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MacGyver: Thief of Budapest

MacGyver travels to Budapest to recover microfilm secrets hidden inside of a watch. However, a young Gypsy girl steals the watch and MacGyver has to help her and her family out to get it back.


9/10 (2 Votes cast)

Episode Info


Episode number: 1x3
Production Number: 004
Airdate: Sunday October 13th, 1985



Guest Stars
Michael ConstantineMichael Constantine
As Jan Messic
Recurring
Bruce AbbottBruce Abbott
As Major Nicholai Kossov
Sue KielSue Kiel
As Reena

Co-Guest Stars
Sid HaigSid Haig
As Khan
Recurring
Charles RaymondCharles Raymond
As Stephan
Nicholas KadiNicholas Kadi
As Grodsky
Magda HaroutMagda Harout
As Woman
Jim GosaJim Gosa
As Grosz
Main Cast
Richard Dean AndersonRichard Dean Anderson
As Angus MacGyver

Recap

In a desert in the Middle East, a tribal leader admires the beautiful white horse that he stole from a king, then goes outside to practice his swordsmanship. Elsewhere in the camp, MacGyver subdues a guard and takes the man's clothing, then sneaks into the tent where the horse is being held. MacGyver puts a special saddle on it from his backpack, then rides it out of the tent. MacGyver grabs a hooked staff from one of the guards and barrels through them, and the leader warns his men not to shoot the horse. They ride out in pursuit and MacGyver makes it to a nearby beach. The guards cut MacGyver off and the leader rides at MacGyver. The two men charge and MacGyver ducks as the tribal leader cuts the staff in half. They charge again and this time MacGyver unmounts his opponent, then breaks through the line of guards. As MacGyver gallops down the beach, a helicopter arrives and drops a line. MacGyver attaches it to a hook on the saddle and the helicopter lifts horse and rider up into the sky as the tribesmen stare...

Read the full recap
Episode Notes
Opening gambit by Terry Nation, Stephen Downing, and Lee H. Katzin. Main episode by Joe VIola and John Patterson.

The chase footage is taken from The Italian Job (1967).


Filming Location: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County



Episode Quotes
MacGyver: Typical. Just when you're getting ahead, someone changes the odds.

MacGyver: You know, my life is like a rubber ball. No sooner do I get the horse returned then I bounce right into another assignment.

Yanna: You Gypsy?
MacGyver: No. Not that I know of. Why?
Yanna: Because it takes a Gypsy to catch a Gypsy.

Jan Messic: Budapest has gypsies like a dog has fleas.

MacGyver: Now I want the watch.
Yanna: Gypsies don't need a watch. They don't tell time.

Yanna: Why do they hate us?
MacGyver: Some people are scared of anybody who runs free.

MacGyver: The man who said "Life is like a bowl of cherries" had it wrong. It's a bowl of Hungarian goulash. Hot, sticky, and I'm not that hungry.

MacGyver: No, I really don't drink too much.
Reena: Virtuous? Or suspicious?
MacGyver: Habit.

Reena: You're American. What are you selling, blue jeans?

MacGyver: You're okay, Reena. I think I'm going to have to be honest with you.
Reena: Never say that to a Gypsy. It makes us nervous.

Yanna: We want to go with you.
MacGyver: Where?
Yanna: America! America!
MacGyver: Right, right.
Yanna: The US of A. Clint Eastwood. Coca-Cola.
MacGyver: Yanna...
Yanna: Girls just want to have fun...?

MacGyver: A credit card can usually get you out of a jam. I'm hoping that this will create one.



Episode Goofs
Numerous mismatches during the chase sequence, since the footage is taken from a different movie (see Episode Notes). Many signs seen on the streets of "Hungary" are in Italian, and license plates switch from Hungarian to Italian and back to Hungarian again.



Episode References
MacGyverisms:
* Light bulbs wedged between two boards, pulled under a tire to make the driver think the tires have blown
* Sugar, salt, and weed killer mixed with water to form an explosive
* Igniting pepper with a match to create a small fireball
* Bobby pin, dipped in wine, used as a magnifying glass to view a microfilm
* Cutting up a credit card into strips and using it to alter the patterns on traffic light gears
* Taping a transistor radio to a police radio to jam the channel, attached to balloons to get high enough to jam transmissions in a several mile radius



Other Episode Crew

CreatorLee David Zlotoff
Executive ProducerJerry Ludwig  |  Henry Winkler  |  John Rich (1)
Supervising ProducerStephen Downing
ProducerTerry Nation
Co-ProducerJudy Burns (1)
Associate ProducerSteven Milkis
Production DesignerStan Jolley
EditorGrant Johnson
CastingPam Polifroni  |  Joanne Koehler
Line ProducerVin DiBona
Unit Production ManagerDavid Menteer
First Assistant DirectorRobin Chamberlin
Second Assistant DirectorGary Law (1)
MusicRandy Edelman  |  Michael Melvoin (1)
Music EditorSteve Danforth
Costume DesignerRudolph Garcia
HairstylistLynn Del Kail
Make-upDee Manges
Set DecoratorBonnie Dermer
Property MasterMichael Casey (1)
Script SupervisorKathy Barrett (1)
Director of PhotographyJules Brenner
Stunt CoordinatorBuddy Joe Hooker
Sound MixerDean Hodges
Special EffectsBilly Myatt
Executive Story EditorStephen Kandel
Costume SupervisorThomas Welsh
Main Title ThemeRandy Edelman
 

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