A very stylish take-off of Hitchcock's famous To Catch a Thief starring the Robert Wagner as the world's greatest jewel thief, Alexander Mundy. The story line has Mundy, attempting to win his pardon from authorities by working as a spy for the U.S. government. In light of the then soon to be made Watergate revelations, it wasn't too far fetched an idea. It Takes a Thief was television at its best, offering exotic locations, exciting scripts, a musical score by Dave Grusin and cameos by many of the greatest actors of their time. What a romp! With the current state of television where's Al Mundy when you really need him?

--skwinter

I first discovered ITAT when my brother went off to camp in the summer of 1968. From the signature theme song (terrific) to the total adorability of Robert Wagner, I was happily and forever hooked! Wagner embodied suave sophistication, finesse and sex appeal. When they got Fred Astaire to play his father, Alister Mundy, well that was just the top! What a class act! One of my favorite episodes was "The Three Virgins of Rome" which co-starred Astaire. It involved the stealing of three paintings by Al's father, while Al is supposed to watch over them - only hitch is, is blood thicker than water? One of the paintings was actually stolen from Alister and "Le Panther" is out of retirement to get back what's his! But he has to beat the owner at his own game(the one who stole Alister's painting), who also wants to steal all three of them himself! It was just ingenius how Mundy, Sr. pulled it off - with balloons! Gotta see it to believe it! It Takes A Thief embodied what made TV great back then: excellent stories, witty dialogue, lots of big name stars, a beautiful presentation (with all those Europen locales) and class all the way...a gem!

--RJFan

This was a great show for all. I was in grade school and my friends and I loved watching what great caper Alexander Mundy (Robert Wagner) could pull off that week. The show started off by showing Alexander in prison and while the government agent comes to get him out to help with special secret projects, he escapes by taking the chaplains outfit. Malachi Throne played the government agent through most of the series, giving Alexander the special assignments, much like Mission Impossible, however, he was usually on his own, with some help from an occasional guest star. I remember Susan St. James and Teri Garr, two of my favorite stars who played repeat characters.

Alexander had to constantly use his skills and charm to pull off the caper, usually to steal something that the bad guys would use or sell and make trouble for the U. S. or another country.

The show's theme song was catchy, and the immortal words of Robert Wagner, (after the first year) "Let me get this straight, you want me to steal??" will always bring a smile to my face.

--RTFJR1

This show was years ahead of its time! To this day very little reward and recognition has been awarded to this awsome drama of high-tech theft and Burglary, while covertly and surrepitisously working for the SIA, using state of the art devices, years before the "Bond ERA"!

No justification as of yet, not even a measly little Soundtrack by the great composer David Grusin! Instead Coolio makes the big promo skylight, crediting of this story, it takes a thief, stealing the name, title, what it stood for, in its own cult way, in his own little spiff of his "it takes a thief" which In my opinion is years out of time!

--BIG K