The Karate Killers

The Karate Killers is a 1967 American spy film and feature-length film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s third season two-part episode "The Five Daughters Affair". The episodes were originally broadcast in the United States on March 31, 1967, and April 7, 1967, on NBC. It, as does the television series, stars Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. It is the sixth such feature film that used as its basis a reedited version of one or more episodes from the series. Joan Crawford, Telly Savalas, Herbert Lom, Diane McBain, Jill Ireland and Kim Darby are among those in the cast. The film was directed by Barry Shear and written by Norman Hudis with the story by Boris Ingster.

On their way to see scientist Dr. Simon True, U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin are attacked by members of the THRUSH organization. Dr. True has discovered a process to extract gold from sea water. Fearing theft, he hid the formula, saying someone would have to “hunt down the four winds” to find it. But during his presentation of the process to U.N.C.L.E., he dies, having been poisoned by THRUSH operative Randolph. True's dying words are that his daughter is the key to finding the formula.

Dr. True, however, turns out to have four step-daughters and one biological daughter, Sandy True. He sent each of his four step-daughters something that, when assembled, will mean something to Sandy and from which the formula can be discovered.

Dr. True's widow, Amanda was having a love affair with Randolph, but he was only using her to get closer to Dr. True's notes and formula. With no further use for her, Randolph orders her murdered by THRUSH. Finding her body, Solo and Kuryakin recruit Sandy to come with them as they find her step-sisters.

First, Solo and Kuryakin visit Rome in search of Margo, who has married Count Valeriano De Fanzini. The Count is keeping Margo naked and captive in his ancestral home, having married her for money only to learn she had none. Solo and Kuryakin rescue Margo and, aided by Sandy, fight with Randolph and other THRUSH agents (who have followed them to Rome). The Count and Margo reconcile after Sandy's discovery of a hidden treasure and give the U.N.C.L.E. team the only thing that Dr. True has sent Margo of late: a photograph of himself with a formula.

After an analysis by U.N.C.L.E., the agents conclude that it is one-quarter of the full formula. They next head to London, where Sandy's step-sister Imogen Smythe was arrested by for indecent exposure (a bikini). Solo posts bail and they go to Imogen's nightclub, fight again with Randolph and THRUSH agents, then are saved by constables, one of whom is enamored with Imogen. Sandy discovers a similar photo of her father in Imogen's dressing room, but with a different formula in the background.

The team then heads to the Swiss Alps, where step-sister Yvonne lives in a hotel but is behind in paying her bills. Randolph, having gotten there before U.N.C.L.E., pays her debt and requests she give him the photo of her step-father. Solo and Kuryakin fight THRUSH agents on skis, and Sandy finds the photo before anyone else. Yvonne and wealthy boyfriend Carl von Kessen resolve an argument and make up. Randolph intercepts the team on an U.N.C.L.E. private jet, takes the three photos, then parachutes out leaving the rest to die. Sandy escapes her bonds and frees the two agents, who land the plane safely.

Dr. True's fourth photo has been published in a magazine. However, scientifically, they still make no sense. When the letters in the formulas are rearranged, they spell “Japanese Lullaby”. She eventually remembers a Japanese man who sang her lullabies as a child. THRUSH later kidnaps Sandy and transport her to Japan.