A sad way to end an "Affair."

Victor Field

"How to Steal the World" was the last of eight (!) movies MGM culled from "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and released to cinemas outside North America, and in fact it was put together from the final story of the series (the two-part episode "The Seven Wonders Of The World Affair"). Alas, even if you didn't know it was from the last episodes you could tell the end was near - neither Vaughn nor McCallum has his heart in this latest U.N.C.L.E. vs T.H.R.U.S.H. escapade, and indeed no one else (except for Leslie Nielsen) can be bothered to act with conviction. Limply written and directed, and with Jerry Goldsmith conspicuously absent from the credits for his theme, this is a depressing experience all round. (Mind you, so was the fourth season of the show.) Stick with the other seven ersatz movies.

score /10

Victor Field 12 September 2001

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0102653/