"Our Man Flint" (1966) was the first of a trilogy of spy films featuring retired secret agent Derek Flint. He is called back to save the world from a global criminal organization bent on dominating the world (what else?!). The role of Agent Flint was played by James Coburn (1928-2002). Coburn's career in TV and movies spanned almost half a century, and included movies like "The Magnificent Seven" (1960), "The Great Escape" (1963) and "Affliction" (1997).
2. Sarah Walker
Answer: Yvonne Strahovski
On the small screen, there was "Chuck" (2007-2012), a nerdy tech guy who worked at a Buy More store in Echo Park, California. Chuck Bartowski accidentally opens an e-mail, encoded with government secrets, which is downloaded into his brain. With all this information, he becomes a target for international spies. For his protection, he is assigned CIA agents, Major John Casey and his partner, Sarah Walker, played by Yvonne Strahovski. Strahovski has also appeared in "The Handmaid's Tale" (2017).
3. Matt Helm
Answer: Dean Martin
After the great success of the James Bond movies, a rash of spy movies followed in the 1960s, and spawned franchises like the Matt Helm series. "The Silencers", in 1966, was the first of the spawn, followed quickly by "Murderers' Row", "The Ambushers" and "The Wrecking Crew". Dean Martin played the semi-retired agent brought back to save the world (hmmm, that sounds familiar), while cavorting with semi-dressed young ladies. Dean Martin was originally part of the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, but went on to a successful movie and record career.
4. Agent 99
Answer: Barbara Feldon
As the 1960s continued, so did our love affair with spies. The spy genre moved from movies to television, and from drama to comedy. "Get Smart" (1965-1970) featured Don Adams as agent Maxwell Smart, i.e., Agent 86. He was a bumbling agent with a shoe phone, an impatient boss ("Don't call me Chief"), a catchphrase ("Missed it by that much") and his girlfriend, the lovely Agent 99. Agent 99 once gave her name as Susan Hilton, but later claimed that was an alias.
She was played with style and intelligence by Barbara Feldon.
5. Harry Tasker
Answer: Arnold Schwarzenegger
In the movie "True Lies" (1994), Arnold Schwarzenegger is Harry Tasker, your average, dull shoe salesman (Al Bundy-like). He is married to neglected wife Helen, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and his alter-ego is a spy tracking down nuclear missiles in the hands of jihadists. Harry finds out Helen might be having an affair, and Helen finds out Harry is actually a spy in this action-spy-comedy thriller. Arnold, of course, has been a body-builder, a movie star ("The Terminator"), an entrepreneur and the Governor of California.
6. Natasha Fatale
Answer: Rene Russo
On November 19, 1959, a cartoon featuring a moose and a flying squirrel debuted. It was originally called "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show". It was a serial, aired in weekly installments, where cliffhangers would find our heroes in jeopardy, mostly from their Russian nemeses, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale.
In 2000, "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" feature film came out, combining live-action and animation. Jason Alexander was Boris; Rene Russo played Natasha. Former model and actress Rene Russo has been in "Outbreak", "Ransom" and "Thor".
7. Ilya Kuryakin
Answer: David McCallum
To capitalize on the success of spy movies, television quickly followed with shows like "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964-1968). U.N.C.L.E. was a global network to fight international crime: United Network Command for Law and Enforcement; their main enemy was the evil THRUSH.
The two main agents, Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin, were assigned cases by their boss, Alexander Waverly, using all manner of gadgets, and always with a jazzy background theme. David McCallum played Ilya (with a delightful Russian accent); he went on to play Dr. Mallard on "NCIS".
8. Sydney Bristow
Answer: Jennifer Garner
J.J. Abrams drama, "Alias" (2001-2006), deals with Sydney Bristow, recruited into the CIA as an international spy, right after her graduation from college. She later discovers that, in fact, she has been working for a rogue agency whose goal is world domination. Following in her father's footsteps, she becomes a double agent with the real CIA, although this does have a down side for her social life. Sydney Bristow is played by Jennifer Garner who has also been in "Juno" (2007) and "Dallas Buyers Club" (2013).
9. Agent Jay
Answer: Will Smith
"I make this look good" is a statement made, in 1997, by Agent Jay in the first film of the "Men in Black" franchise. Working for a secret, government agency (MIB), Agents Jay and Kay help provide immigration services and regulate aliens, i.e., extra-terrestrials, on Earth.
Their first mission was to uncover a galactic terrorist bent on assassinating ambassadors from opposing galaxies. Rapper, singer and actor Will Smith is Agent Jay.
10. Emma Peel
Answer: Diana Rigg
One of the first big TV hits of the secret agent genre was the black and white action show "The Avengers" (1961-1969). "The Avengers" was a British show which first debuted in England in 1956, prior to being shown in the United States. It featured the cultured, urbane agent John Steed and his empowered female sidekicks. Over the course of time, these martial arts masters, donned in boots and tight-fitting jump suits, included Cathy Gale, Tara King and, my personal favorite, the high-kicking, take-no-prisoners, Emma Peel. Ms Peel was played by Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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