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Starring
Robert Wagner
as Alexander Mundy
Season 3 (ABC) (1969-70)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Guide /
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive / Writers Guild of America (wga)
############## It Takes a Thief ##############
############## season 3 1969-70 ##############
############### (final season) ###############
ABC Thursday 10:00 PM Eastern (25Sep69-25Dec69)
then ABC Mondays (15Jan70-14Sep70)
3.01 [43] It Takes A Thief:
SATURDAY NIGHT IN VENICE
( Filmed in Venice)
25Sep1969 ABC Thu (rerun 30Mar70)
Directed by Jack Arnold
Written by Stephen Kandel
Guest cast:
John Russell ......... William Dover
Delia Boccardo ....... Lita
Severn Darden ........ Ambassador Nikolai Palenkin
Michael Strong ....... Colonel Malkov
Jack Betts ........... Garrison
John Stacy ........... Doctor
Carol Jean Larson .... Nurse
Synopsis:
Mundy tries everything, even defection, to retrieve a secret device he
stole from the Russians. They've poisoned him, with the promise of an
antidote when - and if - the SIA returns the stolen article. [RF]
3.02 [44] It Takes A Thief:
WHO'LL BID TWO MILLION DOLLARS?
(Filmed in Italy).
02Oct1969 ABC Thu (rerun 18May70)
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Written by Robert I. Holt
Guest cast:
Paola Pitagora ....... Jeanette Martine/George
Nicoletta Machiavelli ... Varina
Jacques Herlin ....... Carlot
Nike Arrighi ......... Duchess
Kalam Shamsuddin ..... Indrahan
Callisto Calisti ..... Police Lieutenant
also cameo appearance by
Peter Sellers ........ Harbor Master
co-starring
Edward Binns ......... Wally
Synopsis:
Mundy gets perilously popular with a gathering of vipers who think he's
a free-lance agent peddling plutonium. Peril notwithstanding, Mundy
exploits the confusion to go after the stuff for the SIA. [RF]
3.03 [45] It Takes A Thief:
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
09Oct1969 ABC Thu (rerun 13Apr70)
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Written by Glen A. Larson
Guest cast:
John Van Dreelen ..... General Alekseiko
Teri Garr ............ Maggie Philbin
Michel Bardinet ...... Dumont
Ann Smyrner .......... Lonnie Trevor
Fielding Greaves ..... Kurt
Synopsis:
Al is sent to meet with a defecting general who plans to divulge the rest of
the information he promised on Soviet anti-missile deployment projections;
however, first Al must try to fit in with the beautiful people. [++]
3.04 [46] It Takes A Thief:
THE GREAT CASINO CAPER (Filmed in Italy).
16Oct1969 ABC Thu
Directed by Jack Arnold
Written by Glen A. Larson
Director of photogarphy Enzo Serafin
Guest cast:
Adolfo Celi .......... Eric Redman
Gérard Herter ........ Plummit
Francesco Mulé ....... Funello
Françoise Prévost .... The Marquesa
John Siegfried ....... Tour Guide
Carol Jean Larson .... Casino Girl
co-starring
Fred Astaire ......... Alistair Mundy (recurring)
Synopsis:
The great casino caper, set in Rome, Porto Ercole and the Lido Casino
in Venice. Alister is called in to help with a casino robbery that’s
step one in an SIA scheme to put a counterfeiter out of business. [RF]
*Note: Fred Astaire makes his debut in the recurring role of mast thief
Alistair Mundy, Al's father. [RF]
3.05 [47] It Takes A Thief:
FLOWERS FROM ALEXANDER
(Filmed in Italy)
23Oct1969 ABC Thu (rerun 25May70)
Directed by Bruce Kessler
Written by Glen A. Larson
Guest cast:
Senta Berger ......... Lorrie James
Nigel Patrick ........ Charles
Frank Latimore ....... Peter Sykes
Bill Vanders ......... Mitchell
Venantino Venantini .. Nicholas
Tony Young ........... Ramsey
Allen Emerson ........ Mitchell's Man
Synopsis:
Endangered by the enemy, SIA agent Lorrie James drags Mundy into her
assignment. The caper takes on sinister overtones when Mundy begins to
doubt Lorrie's loyalty. [RF]
3.06 [48] It Takes A Thief: THE BLUE, BLUE DANUBE
(Filmed in Budapest, Hungary)
30Oct1969 ABC Thu (rerun 01Jun70)
Directed by Bruce Kessler
Written by Oscar Brodney
Guest cast:
John Russell ......... William Dover
Robert Ellenstein .... Jan Vladyk
Liliane Montevecchi .. Madame Tanya Varhos
Martine Beswick ...... Maria
Sándor Szabó ......... Franz Varhos
Oscar Beregi Jr. ..... Kerenko
Bill Cort ............ Whitman
Beverly Zon .......... Ilsa
Edward Faulkner ...... Wardlow
Charles R. Radilac ... Karyl
Leo Morrell .......... Friend
Danny Klega .......... Soldier
Carroll Adams ........ Guard
Synopsis:
Mundy heads for Budapest to rescue a kidnaped SIA bigwig. A walking
encyclopedia of the entire hush-hush operation, the man must be plucked
from his cell in a mental institution before he's drugged into spilling
SIA secrets. [RF]
3.07 [49] It Takes A Thief:
THE THREE VIRGINS OF ROME
(Filmed in Italy)
06Nov1969 ABC Thu
Directed by Jack Arnold
Written by Glen A. Larson
Director of photography Enzo Serafin
Guest cast:
Edmund Purdom ........ Styler
Karin Dor ............ Angela Styler
Victor Buono ......... Oliver Kent
Richard Karlan ....... Forbes
Francesco Mulé ....... Funello
Massimo Serato ....... Inspector Sabatini
Cecilia Todeschini ... Carla Minelli
Davy Kaye ............ Roxell
co-starring
Fred Astaire ......... Alistair Mundy
Synopsis:
Three-cornered intrigue surrounds a priceless painting that Al has been
sent to protect: Alister plans to heist the masterpiece from two
scoundrels planning to use it in a charity fraud. [RF]
3.08 [50] It Takes A Thief: PAYOFF IN THE PIAZZA
(Filmed in Milan, Italy)
13Nov1969 ABC Thu (rerun 08Jun70)
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Written by Oscar Brodney
Guest cast:
John Russell ......... William Dover
Susan Saint James .... Charlene 'Charlie' Brown
David Opatoshu ....... General Feng
Cynthia Hull ......... Mamsani Langpoor
Fuji ................. Choi
Richard Loo .......... Dr. Langpoor
Soon-Tek Oh .......... Javanese
Freddy Roberto ....... Alberto
Carla Borelli ........ Queen Consort
Karl Bruck ........... Clerk
Linda Daneaux ........ Switchboard Operator
Rudy Solari
Synopsis:
Al is in Milan, where the wanted wife of a murdered Oriental prince is
hiding out. The S.I.A. wants to get her out of there, before the real
killer, a power hungry general does. [++]
3.09 [51] It Takes A Thief:
THE KING OF THIEVES (Filmed in
Rome, Italy)
20Nov1969 ABC Thu (rerun 27Jul70)
Directed by Bruce Kessler
Written by Glen A. Larson
Guest cast:
Lex Barker ........... Kurt Mattson
Martha Hyer .......... Rhoda Michaels
Michele Cochran ...... Deborah Mattson
Marino Masé .......... Collie
Lionel Stander ....... Max
(went on to play with Robert Wagner in Hart
to Hart as their driver Max)
Ben Ekland ........... Dom
Alex Lucas ........... Doctor
Philip Gittelman ..... Reporter
Tony Young ........... Ramsey
co-starring
Edward Binns ......... Wally
Synopsis:
In Rome, a badly injured Mundy seeks the help of thieves to break an
embarrassing kidnap case. The victim is the daughter of a senatorial
candidate who has been attacking the SIA in his campaign speeches. [RF]
3.10 [52] It Takes A Thief:
A FRIEND IN DEED
(Filmed in Italy)
27Nov1969 ABC Thu (rerun 22Jun70)
Directed by Bruce Kessler
Written by B.W. Sandefur
Guest cast:
John Russell ......... William Dover
Frankie Avalon ....... Guido Cartarenzi
Henry Silva .......... Peter Vale
Thomas Gomez ......... Commandatore Bottirelli
John Myhers .......... Pablo Caprone
Walter Mathews ....... Antonio
Maria Mirka .......... Sophia
Julio Medina ......... Greeter
Britt Nilsson ........ Girl
Synopsis:
In Italy, a past associate puts Mundy in a lethal imbroglio with the
Brotherhood. Small-time thief Guido Cadarenzi, suspected of stealing a
file that identifies the entire mob, tells the gang chieftains that Mundy
is the culprit. [RF]
3.11 [53] It Takes A Thief:
THE SECOND TIME AROUND
04Dec1969 ABC Thu
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Written by Glen A. Larson
Director of photography Richard Batcheller
Guest cast:
Adolfo Celi .......... Eric Redman
Alice Ghostley ....... Miss Prillo
Howard Curtis ........ Griffith
Bill Fletcher ........ Helmuth
Martin Kosleck ....... Zeitman
Phil Montgomery ...... SIA Man
Albert Carrier ....... Croupier
co-starring
Fred Astaire ......... Alistair
Edward Binns ......... Wally
Synopsis:
Alister Mundy has triple trouble: thwarting the assassinations of
himself and son Al, squelching an enemy threat on the U.S. economy and
keeping a lady columnist off base as she probes his affinity for high-level
thievery. [RF]
3.12 [54] It Takes A Thief: THE OLD WHO CAME IN FROM THE SPY
11Dec1969 ABC Thu (rerun 04May70)
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Written by Sy Salkowitz
Story by Sy Salkowitz & Jeannot Szwarc
Guest cast:
Elsa Lanchester ...... Molly Taylor
Francis Lederer ...... Klaus Hoffman
Curt Lowens .......... Hans
Bernard Fox .......... Miles
Erik Holland ......... Willi Schwab
Peter Coe ............ Fritz
Richard Haydn ........ Blanton
Gloria Hill .......... The Girl
Walter Janovitz ...... Doctor
Karl Bruck ........... Desk Clerk
Ray Ballard .......... Bellop
Peter E. Berger ...... Warder
George Perina ........ Customs Inspector
also starring
Edward Binns ......... Wally
Synopsis:
A dotty British agent cum art expert is reactivated to help Mundy with
a heist in an East Berlin museum. For awhile, it's a question of which
will break first - Mundy's nerves or Anglo-American relations. [RF]
3.13 [55] It Takes A Thief: TO LURE A MAN
18Dec1969 ABC Thu
Directed by Barry Shear
Written by Sy Salkowitz
Guest cast:
Joseph Cotten ........ Mr. Jack
Christina Sinatra .... Ellen Peters
Wilfrid Hyde-White ... Technikov
George Murdock ....... Devon
Peter Brocco ......... Franz Stanus
Elizabeth St. Clair .. Arlene
Read Morgan .......... George
Troy Melton .......... Edward
Lora Kaye ............ First Woman
Lucy Bush ............ Second Woman
Frances Stevenson .... Third Woman
Synopsis:
Al's apartment in infiltrated by Soviets intent on using his services to
steal a man, the head of the S.I.A. [++]
3.14 [56] It Takes A Thief:
THE SCORPIO DROP
25Dec1969 ABC Thu (rerun 22Jun70)
Directed by Robert Gist
Written by William Bast
Guest cast:
Gale Sondergaard ..... Madame Olga Millard
Dennis Turner ........ Freddie Millard
Robert Ball .......... Charles Kroft
Brenda Benet ......... Angela Peters
Eduard Franz ......... Mr. Johnson
Ayllene Gibbons ...... Griselda Fisk
Rachel Rosenthal ..... Mrs. Kroft
Bruno VeSota ......... Dr. Simmons
Mary Wilcox .......... Joyce Atkins
Sandy Brown Wyeth .... Miranda Fisk
B.B. Monteil ......... Mrs. Simmons
Will Chilles ......... Bruno
Otto Bohmann ......... Sydney Lehman
Armstrong Marshall ... Henderson
Synopsis:
Al is sent undercover into a group known as the "Order of the Golden Key,"
to retrieve a micro-module that is now in their possession. [RF]
------------------------
Moves to Mondays on ABC (15Jan70-14Sep70)
------------------------
3.15 [57] It Takes A Thief: NICE GIRLS MARRY STOCK BROKERS
15Jan1970 ABC Mon (rerun 07Sep70)
Directed by Barry Shear
Written by Norman Hudis /
Story by Byron Twiggs
Guest cast:
Geoffrey Holder ...... Paul Trionne
Michele Carey ........ Sharon Foster
Paul Stewart ......... Burkhardt
Michele Montau ....... Michelle DeBeck
George Murdock ....... Devon
Koko Tani ............ Koko
Dick Crockett ........ Courier
Frank Arno ........... Artist
Inge Jaklyn .......... Inge
Guy Way .............. Thug
Synopsis:
The murder of one of Paris fashion designer Paul Trionne's models seals
Al's suspicions that the courtier is mixed up in the theft of SIA
secrets. [RF]
3.16 [58] It Takes A Thief:
THE STEAL-DRIVING MAN
19Jan1970 ABC Mon (rerun 11May70)
Written & Directed by Glen A. Larson
Guest cast:
Fernando Lamas ....... Paolo Monteggo
Dick Smothers ....... Parker Rhodes
Felicia Farr ......... Corie Laughton
Greg Mullavy ......... Jackie Taylor
Mario Andretti ....... Himself
Renzo Cesana ......... President
Reggie Nalder ........ Gunther
Ray Ballard .......... Policeman
Carol Wrigley ........ Girl
co-starring
Edward Binns ......... Wally
Synopsis:
Setting out to avert a missile crisis, success hinges on Mundy's
qualifying for a car race in the enemy camp. [RF]
3.17 [59] It Takes A Thief:
TOUCH OF MAGIC
26Jan1970 ABC Mon (rerun 29Jun70)
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Written by Oscar Brodney
Guest cast:
Bette Davis .......... Bessie Grindel
Maurice Marsac ....... Carlo Rubano
Lyn Peters ........... Senora Rubano
Francine Pyne ........ Estelle
Geradi Biegouloff .... Security Man
Martin Garralaga ..... French Waiter
Douglas Henderson .... Doctor
Dan Scott ............ 1st Bodyguard
Robert Munk .......... 2nd Bodyguard
Dennis Cross ......... 1st Passenger
Arthur Batanides ..... 2nd Passenger
Genadii Biegouloff ... Security Guard
Erdo Vatan ........... Hotel Clerk
Synopsis:
An old friend seems to have given up the will to live. A doctor recommends
to Al that she get back into what used to give her life. Bessie "was the
greatest female jewel thief that ever lived," says Al. So he plans a caper
to help her out. [++]
3.18 [60] It Takes A Thief:
FORTUNE CITY
02Feb1970 ABC Mon
Directed by Barry Shear
Written by Sy Salkowitz
Guest cast:
Stefanie Powers ...... Mona
Broderick Crawford.... Harvey Galishaw
Peter Bromilow ....... Frederick
Timothy Carey ........ Art
Synopsis:
Al regains consciousness in an old western town. He has memories of girl he
came there with named Mona, but she's nowhere to be found. [++]
3.19 [61] It Takes A Thief:
SITUATION RED
09Feb1970 ABC Mon
Directed by Joseph Sargent
Written by Glen A. Larson
Guest cast:
William Conrad ....... Voice of the Countdown (uncredited)
Earl Holliman ........ Major Arlin McCoy
Barry Sullivan ....... General Wiley
G.D. Spradlin ........ Colonel Collins
James McEachin ....... Wills
Robert Palmer ........ Peters
Michael Walker ....... Dawson
George Murdock ....... Devon
Michael Bow .......... Castle
Carolyn Nelson ....... Girl
Bartlett Robinson .... Flight Surgeon
Michael Donnen ....... Rose
Gary Van Orman ....... Henderson
Synopsis:
The head of security at a secret government installation is prescribed some
medication that has a side effect of paranoia. When a security situation
gets out of hand, the paranoid major locks himself into a room where the
president controllers the Air Force bombers. Al is called in, when there is
less than thirty minutes to get into that room and recall the bombers. [++]
3.20 [62] It Takes A Thief:
TO SING A SONG OF MURDER
23Feb1970 ABC Mon
Directed by Barry Shear
Written by Norman Hudis
Guest cast:
Joseph Cotten ........ Mr. Jack
Buddy Lester ......... Lenny Freland
Marilyn McCoo ........ Marilyn Lee
George Murdock ....... Devon
Will Kuluva .......... Zoltan
Billy Davis Jr. ...... Billy
Marc Gordon .......... Marc
Paul Micale .......... President Havos
Beah Richards ........ Sister Martha Gowen
Florence La Rue Gordon ..... Florence
Ron Townson .......... Ron
Bones Howe ........... Producer
Frank Arno ........... 1st Reporter
Bill Bonds ........... Newscaster
Ralph L. Williams .... The Huckster, himself
Synopsis:
As Mundy checks out the suspected murder of a female member of The
Group, the case becomes linked to an assassination plot aimed at a
Communist peace envoy. [RF]
Note:
This episode features performances by Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis
(Jr.), Florence La Rue Gordon, Lamonte McLemore, Ron Townson who were all
members of the singing group The Fifth Dimension, a popular group at the
time. Marc Gordon was the group's manager. The group performed two songs:
"One Less Bell to Answer", music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David
and "The Puppet Man", music and lyrics by Neil Sedaka.
3.21 [63] It Takes A Thief:
THE SUZIE SIMONE CAPER
02Mar1970 ABC Mon
Directed by Don Taylor
Written by William Bast & Oscar Brodney
Story by William Bast
Guest cast:
Jane Morgan .......... Suzie Simone
Susan Saint James .... Charlene 'Charlie' Brown
Norbert Schiller ..... Ludwig Drucker
Lee Bergere .......... Raoul
Celia Lovsky ......... Mother Superior
Berry Kroeger ........ Kraus
Murray Matheson ...... Harry Fulham
George Ives .......... Crane Belson
Marc Desmond ......... Doorman
Synopsis:
A man with the diary of a WW II Nazi general is murdered and Wally wants Al
to steal a painting that belongs to a Suzie Simone. The back of the painting
contains a list, naming Nazi war criminals that remained anonymous. [++]
3.22 [64] It Takes A Thief:
AN EVENING WITH ALISTER MUNDY
09Mar1970 ABC Mon
Directed by Jack Arnold
Written by Glen A. Larson
Director of photography Andrew Jackson
Guest cast:
Richard Angarola ..... King Armand
Cindy Eilbacher ...... Princess Carlotta
Lynn Kellogg ......... Gabriella
Gavin MacLeod ........ General Contell
Francesco Mulé ....... Funello
Logan Ramsey ......... Krebbs
Carl Carlsson ........ Poppy
Bruce Morgan ......... Rollo
George Perina ........ Chief Guard
co-starring
Edward Binns ......... Wally
Synopsis:
The master thief buys a traveling circus, conscripts his son Al and an
SIA chief, and masterminds some clever clowning to root political
villans from a royal court. [RF]
3.23 [65] It Takes A Thief:
BEYOND A TREASONABLE DOUBT
(aka Don't Kill Us -- We'll Kill You)
16Mar1970 ABC Mon
Directed by Barry Shear
Written by Norman Hudis
Guest cast:
Joseph Cotten ........ Mr. Jack
Cesar Romero ......... Michael
Ahna Capri ........... Marcia
George Murdock ....... Devon
Whit Bissell ......... Jenkins
Walter Burke ......... Stanley
Alan Baxter .......... Green
Jan Arvan ............ Nilo Cranodj
James McCallion ...... Sangster
Read Morgan .......... Wilett
Synopsis:
Accusations of treason plunge Mundy into a nightmare ordeal:
extricating the truth from a tightly woven tapestry of lies (including an enemy
agent's claim that Al is his SIA contact). [RF]
3.24 [66] It Takes A Thief:
PROJECT X
(final episode)
23Mar1970 ABC Mon (rerun 03Aug70)
Directed by Jack Arnold
Written by Glen A. Larson
Guest cast:
Wally Cox ............ Professor Moses
Christina Sinatra .... Ellen Porter
Lloyd Bochner ........ Dr. George Kingsford
Katherine Woodville .. Laurie MacGuire
Keye Luke ............ Dr. Tanu
Hanna Hertelendy ..... Mme. Kovney
Ben Astar ............ Dr. Dubleski
John Colicos ......... The Man
Richard Loo .......... General Wong
Kenneth Tobey ........ Captain Benny
Synopsis:
A drama of survival unfolds aboard an aircraft carrying Mundy and five
renowned scientists to an international conference. A deranged mind has
devised a fiendish plan to kill them one by one ..... as an unscheduled
in-flight movie justifies the murders. [RF]
############## It Takes a Thief ##############
################### the end ##################
##############################################
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