World War II Unofficially Continues

On this date in 1946, Step by Step had its full US premiere. It is a rare good guy role for Lawrence Tierney as a Marine veteran. His love interest and co-star, Anne Jeffries, works as a secretary for a senator on a case of national security. The suspenseful drama deepens when three German spies infiltrate the senator's house, knocking him unconscious, bind and gag Jeffries, leaving behind a murdered associate. Jeffries is rescued by Tierney who both met earlier during more pleasant circumstances. However, they both become the chief suspects in the senator's beating and the associate's murder. While attempting to elude authorities and the spies, they become convinced the Germans were unable to find a top-secret document that implicates them and others as spies. Rest assured, they locate the documents in the nick of time.

A Noted Television Theme

 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American spy fiction television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television. The series follows two secret agents working for an international counterespionage agency called the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. The first series to capitalize on the 007 gadget craze made stars of Robert Vaughn, the singular initial focus, and David McCallum, as a Russian agent. McCallum became so popular he was added as an UNCLE agent and the heartthrob for many teenage girls. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the theme, starting off with his trademark snare drums then a syncopated rhythm under a trumpet solo. By the end of the four-season series, the theme lost its intrigued with a trendy jazz arrangement. Here is the "clean" 1964 version.