GOODBYE, NORMAN FELTON

David McCallum and Robert Vaughn fight back in THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Image: MGM.

I was very sad to hear of the 4th July passing of the legendary film/TV producer, British-born Norman Felton. He was 99. As Executive Producer through his ARENA company, he helped bring the iconic four year running MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. TV series (and it's GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. spin-off), developed by Sam Rolfe (and which made above pictured Robert Vaughn and David McCallum international stars and household names), to production reality for MGM from 1965-1968. It's a show that I've always loved and enjoyed, and one that I'm happy to say remains as popular and enduring as ever with audiences in worldwide DVD sales and repeats. And let's also not forget another iconic sixties TV series Felton produced, either: the Richard Chamberlain starring medical drama Dr. KILDARE, nor the many successful TV movies he lent his considerable talents to, including the cult Leonard Nimoy starring, early seventies psychic mystery movie, BAFFLED!

Norman Felton with THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E.'s Stefanie Powers and Noel Harrison. 

KOOL TV sends its condolences to Mr Felton's family and friends in this sad time.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E."

Sex and the single spies! Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin enjoy their work in THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Image: WARNER BROTHERS.

With acclaimed film director Steven Soderbergh recently confirming that he is indeed working on a 1960's set big budget adaptation of the classic THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. TV series, originally developed by Sam Rolfe (from an idea/contribution by JAMES BOND creator Ian Fleming), and starring George Clooney as, we assume, the venerable agent Napoleon Solo, we thought we'd celebrate the news with this fun early season image of Robert Vaughn as the original Solo, with David McCallum as his loyal friend and battle ally against the evil T.H.R.U.S.H. organisation, Illya Kuryakin, alongside a bevvy of sixties beauties.

With the film incoming, lets hope that WARNER BROTHERS can finally pull their fingers out and release some box sets of the original series for its UK fans!