1 9 6 8 – 1 9 7 0 (USA)
65 x 50 minute episodes
It Takes a Thief swiped the basic concept of the 1955 Hitchcock film To Catch A Thief and made it into a series, which ran on ABC from January 1968 to September 1970.
Handsome high-end thief Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner) was cooling his heels in San Jobel prison when he was offered a chance to work for the US government’s SIA intelligence agency on clandestine operations stealing important secrets from various European Cold War enemies.
Since tooling around Europe in fast cars and living the high life with various gorgeous babes was more fun than doing time, he agreed.
Between missions, Mundy was forced to return to custody, but when he was out he certainly made the most of it.
Mundy’s original government contact was Noah Bain (Malachi Throne). In later episodes (when Mundy was no longer locked up between assignments), Wallie Powers (Edward Binns) was his new SIA chief.
Fred Astaire was introduced as Mundy’s ex-thief dad, Alister, who taught his son the ins and outs of the biz and occasionally accompanied Alexander on certain missions.
Alexander Mundy
Robert Wagner
Noah Bain
Malachi Throne
Wallie Powers
Edward Binns
Al Mundy
Fred Astaire
