If Montgomery Pittman directed and wrote this adventure, you know it's good. In fact, this may have been the very last episode he wrote, passing due to cancer in the summer of 1962. His wife, Maurita, also a writer, contributed to the story.
Pittman's death followed the sudden passing of fellow writer Fred Brady, about six months earlier, which was another blow to the WB dream team.
This is actually a continuation of a previous episode in which Stu put away master spy John Van Dreelan (as Van Horn), who he had known since his undercover days in WWII. Van Horn is now working for the Russian government and plots his revenge, having JR kidnapped so Stu will rescue him and be captured himself.
Beautiful Dorothy Provine returns to the series as the proverbial mystery woman (Nora) caught up in the case as is tough guy Norman Alden, looking quite sinister, playing a goon named Rene. The eventual meeting with Stu and Van Horn is quite dramatic, and with some excellent dialogue between the two, again thanks to Montgomery Pittman.
Warner Brothers regular Andrew Duggan turns up as Cal. Van Dreelan appeared a record seven times on the series, and for good reason. He's the whole show, and I agree with the last reviewer, definitely the one to watch. Van Dreelan was expert in multiple foreign languages. The closing plane scene is extremely well directed, and something different for the series, which usually relied on the WB backlot.
Recommended for devout 77 fans. Best of SEASON 4 remastered WB.