# It Takes a Thief (1968)

> A convicted cat burglar is freed to steal for the US government while his thief father occasionally joins his jobs.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/9755

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 66
- Episode runtime: 50 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, adventure
- Created by: Roland Kibbee
- Network: ABC
- Cast: Robert Wagner, Malachi Throne, Edward Binns, Fred Astaire, Joe Louis, Leslie Nielsen, Doug McClure, Raymond Burr
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062572/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: breezy, witty, suave, playful

## Synopsis

It Takes a Thief (1968-1970) is an American crime caper series created by Roland Kibbee for ABC. Robert Wagner plays Alexander Mundy, a suave convicted cat burglar who is released from prison on the condition that he steals for the United States government. Malachi Throne plays Noah Bain, the government agent who handles Mundy's assignments and keeps a wary eye on him, while Edward Binns appears as Wallie Powers. Fred Astaire joins in as Alister Mundy, the thief father who sometimes leaves retirement to help his son on special jobs, lending the show a warm family dynamic beneath its sleek surface. Each episode is built around a self-contained mission in which Mundy must infiltrate a wealthy target, outwit security, and pull off an elaborate theft with gadgets, disguises, and well-timed improvisation. Across three seasons and sixty-six episodes, the show delivers a breezy, witty, and stylish tone, with a playful sense of danger and an easygoing charm typical of the era. Its episodic format makes it an accessible watch for fans of 1960s spy adventure. Fans of Mission: Impossible, White Collar and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. will find resonance in its blend of clever capers and light espionage.

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