All you really need to know about this needlessly padded two-parter is:
1. It's a lighthearted robbery caper, not a serious espionage story.
2. It's a museum heist yarn inspired by the hit film "Topkapi" (1964)
3. Joey Heatherton is a fairly realistic character, not the dumb bimbo stereotype she usually plays.
Due to the famous, unscripted Culp-Cosby banter, the series got away with major shifts in tone -- from comedic farce one week to heavy drama the next. This is one of their semi- comedic romps without the usual murder and mayhem. The story has nothing to do with espionage per se. Kelley and Scott have to steal a painting from a high-tech museum exhibit in Florence. The set up is an excuse to do a variation of the celebrated heist scene from Topkapi. This could have been an "It Takes a Thief" story (that show's pilot was shot the following year).
Not bad, but not memorable either. The fluffy story did not need to be stretched out to two episodes, and the action-adventure elements -- as well as a decent antagonist -- are noticeably absent.
Fortunately, the DVD release includes a unique preview for part 2. This is a standard opening montage except the top part with a close-up of Culp's eyes is replaced by Joey Heatherton.
1. It's a lighthearted robbery caper, not a serious espionage story.
2. It's a museum heist yarn inspired by the hit film "Topkapi" (1964)
3. Joey Heatherton is a fairly realistic character, not the dumb bimbo stereotype she usually plays.
Due to the famous, unscripted Culp-Cosby banter, the series got away with major shifts in tone -- from comedic farce one week to heavy drama the next. This is one of their semi- comedic romps without the usual murder and mayhem. The story has nothing to do with espionage per se. Kelley and Scott have to steal a painting from a high-tech museum exhibit in Florence. The set up is an excuse to do a variation of the celebrated heist scene from Topkapi. This could have been an "It Takes a Thief" story (that show's pilot was shot the following year).
Not bad, but not memorable either. The fluffy story did not need to be stretched out to two episodes, and the action-adventure elements -- as well as a decent antagonist -- are noticeably absent.
Fortunately, the DVD release includes a unique preview for part 2. This is a standard opening montage except the top part with a close-up of Culp's eyes is replaced by Joey Heatherton.