It Takes a Thief
Encyclopedia
It Takes a Thief is an American
action-adventure television series that aired on ABC
for two and a half seasons between January 9, 1968, and March 24, 1970. It starred veteran movie actor Robert Wagner
in his television debut as sophisticated thief Alexander Mundy, who works for the U.S. government in return for his release from prison. For most of the series, Malachi Throne
played Noah Bain, Mundy's boss.
It was among the last of the 1960s spy television genre, although Mission: Impossible
continued for several years. It Takes A Thief was inspired by, though not based upon, the 1955 Cary Grant motion picture To Catch a Thief
, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
; both of their titles stem from the English
proverb "It takes a thief to catch a thief."
, featured the adventures of cat burglar, pickpocket, and thief Alexander Mundy, who steals to finance his life as a polished playboy and sophisticate. He is in prison when the U.S. government's SIA (secret intelligence agency) proposes a deal to Mundy: steal for the government in exchange for his freedom. Mundy is puzzled, and asks, "Let me get this straight. You want me to steal?" In the main opening titles, his new SIA boss, Noah Bain, uses the catch phrase, "Hey, look, Al, I'm not asking you to spy. I'm just asking you to steal." In pre-production, the title began as Once a Crook.
The series opened with its pilot
episode, a ninety-minute (with commercials) special premiere titled "A Thief is a Thief is a Thief," whose source story Kibbee wrote and dramatized and which Leslie Stevens
directed. When the series was released into syndication in the 1970s, the pilot episode was withheld from the series' syndication package, and was expanded into a 99-minute feature film for overseas release and was eventually released in a separate domestic syndication package, under the title Magnificent Thief. This feature film version of the pilot episode was released on home video in the 1990s.
Later, in the series' third season, Throne was replaced by Edward Binns as Mundy's SIA boss, Wallie Powers. Also during the third season, Fred Astaire
played Alistair Mundy, Alexander's father, also a master gentleman-thief, who says bemusedly, at the start of each episode in which he appears, "I've heard of stealing from the government, but stealing for the government?" It was the Astaire-less episodes of this final year that featured Wagner's "You want me to steal?" line.
The following is drawn from Dean Brierly's writings in Cinema Retro magazine on Friday, July 18. 2008.
Binns’s Powers proved to be no match for Throne's Bain. Ironically, Throne’s own rebellious streak proved to be what resulted in his leaving the show. As Throne explained: “They had this idea of shooting the whole season in Italy, but they wanted me to stay behind and give Wagner’s character...orders over the phone. I told them if I didn’t go I’d quit, and I did. The show didn’t last another half a season.” Throne was incorrect, as the third season was a full one, and when part of it was in the event filmed in Europe, Binns made the trip. He is especially prominent in the episode which introduced Astaire as Alistair Mundy, and guest-starred Italian actor Adolfo Celi
.
Susan Saint James
appeared on five episodes. Charlene Holt
appeared in 3 episodes. Other guest stars included prominent former Hollywood motion picture figures such as Bette Davis
, Joseph Cotten
, Paul Henreid, Fernando Lamas
and Ida Lupino
.
announced plans to release It Takes a Thief - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 for the first time. The 18-disc set, the announcement went on, would feature all 66 episodes of the series as well as several bonus features.
cable network.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
action-adventure television series that aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
for two and a half seasons between January 9, 1968, and March 24, 1970. It starred veteran movie actor Robert Wagner
Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner is an American actor of stage, screen, and television.A veteran of many films in the 1950s and 1960s, Wagner gained prominence in three American television series that spanned three decades: It Takes a Thief , Switch , and Hart to Hart...
in his television debut as sophisticated thief Alexander Mundy, who works for the U.S. government in return for his release from prison. For most of the series, Malachi Throne
Malachi Throne
Malachi Throne is an American actor, most noted for his roles on Star Trek and It Takes a Thief.Throne was born in New York City...
played Noah Bain, Mundy's boss.
It was among the last of the 1960s spy television genre, although Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
continued for several years. It Takes A Thief was inspired by, though not based upon, the 1955 Cary Grant motion picture To Catch a Thief
To Catch a Thief (film)
To Catch a Thief is a 1955 romantic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis and John Williams. The movie is set on the French Riviera, and was based on the 1952 novel of the same name by David Dodge...
, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
; both of their titles stem from the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
proverb "It takes a thief to catch a thief."
Premise
It Takes a Thief, which was created by television writer Roland KibbeeRoland Kibbee
Roland Kibbee was an American screenwriter and producer.- Works :...
, featured the adventures of cat burglar, pickpocket, and thief Alexander Mundy, who steals to finance his life as a polished playboy and sophisticate. He is in prison when the U.S. government's SIA (secret intelligence agency) proposes a deal to Mundy: steal for the government in exchange for his freedom. Mundy is puzzled, and asks, "Let me get this straight. You want me to steal?" In the main opening titles, his new SIA boss, Noah Bain, uses the catch phrase, "Hey, look, Al, I'm not asking you to spy. I'm just asking you to steal." In pre-production, the title began as Once a Crook.
The series opened with its pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
episode, a ninety-minute (with commercials) special premiere titled "A Thief is a Thief is a Thief," whose source story Kibbee wrote and dramatized and which Leslie Stevens
Leslie Stevens
Leslie Clark Stevens III was the creator of the cult TV series The Outer Limits and director of the cult horror film Incubus , starring William Shatner. He wrote an early work of New Age philosophy, Est: The Steersman Handbook .-Early life and career:Leslie Stevens was born in Washington, D.C...
directed. When the series was released into syndication in the 1970s, the pilot episode was withheld from the series' syndication package, and was expanded into a 99-minute feature film for overseas release and was eventually released in a separate domestic syndication package, under the title Magnificent Thief. This feature film version of the pilot episode was released on home video in the 1990s.
Later, in the series' third season, Throne was replaced by Edward Binns as Mundy's SIA boss, Wallie Powers. Also during the third season, Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
played Alistair Mundy, Alexander's father, also a master gentleman-thief, who says bemusedly, at the start of each episode in which he appears, "I've heard of stealing from the government, but stealing for the government?" It was the Astaire-less episodes of this final year that featured Wagner's "You want me to steal?" line.
The following is drawn from Dean Brierly's writings in Cinema Retro magazine on Friday, July 18. 2008.
- "For all Wagner's abilities, however, It Takes a Thief was its most effective when Throne made his powerful presence as Noah Bain manifest. Wagner's stage-trained primary cast-mate, whose trademarks included a deep distinctive voice, was a working actor in many "cult" television productions during the 1960s and 1970s. His burly physique and stolid slab-like face enabled Throne to excel as gruff authority figures, and his keen intelligence and surprisingly wide emotional range added fascinating layers to his performances. The potent onscreen chemistry he and Wagner displayed gave a real edge to their characters's adversarial relationship. Bain, whom Magnificent Thief had shown to be the police detective who had brought about Mundy's arrest and imprisonment, was hard-nosed, with a ruthless streak, and he frequently threatened to return Mundy to prison if the latter stepped out of line. Yet he also maintained a healthy respect for Mundy’s criminal talents, as well as a grudging affection for the master criminal himself."
Binns’s Powers proved to be no match for Throne's Bain. Ironically, Throne’s own rebellious streak proved to be what resulted in his leaving the show. As Throne explained: “They had this idea of shooting the whole season in Italy, but they wanted me to stay behind and give Wagner’s character...orders over the phone. I told them if I didn’t go I’d quit, and I did. The show didn’t last another half a season.” Throne was incorrect, as the third season was a full one, and when part of it was in the event filmed in Europe, Binns made the trip. He is especially prominent in the episode which introduced Astaire as Alistair Mundy, and guest-starred Italian actor Adolfo Celi
Adolfo Celi
Adolfo Celi was an Italian film actor and director.-Life and career:Born in Messina, Sicily, Celi appeared in nearly 100 movies, specializing in international villains. His most famous role was as Emilio Largo in the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball...
.
Susan Saint James
Susan Saint James
Susan Saint James is an American actress and activist, most widely known for her work in television during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.-Early life:...
appeared on five episodes. Charlene Holt
Charlene Holt
Verna Charlene Stavely, professionally known as Charlene Holt, was an American actress, known for her supporting roles in TV and film.-Early life:...
appeared in 3 episodes. Other guest stars included prominent former Hollywood motion picture figures such as Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
, Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cheshire Cotten was an American actor of stage and film. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original productions of The Philadelphia Story and Sabrina Fair...
, Paul Henreid, Fernando Lamas
Fernando Lamas
Fernando Álvaro Lamas was an Argentine-born actor and director, and the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early life and career:...
and Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino was an English-born film actress and director, and a pioneer among women filmmakers. In her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed seven others, mostly in the United States. She appeared in serial television programmes 58 times and directed 50 other episodes...
.
DVD release
On November 15, 2011, Entertainment OneEntertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd is a leading international entertainment business operating in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand...
announced plans to release It Takes a Thief - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 for the first time. The 18-disc set, the announcement went on, would feature all 66 episodes of the series as well as several bonus features.
Syndication
As of early November of 2011, It Takes a Thief could be seen in syndication on the Antenna TVAntenna TV
Antenna TV is an American digital broadcast television network, primarily featuring classic television series from the 1950s to the 1990s, along with some feature films. It is owned by Tribune Broadcasting, a division of the Chicago-based Tribune Company...
cable network.