It Takes a Thief (1968 TV series)

• Robert Wagner: Al Mundy
• Malachi Throne: Noah Blain
• Edward Binns: successor of Noah Blain
• Fred Astaire: Al Mundy's father

It Takes a Thief ( Original title: It Takes a Thief ) is an American television series starring Robert Wagner as agents in the service of a fictional American Intelligence.

As the audience already hear every time the opening credits, Thief experienced comparatively non-violent adventure unlike other fictional secret agent. After all, he is not a killer, but a contract thief. Right at the beginning of the series is demonstrated by means of a cunning attempt outbreak of the imprisoned heroes that Al Mundy is to achieve its objectives on tricks and disguises. Accordingly, he refuses even to carry a weapon. As a reason for this refusal, he refers to his " professional reputation " as a thief. His orders are to requisition things as inconspicuously as possible, to protect it from theft by others or to make exchanges reversed. If attacked, he defends himself if need be by force, but violence is never part of his job for him as an agent.

Peculiarities

By combining Agent / thief a hero was created, which differs from both James Bond and his countless imitators, as well as other fictional thieves like Arsène Lupin and Simon Templar. Al Mundy often shows human sympathy for the people he met during his orders. Stealing it operates as a profit-making activity which he has inherited from his father and grandfather. If his father actually appear in the series, gives the series an epic attribute and is already taking elements from Sidney Lumet's film honorable crooks from 1989 anticipated.

Guest Stars

In the first episode Senta Berger is playing his watcher. From this pilot, there are two strikingly different versions in which the plot and thus their scenes are different. At the end of the episode a Thief needs to list the mounted anywhere in his apartment cameras to get her sight unseen detail. The guards, whom he outwits here is played by Leslie Nielsen. In the second season, it has to do with the hulking Richard Kiel Al Mundy, who here has more dialogue than in his appearances as an opponent of James Bond.

German synchronization

Awards

The cameraman Ralph Woolsey was awarded in 1968 for his work on the episode A Thief is a Thief is a Thief in the category Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Emmy.

Leading actor Robert Wagner was nominated in 1970 for his role both for an Emmy as well as a Golden Globe, but could not win any of the prizes.