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IMDbPro

Once Upon a Spy

  • TV Movie
  • 19801980
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
256
YOUR RATING
Once Upon a Spy (1980)
ActionDramaThriller
Ted Danson plays a computer genius who gets involved in the theft of an important N.A.S.A. computer, then thrust into the world of espionage with Sir Christopher Lee.Ted Danson plays a computer genius who gets involved in the theft of an important N.A.S.A. computer, then thrust into the world of espionage with Sir Christopher Lee.Ted Danson plays a computer genius who gets involved in the theft of an important N.A.S.A. computer, then thrust into the world of espionage with Sir Christopher Lee.
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
256
YOUR RATING
    • Ivan Nagy
    • Jimmy Sangster(teleplay)
    • Lemuel Pitkin(story)
  • Stars
    • Ted Danson
    • Mary Louise Weller
    • Christopher Lee
    • Ivan Nagy
    • Jimmy Sangster(teleplay)
    • Lemuel Pitkin(story)
  • Stars
    • Ted Danson
    • Mary Louise Weller
    • Christopher Lee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Once Upon a Spy (1980)
    Once Upon a Spy (1980)
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    Top cast

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    Ted Danson
    Ted Danson
    • Jack Chenault
    Mary Louise Weller
    Mary Louise Weller
    • Paige Tannehill
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Marcus Valorium
    Eleanor Parker
    Eleanor Parker
    • The Lady
    Leonard Stone
    Leonard Stone
    • Dr. Webster
    Terry Lester
    Terry Lester
    • Rudy
    Jo McDonnell
    Jo McDonnell
    • Susan
    Lillian Müller
    Lillian Müller
    • Christine
    • (as Yuliis Ruval)
    Irena Ferris
    • Greta
    Burke Byrnes
    • Burkle
    Gary Dontzig
    • Klaus
    Bobb Hopkins
    Bobb Hopkins
    • Hans
    Vicky Perry
    • The Cashier
    John Hostetter
    John Hostetter
    • Chief
    • (as John R. Hostetter)
    William Wintersole
    William Wintersole
    • Commander
    Denise Hayes
    • Co-Pilot
    George Planco
    • Gate Guard
    Fil Formicola
    • Security Man
      • Ivan Nagy
      • Jimmy Sangster(teleplay) (story)
      • Lemuel Pitkin(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      Watch for a mysterious costume change near the end of the film. One minute, Paige is wearing a rather sexy skintight yellow catsuit, the next she's wearing a top and stretch pants, with the pants in a slightly different shade of yellow!
    • Quotes

      Jack Chenault: You're leaving?

      Paige Tannehill: Chenault, I fondly hope that I never have to set eyes on you again.

    • Connections
      References You Only Live Twice (1967)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    Before the Mac
    I guess this television Movie of the Week planned to be back-door series pilot. A hokum version of The Man from Uncle with the James Bond like theme after the opening titles.

    It stars a young Ted Danson as a government computer expert called in by a mysterious American intelligence service to track down a supercomputer stolen by dastardly Christopher Lee.

    The reluctant Danson is paired up with attractive, blonde agent Mary Louise Weller and they make a good pair and Danson does well with the comedy and drama and has some literate lines although the plot is tosh. The final challenge set by Lee is called the Cat and the Canary with some Pacman type graphics.

    As it was shown in 1980 a few years before films like Wargames and just before the Home Computer boom of the early 1980s, you have big computers the size of several walls that play a nifty game of chess just like the supercomputer in Wargames.

    Danson shows talent which would make him a star a few years later in Cheers, but the the film was rather flimsy. It lacked the spark of the Man from from Uncle and I could not take seriously the secret entrance to the agency's office via a Tunnel of Love ride. From the short of the big wooden roller coaster, it looked like Knott's Berry Park!
    helpful•1
    4
    • Prismark10
    • Sep 22, 2014

    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 19, 1980 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Houston, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • David Gerber Productions
      • Columbia Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 31 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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