In spite of my efforts, this comment is biased. I am Argentine, and this episode introduces the character of an Argentine businessman, owner of an import-export company seated in London and Panama. The character, named Carlos Barella (or Borella in the closing titles) is played by handsome, suave and debonair Argentine actor Carlos Thompson. At the beginning of the episode, Strait is arrested in Cuba for photographing something he shouldn't. Desperate, Strait's assistant recruits the assistance of Barella, who has connections with the Cuban government. Barella travels to Havana, finds the incriminating photos Strait took and discovers that an Argentine scientist is being kept prisoner to work for the Cubans. So, under the not-so-distant surveillance of the local secret police he plays a memorable nocturnal scene of kisses and hugs with another American photographer (gorgeous Shirley Eaton) inside a parked car. At some point, in a sleight-of-hands he replaces himself with an inflatable dummy, so he could sneak away from the police -to go rescue the scientist- while Eaton's character stays behind, hugging and kissing the dummy. I won't reveal more; this episode is available at stagevu.
Evidently, the Borella-Thompson combination was striking enough to entice British producer Harry Fine to launch, in 1963, a short-lived series on the character, also named The Sentimental Agent. In the series, the legendary Burt Kwouk played Barella's sidekick.
I remember at the time -I was 11 or 12 y.o.a.- that I liked Man of the World very much, but mostly I was fascinated with the impeccably sophisticated, wordly, ladies' man, elegant Barella.
Evidently, the Borella-Thompson combination was striking enough to entice British producer Harry Fine to launch, in 1963, a short-lived series on the character, also named The Sentimental Agent. In the series, the legendary Burt Kwouk played Barella's sidekick.
I remember at the time -I was 11 or 12 y.o.a.- that I liked Man of the World very much, but mostly I was fascinated with the impeccably sophisticated, wordly, ladies' man, elegant Barella.