"The Man From U.N.C.L.E." (1967)Character: Amanda TrueEpisode: Season 3, Episode 28 "The Five Daughters Affair" (later released theatrically as "The Karate Killers")Duration: 60 minutesPremiered: March 31, 1967 (NBC)
Episode synopsis:
Following the sudden death of her scientist husband Simon True (Jim Boles) from an apparent heart attack, THRUSH mastermind Randolph (Herbert Lom) visits Amanda True (Joan Crawford) to find documentation about the secret formula Dr. True had been working on to transform water into gold.
When Amanda is oblivious to any knowledge of the formula, it angers Randolph, who then lets Amanda know it was he who caused her husband's death by having Amanda give him "vitamins" that were actually poison. Enraged, Amanda attempts to stab Randolph with a nearby letter opener, however Randolph stops her attempt. The scene closes with THRUSH agents closing in around her as she pleads for forgiveness for unknowingly participating in her husband's death.
In the next scene, U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) arrive at Amanda's house to question her, but find the house ransacked and Amanda missing. As Napoleon talks with Dr. True's daughter from a previous marriage (Kim Darby), who has also just arrived to the house, Illya discovers Amanda's dead body laying on the floor under a window curtain.
Cast & Crew:
Director: Barry Shear
Written By: Boris Ingster (Story), Norman Hudis (Teleplay)
Producer: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Joan Crawford - "Amanda True"
Robert Vaughn - "Napoleon Solo"
David McCallum - "Illya Kuryakin"
Herbert Lom - "Randolph"
Kim Darby - "Sandy True"
Jim Boles - "Simon True"
Production:
For the production, Joan returned to the MGM Studios lot for the first time in 14 years.
Joan filmed her scenes for this episode in February 1967.
Originally filmed as a two-part episode entitled "The Five Daughters Affair," this episode was later released theatrically as "The Karate Killers."
Webmaster's Note: There are two versions of Joan's scenes from this production available. They are parallel in dialogue, however, one version's camera angles are slightly different than the other version. Also, Joan and the other actors deliver some of their dialogue in a slightly different manner.
There is a life mask of Joan Crawford in existence, which is believed by this Webmaster to have been created for this project. For the scene involving the discovery of Amanda's body, it is obvious to the viewer they are looking at a dummy with a "mask" of Joan Crawford on it, rather than at the actual Joan Crawford appearing in this brief shot.