It Takes a Thief

 March 24, 1970, the final episode of It Takes a Thief aired on ABC, concluding a three-season run that began on January 9, 1968. The series starred Robert Wagner in his television debut as sophisticated thief Alexander Mundy, who works for the U.S. government in exchange for his freedom from prison. For most of the series, Malachi Throne played Noah Bain, Mundy’s boss, though in the third season Edward Binns replaced him as Wallie Powers when portions of the season were filmed in Europe.

Created by television writer Roland Kibbee, the series was inspired by the 1955 Cary Grant film To Catch a Thief. Alexander Mundy is a cat burglar and playboy who reluctantly agrees to steal for the fictional Secret Intelligence Agency, prompting his famous line, "Let me get this straight. You want me to steal?" Noah Bain’s catchphrase in the opening titles was, "Oh, look, Al, I’m not asking you to spy. I’m just asking you to steal."

The pilot, “A Thief is a Thief is a Thief,” was a ninety-minute special and later expanded into a 99-minute feature film for overseas release, titled Magnificent Thief. In the third season, Fred Astaire appeared as Alexander’s father, Alistair Mundy, a master thief who often led episodes in which Alexander played a supporting role.

The series also featured guest stars including Susan Saint James, Charlene Holt, Bette Davis, Joseph Cotten, Paul Henreid, Fernando Lamas, and Ida Lupino. Critics praised the series for the dynamic chemistry between Wagner and Throne, noting Bain’s gruff authority and grudging respect for Mundy’s talents as a highlight of the show.