I'm an advertising man, not a red herring. I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself "slightly" killed.

The Garment Jungle (1957)

"There was only one way to stop that organiser."

"Murder?"

SOPHIE:  Now I take this skinny little fellow who is my property and I sell him.  I sell him at the marketplace at Aquaba, and I get enough money to buy me a new camel!

ILLYA:  I should have known who it was when I saw  you trip over your own feet. NAPOLEON: Gee, I wish I had a dress like that.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Episode 2:07 - “The Arabian Affair”

Look, it’s Illya of Arabia!

This is one of the episodes where Napoleon and Illya are separated for most of the action–and for once I don’t mind it because I enjoy both the A and B plots so much!

So THRUSH has devised a scheme to vaporize people with… bubble bath.

I’ve got to question Sophie’s judgement in this–here she has captured a perfectly good (well, slightly damaged) Illya, and she wants to trade him in for a camel!

Meanwhile, back at U.N.C.L.E. HQ, Waverly seems awfully quick to write off Illya.  It reminds me that under that grandfatherly exterior is something much more callous.

He’s also rather impatient with Napoleon who’s worrying about his partner!

Love the inner workings of THRUSH in this one–of course they have middle managers who punch the clock and bring their lunches to work.  And of course they get rid of their retiring staff by presenting them with exploding gold watches.

“Accidents, health benefits and stock options”–makes THRUSH sound like a good employer (apart from the exploding watches, that is!)  Lewin has been working for THRUSH for 31 years, and watched “the company grow”, which means they gave him a probably much needed during the Depression.

I wonder why they hired a 40-something actor to play a 65-year old in unconvincing age makeup? 

Of course THRUSH is on the 13th floor!

I know some fans hate the way Illya talks to Sophie, but he’s much provoked.  A) She plans to sell him into slavery, and B) he finally snaps at her when she berates him for trying to lend her a hand.

So now he’s pretending to be the son of T.E. Lawrence!  Napoleon is not the only one who can spin a persuasive tale.

Back to THRUSH–I love the way Napoleon preens in his stolen THRUSH uniform.  And he really rocks it, too.

Also like the way he MacGyvers his way out of THRUSH using an explosive watch, a stolen rifle and some bread dough.

Illya and Sulador, duelling with hot pokers!

And now we get Illya all in white, leading the tribe on a white horse.  Someone has got the Lawrence of Arabia aesthetic down pat!