Napoleon Solo
Encyclopedia
Napoleon Solo is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The series was remarkable for pairing the American Solo, played by Robert Vaughn
, and the Russian
Illya Kuryakin
as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of The Cold War.
as a small screen version of James Bond
. Solo possesses a charm, sophistication, efficiency and weakness for beautiful women comparable to Bond's. However, Solo is considerably less intense and less brutal than the English spy, and possesses a laid-back ease which recalls the young Cary Grant
. The original concept had Solo as a Canadian; however, he is consistently referred to as an American in the show.
Solo is Number One in Section Two (Operations and Enforcement) at U.N.C.L.E. (During the show's black & white first season, the number on his official badge was the Roman numeral 'II,' signifying that he was the head of Section Two. But when the show went to color the following season, Vaughn picked up the new colored badge with "11" on it, and the mistake was never corrected.) It was originally intended that Solo would be the primary focus of the series, however the unexpected popularity of the Russian agent, Illya Kuryakin
played by David McCallum
, saw McCallum elevated to co-star status. Most of the episodes devote equal screen time to Kuryakin and Solo and much of the success of the programme was based on McCallum and Vaughn's chemistry.
He dresses well, and has a taste for expensive suits and ties. His hairstyle and his clothing did not change in the first three seasons but in the fourth and final year, Vaughn (and McCallum) grew his hair much longer and wore modish clothing like double breasted suits in order to reflect evolving 60s fashions, which the show itself had influenced.
In "The Secret Sceptre Affair" it is stated that Solo served in the Korean War
. Nothing much is known about his immediate family, although it appears one of his grandfathers was an admiral, the other was an ambassador ("The Green Opal Affair"). He is college educated. Like his partner he has a wide knowledge of English poetry. Unlike his partner he lacks a broad knowledge of science and technology. He is skilled in martial arts, he can fly a plane and a helicopter.
Like Bond, Solo is a serial womanizer. In the 1st season writer's guide, Solo is described as having a democratic view of women, "Solo believes that all women are created equal, only some are more equal than others." We rarely see him treat a woman with anything other than respect and affection on screen; however, he is involved with countless women and does not maintain a single stable relationship throughout the four years of the show. Although it is never mentioned in the series, one of the original suggestions for Solo’s background had him marrying young and losing his wife in a car accident after only a year of marriage. The only ex-girlfriend of Solo’s who is given any extended screen time is Clara in “The Terbuf Affair” where it is hinted that Solo may be nursing a broken heart as a result of the end of that relationship. In “The Deadly Games Affair” it is revealed that he has a long standing on-off relationship with the THRUSH femme fatale, Angelique. He also seems familiar with other THRUSH female operatives like Serena in "The Double Affair" and Narcissus in "The Project Deephole Affair" as well as various U.N.C.L.E. female agents like Wanda (played by actresses Leigh Chapman and Sharyn Hillyer). He sometimes takes an interest in other people’s romantic affairs and played matchmaker on more than one occasion throughout the series. In "The Deep Six Affair" he objects to Mr. Waverly’s trying to call off the wedding of another U.N.C.L.E. agent.
His charm and social skills are his most potent weapons allowing him to manipulate almost every situation to his own advantage. He is keenly aware of his abilities in this area. When in "The Candidate’s Wife Affair" Kuryakin sees him romancing a woman and asks in exasperation “Don’t you ever turn it off?” Solo responds, "When you’ve got it, you’ve got it - I’ve got it”. There is a certain idealism at the heart of his character. In "The Giuoco Piano Affair" a THRUSH operative offers this summary of Solo's character --
Solo is also an indefatigable optimist, who rarely, if ever, countenances the idea that he might not succeed in everything he attempts. He also has a cool head. Unlike his Russian associate he rarely exhibits anger or loses his temper.
was cancelled mid-way through its fourth season in 1968. Vaughn reprised the role of Solo for a TV movie “The Return of the Man from UNCLE: The Fifteen Years Later Affair”, in 1983.
The character has enjoyed a rich afterlife in fandom
, particularly in fan fiction
. In the 1988 comic Shattered Visage, made as a sequel to the spy show The Prisoner
, Solo and Kuryakin both make cameos at the funeral of a spy, along with John Steed
and Emma Peel
.
The Danish SKA band Napoleon Solo and Spanish indie-pop band http://www.napoleonsolo.es/ are named after him, while El Paso
post-hardcore
band At the Drive-In
have a song named "Napoleon Solo" on their album In/Casino/Out
.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
The series was remarkable for pairing the American Solo, played by Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
, and the Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
Illya Kuryakin
Illya Kuryakin
Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E..The series was remarkable for pairing an American Napoleon Solo and the Russian Kuryakin as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of the Cold War...
as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of The Cold War.
Background
The character was created by Ian FlemingIan Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
as a small screen version of James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
. Solo possesses a charm, sophistication, efficiency and weakness for beautiful women comparable to Bond's. However, Solo is considerably less intense and less brutal than the English spy, and possesses a laid-back ease which recalls the young Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
. The original concept had Solo as a Canadian; however, he is consistently referred to as an American in the show.
Solo is Number One in Section Two (Operations and Enforcement) at U.N.C.L.E. (During the show's black & white first season, the number on his official badge was the Roman numeral 'II,' signifying that he was the head of Section Two. But when the show went to color the following season, Vaughn picked up the new colored badge with "11" on it, and the mistake was never corrected.) It was originally intended that Solo would be the primary focus of the series, however the unexpected popularity of the Russian agent, Illya Kuryakin
Illya Kuryakin
Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin is a fictional character from the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E..The series was remarkable for pairing an American Napoleon Solo and the Russian Kuryakin as two spies who work together for an international espionage organisation at the height of the Cold War...
played by David McCallum
David McCallum
David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
, saw McCallum elevated to co-star status. Most of the episodes devote equal screen time to Kuryakin and Solo and much of the success of the programme was based on McCallum and Vaughn's chemistry.
Personality
The two characters are, in many ways, polar opposites. Solo is urbane, self-assured, sociable, charming and laid-back. Kuryakin, on the other hand, is reserved, intellectual and intense. Although we know almost as little about his background as we do about that of his Russian partner, Solo comes across as the more relatable and straightforward of the two men.He dresses well, and has a taste for expensive suits and ties. His hairstyle and his clothing did not change in the first three seasons but in the fourth and final year, Vaughn (and McCallum) grew his hair much longer and wore modish clothing like double breasted suits in order to reflect evolving 60s fashions, which the show itself had influenced.
In "The Secret Sceptre Affair" it is stated that Solo served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Nothing much is known about his immediate family, although it appears one of his grandfathers was an admiral, the other was an ambassador ("The Green Opal Affair"). He is college educated. Like his partner he has a wide knowledge of English poetry. Unlike his partner he lacks a broad knowledge of science and technology. He is skilled in martial arts, he can fly a plane and a helicopter.
Like Bond, Solo is a serial womanizer. In the 1st season writer's guide, Solo is described as having a democratic view of women, "Solo believes that all women are created equal, only some are more equal than others." We rarely see him treat a woman with anything other than respect and affection on screen; however, he is involved with countless women and does not maintain a single stable relationship throughout the four years of the show. Although it is never mentioned in the series, one of the original suggestions for Solo’s background had him marrying young and losing his wife in a car accident after only a year of marriage. The only ex-girlfriend of Solo’s who is given any extended screen time is Clara in “The Terbuf Affair” where it is hinted that Solo may be nursing a broken heart as a result of the end of that relationship. In “The Deadly Games Affair” it is revealed that he has a long standing on-off relationship with the THRUSH femme fatale, Angelique. He also seems familiar with other THRUSH female operatives like Serena in "The Double Affair" and Narcissus in "The Project Deephole Affair" as well as various U.N.C.L.E. female agents like Wanda (played by actresses Leigh Chapman and Sharyn Hillyer). He sometimes takes an interest in other people’s romantic affairs and played matchmaker on more than one occasion throughout the series. In "The Deep Six Affair" he objects to Mr. Waverly’s trying to call off the wedding of another U.N.C.L.E. agent.
His charm and social skills are his most potent weapons allowing him to manipulate almost every situation to his own advantage. He is keenly aware of his abilities in this area. When in "The Candidate’s Wife Affair" Kuryakin sees him romancing a woman and asks in exasperation “Don’t you ever turn it off?” Solo responds, "When you’ve got it, you’ve got it - I’ve got it”. There is a certain idealism at the heart of his character. In "The Giuoco Piano Affair" a THRUSH operative offers this summary of Solo's character --
"For a man like you, if there's the smallest doubt in your mind, no matter how insignificant the cause, you have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Your respect for what you think is right is your weakness."
Solo is also an indefatigable optimist, who rarely, if ever, countenances the idea that he might not succeed in everything he attempts. He also has a cool head. Unlike his Russian associate he rarely exhibits anger or loses his temper.
Afterlife
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
was cancelled mid-way through its fourth season in 1968. Vaughn reprised the role of Solo for a TV movie “The Return of the Man from UNCLE: The Fifteen Years Later Affair”, in 1983.
The character has enjoyed a rich afterlife in fandom
Fandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
, particularly in fan fiction
Fan fiction
Fan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...
. In the 1988 comic Shattered Visage, made as a sequel to the spy show The Prisoner
The Prisoner
The Prisoner is a 17-episode British television series first broadcast in the UK from 29 September 1967 to 1 February 1968. Starring and co-created by Patrick McGoohan, it combined spy fiction with elements of science fiction, allegory and psychological drama.The series follows a British former...
, Solo and Kuryakin both make cameos at the funeral of a spy, along with John Steed
John Steed
John Steed is a fictional character and the central protagonist on the popular British series The Avengers and The New Avengers, played by Patrick Macnee and Ralph Fiennes in the movie....
and Emma Peel
Emma Peel
Emma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
.
The Danish SKA band Napoleon Solo and Spanish indie-pop band http://www.napoleonsolo.es/ are named after him, while El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, considered part of the post-hardcore genre and active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s hardcore scene...
have a song named "Napoleon Solo" on their album In/Casino/Out
In/Casino/Out
In/Casino/Out is the second full-length LP by American post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, released in 1998. It was recorded as a live studio album, with the intention of better capturing the energy and sound of their live shows....
.