaughn plays agent Napoleon Solo while David McCallum plays Illya Kuryakin. Leo G Carroll plays Mister Waverly, the boss of the secret agency known as U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law & Enforcement) Their main enemy is THRUSH, an organization out to take over the planet.

In this episode, THRUSH kidnaps UNCLE boss, Leo G Carroll while he is in the hospital. The THRUSH baddies had poisoned Carroll while he was having drink at his club. THRUSH medical types, David Hurst and Elsa Lanchester (complete with a Bride of Frankenstein hairdo) have a machine they use to drain information from a person's brain. Using the device however leaves the victim in less than stellar shape in the brain-pan area.

Needless to say Vaughn and McCallum tumble to THRUSH's play and put the kibosh on the evil types. Lanchester goes for a fall down an elevator shaft while trying to run Vaughn through with a blade.

This episode features a whole slew of great guest stars. Besides, Lanchester, there is Abraham Sofaer, Henry Beckman, Nancy Kovack, Liam Sullivan, Mickey Morton, Rosie Grier and the drop dead gorgeous, Yvonne (Batgirl) Craig.

This is an excellent episode with cast and crew firing on all cylinders. Kovack, Hurst, Sofaer, Morton, Sullivan and Craig would all make notable appearances in the upcoming STAR TREK series.