Title: The Double Life of Henry Phyfe Films
Inclusive Dates: 1966

Creator:

• Filmways Television

Call Number: CC 433-CC 445

Quantity: 13 film reels (16 mm)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society Library-Archives Division / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research
Contact Information

Archival Location:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Thirteen episodes from the half-hour comedy television program, The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, starring Red Buttons as Henry Phyfe, an accountant who is talked into becoming a C.I.S. spy due to his close resemblance to the late spy known as U-31. Because Henry has no knowledge of the spy business, and because Henry's family is unaware of his secret life, the results are often hilarious.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-cc433

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This collection consists of thirteen episodes from the half-hour comedy television program The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, created by Luther Davis and produced by Filmways Television. The show was aired by ABC in 1966, and ended after one season. It starred Red Buttons in the title role of Henry Phyfe / Agent U-31, as well as a small cast of recurring characters including Parley Baer, Fred Clark, Marge Redmond, Edward Faulkner, Rob Kilgallen, and Zeme North.

The plot of the show is put into motion as a C.I.S. spy, U-31, is killed in a hit and run, and the C.I.S. must find someone who looks like him to be U-31 in his place. They find Henry Phyfe, a humble accountant of Hamble and Hamble, and convince him to be sworn in as the new U-31. Because Henry has no knowledge of the spy business, and because Henry's fiance Judy and her mother Florence don't know of Henry's secret life, the results are often hilarious.

The Double Life of Henry Phyfe aired for only one season, consisting of seventeen episodes. This collection contains only thirteen of the original episodes, including the first episode (“Phyfe and a Filly”) and the final episode (“Will the Real U-31 Try to Stand Up?”). All the reels in the collection are 16 mm prints with sound, in color, and have a running time of approximately a half hour. The visual quality of these prints is generally good, though the color in some reels is fading slightly.

The episodes in this collection are arranged chronologically by original air date.

Use Restrictions

No duplication or public screening without consent of copyright holder.

CC 433	“Phyfe and a Filly,” 1966 January 13 Note: Director: Charles R. Rondeau Writer: Hannibal Coons, Harry Winkler, Phil Leslie Summary: Enemy agent U-31 comes to the U.S. and is killed. C.I.S. sub-chief Gerald Hanahan discovers Henry Phyfe, who looks identical to the late U-31 and convinces Henry to work for U.S. Counter Intelligence under the guise of U-31. Henry's first mission is to trade horses with another agent on a forested trail.
CC 434	“Phyfe on a Ferry,” 1966 January 20 Note: Director: Charles R. Rondeau Writer: Harry Winkler, Hannibal Coons, Ronald Axe Summary: Henry must meet with an agent called the Decorator, who awards agents, but gets mixed up and instead meets with the Liquidator, who assassinates agents. Berry Kroeger, Lillian Bronson and Robert Ivers co-star.
CC 435	“Whatever Happened to Yesterday?,” 1966 January 27 Note: Director: Leslie H. Martinson Writer: Ben Starr Summary: U-31 (Henry Phyfe) must get some microfilm from a Japanese connection; at the same time he must throw a birthday party for Judy's mother Florence.
CC 436	“Phyfe and the Models,” 1966 February 3 Note: Director: Leslie H. Martinson Writer: Leo Rifkin, Henry Sharp Summary: Henry pretends to be an artist in order to steal back information for the American government, but his disguise is compromised when he is forced to paint actual models. Florence becomes suspicious and decides to follow Henry. John Vivyan co-stars.
CC 437	“The Reluctant Lover,” 1966 February 10 Note: Director: Howard Morris Writer: Leo Rifkin Summary: Henry receives a list of double agents from two married agents who knew U-31. The husband does not believe that Henry is U-31, and challenges him to a test that will prove his identity, causing Henry to be late for his date with Judy.
CC 438	“Phyfe's First Felony,” 1966 February 17 Note: Director: Charles R. Rondeau Writer: Rich Eustis, Al Rogers Summary: A man has stolen government documents and threatens to expose the entire security operation. He will only deal with U-31, and Henry Phyfe is pressed into action to pay money for the documents. Peter Leeds and Kenneth S. Allen co-star.
CC 439	“The Old Flame,” 1966 March 10 Note: Director: Arthur Lubin Writer: Leo Rifkin Summary: Henry is ordered to acquire documents from U-31's former lover and fellow spy, Gina. Judy's mother finds a picture of Gina and the arranged time and meeting place and becomes determined to catch Henry cheating on Judy. Francine York, Tom Hatten, John Hart, Curtis Taylor, and Breena Howard co-star.
CC 440	“Operation Henry Phyfe,” 1966 March 17 Note: Director: Arthur Lubin Summary: Henry meets a higher-up from U-31's home country, who wants Henry to impersonate another agent. In order to do this, he wants Henry to undergo plastic surgery.
CC 441	“Visit to Washington,” 1966 March 24 Note: Director: Leslie H. Martinson Writer: Harry Winkler, Hannibal Coons Summary: Mr. Hanahan sends Henry to Washington to meet an enemy agent whose mission is to steal documents from the U.S. government. Things become chaotic when Henry and the rogue agent break into the wrong office. Eileen O'Neill and Lennie Bremen co-star.
CC 442	“Phyfe Takes a Wife,” 1966 March 31 Note: Director: Arthur Lubin Writer: Jerry Gottler, John Bradford Summary: Henry goes on a date with one of America's top nuclear physicists to test her loyalty, and ends up marrying her in an attempt to catch her divulging state secrets.
CC 443	“Jail Bird Phyfe,” 1966 April 7 Note: Director: Howard Morns Writer: Nat Perrin, Sloan Nibley, Bill Lutz Summary: A foreign agent called the Butcher seeks out U-31 to obtain classified documents. Believing Henry to be U-31, both Henry and the Butcher are caught and end up in jail.
CC 444	“Shot in the Dark,” 1966 April 21 Note: Director: Howard Morris Writer: Bill Freedman, Ben Gershman Summary: An enemy agent named Crusher pressures Henry into assassinating Mr. Hanahan to prove that he is a true double agent. Hanahan and Henry arrange to feign Hanahan's death by using a dummy.
CC 445	“Will the Real U-31 Try to Stand Up?,” 1966 May 5 Note: Director: Howard Morris Writer: Bruce Howard, Brad Radnitz Summary: Phyfe and Hanahan go to the fair to make contact with Dmitri, an enemy agent. Hanahan accidently hits Phyfe in the head with a baseball, causing Phyfe to forget his identity. Jackie Joseph, Arthur Batanides, Remo Pisani, Phil Garris, Rena Horten, and Louise Lawson co-star.