..... a vehicle for Dino to romp with a lot of beautiful women.

Hey pallies, likes we gotta say that we loves how the Matt Helm flicks which are now either 50 years old, or close to it are still providin' the purest of  pleasure for folks of all times and stripes, for pallies of all ages and stages. Today ilovedinomartin takes you to an Amazon.come review  pad where Mr. Tim Janson  has potently ponticiated in the coolest of cool ways on the quartet of Matt Helm silver screen epics.

Likes we  knew for certain that we was gonna absolutely loves Janson's Dino-reflections when we read these powerfully  proscriptive words...."The plots of the four films are almost secondary to Martin's scenery chewing, and that's just how I like it as he brought humor and charm to his role as Super Spy Matt Helm." Likes truly this dude "gets Martin" and understands his genius in playin' swingin' spyster Matt Helm. Absolutely there is no one more coolly charmin'....no one for hugely humurous...then our most beloved Dino as Helm.

We certainly encourage all dudes to beautifully  bask in the Dino-light of Tim's tiny but mighty ravin' reviews of each of the four Helm flicks....indeed this Janson pallie even knows that numero 3, "The Ambushers" is the weak link in the Helm chain.

ilovedinomartin salutes Mr. Tim Janson and the folks at Amazon.com for his wonderful insights into the absolutely awesome pleasures associated with viewin' our great man in his great role as Matt Helm. To view this in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-message. Keeps lovin' our Dino and likes keeps spreadin' the Dino-message of cool!

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

btw, enjoys the swank samplin' below of Dino-images from each of the Matt Helm films.

             

NOW THAT'S COOL, BABY!!!, August 24, 2005

By Tim Janson

This review is from: Matt Helm Lounge: The Silencers / Murderers' Row / The Ambushers / The Wrecking Crew (DVD)

I admit to having a great affinity for Dean Martin. To me he was the essence of cool in the 1960's. Considering he was 49 years old when he did the first Matt Helm movie, The Silencers, that's really saying a lot about his popularity and influence back during that period. I Just loved watching these films on TV as a kid. My brother always preferred the Bond films, but even as a youngster I appreciated the humor and charm that martin brought to his role as Super Spy Matt Helm. The plots of the four films are almost secondary to Martin's scenery chewing, and that's just how I like it.

In "The Silencers" Helm, an agent for ICE (Intelligence and Counter Espionage) is out to stop the usual baddies The Big O from detonating a nuclear bomb and starting world war III. The gorgeous Stella Stevens is along for the ride as is dancer Cyd Charisse. Victor Buono best know as Batman villian King Tut, plays a Chinese baddie!

"Murderer's Row" is the second Matt Helm film and this time Karl Malden plays the villian role as Julian Wall who has kidnapped a scientist with the intention of using his new device to blow up Washington D.C. This time Dean is joined by the lovely Ann-Margaret who plays the scientist's daughter, Suzie.

"The Ambushers" is up next and there's a lot of debate on if this film is better or worse than Murderer's Row. I rate them this one a bit below the previous one due to there being no real top name female co-star this time. An experimental U.s. space ship has been stolen and it's up to Matt to get it back...in-between drinking and lusting after the ladies!

The "Wrecking Crew" is the last Matt Helm film and I think one of the best. It contains a bevy of 1960's beauties including Gilligan's Island's Tina Louise, along with Elke Sommer, and the late Sharon Tate. As usual the plot of Helm trying to recover a fortune in stolen gold, is secondary to the hi-jinks of martin's character. Bruce lee choreographed the fight scenes.

Anyone who goes into the Matt Helm films trying to take them seriously is in for trouble. These were pure, tongue-in-cheek spoofs of spy films and a vehicle for Dino to romp with a lot of beautiful women. Expect anything more and you will be disappointed. But if you love Dean's 60's cool then this is a great set to have.

Danny G's Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes"

Hey there, Ol' Pals o' mine!

What's shakin'?

What's new & excitin'?

Not much? 

 Well, hold on to your hats, pals...'cause youse is 'bout to flip your wigs! Haha!!

  Man o man...do I gots us a CRAZY vid for today's Serenade!

 It's DEF I NATE LY a classic...DEF I NATE LY a golden oldie...but O mama mia...IT IS FREAKY!!! Hahaha!

Well, pallies...it IS Halloween season, after all!

Time for CREEPY & FREAKY thins'!

"Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is all 'bout the moon...the stars...& the night.

GREAT GREAT stuff for October!

Mix it in with a REALLY WEIRD vid...& BAM! A great SPOOKY Dino-serenade! 

Now, pals...I didn't want to give youse the CREEPS... but...after watchin' a few times...I decided that it was actually pretty funny & was just 'nother example of how Dean is STILL poppin' up EVERYWHERE...even in this "tech-savvy" world we lives in today! 

So pals, let's get a little CREEPY & soak in this COOL COOL time of year!

Check this one out, mi amici! Haha!!

Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Don't let the moon break your heart
The love blooms at night in the daylight it dies
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Oh keep your heart for me for someday I'll return and you know you're the only one I'll ever love

Too many nights
Too many stars
Too many moons to change your mind
If I'm gone too long don't forget where you belong
When the stars come out remember you are mine

Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Don't let the moon break your heart
The love blooms at night in the daylight it dies
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Oh keep your heart for me for someday I'll return and you know you're the only one I'll ever love

Too many miles
Too many days
Too many nights to be alone
Ah please keep your heart while we are apart
Don't you linger in the moonlight when I'm gone

Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Don't let the moon break your heart
The love blooms at night in the daylight it dies
Don't let the stars get in your eyes
Oh keep your heart for me for someday I'll return and you know you're the only one I'll ever love
You're the only one I'll ever love

and the role....was clearly written for Martin.

Hey pallies, likes hopes all youse Dino-holics are enjoyin' the delightful Dino-high that is bein' produced by all our Dino as Matt Helm postin's of late.  Well, likes we gots yet ' a third review of Helmer numero uno to shares with all youse Dino-philes this day.  It's scribed by a dude tagged Mr. Morgan R. Lewis who hangs out at his self-tagged pad, "Morgan On Media."  Mr. Lewis tells us 'bout himself, that he is  "a software engineer/web developer with far too much time on my hands," who hails from the "Springfield/Eugene area of Oregon."

While we ain't gonna say that Lewis' take on our Dino in "The Silencers" is the bestest of best that we ever read, it has some good insights into our main man, and, of course, we also enjoy seein' screen caps of our Dino as Helm.  To us, the best insight that Morgan has is one that we have often heard said in other Helmer reviews recently published here:  "Matt Helm is played by Dean Martin, and the role (at least in the movie; it’s based on a novel) was clearly written for Martin."  And, likes the trustworthy truth for all Dino-devotees likes us is that we lavishly loves seein' our most beloved Dino playin' is ever cool, hip, and randy self!"

It's great  to find yet 'nother pallie reflectin' on the pleasures of our Dino as swingin' spyster Matt Helm.  As you read you'll find that Mr. Morgan Lewis has some interestin' things to contribute to swank scribin's on "The Silencers"...so reads on pallies!  And, likes stay tuned for more planned Dino-activity a la Helm in the comin' week!   We sez thanks to Mr. Morgan R. Lewis for his time, talent, and energy in lettin' his readership in on Dino as Matt Helm.  To checks this out in it's original source, likes simply clicks on the tag of this her Dino-gram.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters


The Silencers

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Morgan R. Lewis

When I reviewed Austin Powers, I mentioned that it appeared to be spoofing the James Bond spoofs, such as the Matt Helm films, of which I had seen bits and pieces here and there. I decided to remedy my partial viewing of the first Matt Helm film, The Silencers, to see how well it actually held up in full this many decades after its release (it was made in 1966, making it contemporary with the early Bond films).

Matt Helm is played by Dean Martin, and the role (at least in the movie; it’s based on a novel) was clearly written for Martin. Helm is an ex-secret agent for the American agency I.C.E. (Intelligence and Counter Espionage; this was a long time before the U.S. actually had an organization with those initials); he’s roped back in by his boss MacDonald (James Gregory) when an I.C.E. agent is killed investing a terrorist plot and Helm is the nearest person to the area where it occurred. Helm would rather continue playing photographer playboy (or Playboy photographer); he’s one of those characters that is both a womanizer and inexplicably attractive to women. Seriously, there’s only one woman in the film who doesn’t wind up at least trying to get in bed with him, and she’s shot three minutes after her introduction.

This scene was created for everyone who wanted to see Dean Martin take a bubble bath; which is to say, it was created for Dean Martin.

On the other hand, it’s not like most of the male characters fare all that well either. There’s not much character development for anybody who isn’t Matt Helm, and there isn’t much for Matt Helm either. Everybody is very much a broad-strokes caricature. Helm’s boss MacDonald is just a standard “spy boss” character, flat and uninteresting. His partner Tina (Daliah Lavi) is a classic femme fatale, dangerous and sexy, and unconvincingly acted. Stella Stevens gives one of the better performances as the clumsy naif Gail Hendricks, who gets mixed up in the whole affair after being inadvertently passed some confidential information, but the whole relationship between her and Helm is obvious and predictable from the beginning. And the main villain, Tung-Tze, is played by Victor Buono; Buono is pretty good as a hammy villain, but he doesn’t get much to do here. Also it feels rather trite to have a stereotypical “Yellow Peril” style Chinese villain be behind everything. It doesn’t help that Victor Buono is not Chinese or even Asian, which if you’re unfamiliar with the actor, you could still probably guess by his name being Victor Buono.

We’ll just add some eye makeup and it’ll be OK, right?

I said this seemed likely for an inspiration for Austin Powers, and watching the film, it’s pretty easy to trace the lineage of Bond spoofs. Matt Helm has a bit more comedy in it than one expects from a spy movie — though it has more than its share of witty (terrible) one-liners, it plays more like a standard 1960s sex farce in a lot of ways. There are musical numbers, mostly sung by Dean Martin (of course), and dance numbers with women in outfits that are meant to be alluring but sometimes just wind up absurd (none more so than Cyd Charisse’s bodysuit of a thousand tassels.) Matt Helm also has some funky spy gadgets, as you might expect… though strangely he has more in his home than in his spy business, including a rotating, sliding circular bed that dumps him in the bubble bath in the morning. For the spying, though, he has a camera that shoots knives, a gun that fires backwards (used to mild comedic effect by the clumsy Gail), and coat buttons that act as grenades. Oddly, though his car is supposed to be bulletproof, it doesn’t seem to fit with the typical spy cars. Though it’s outfitted with a minibar and all sorts of accoutrements, it just doesn’t seem to have style… perhaps because it’s a station wagon.

An Aston-Martin, it ain’t.

Director Phil Karlson had directed over two dozen films before The Silencers, so it’s surprising that a lot of the problems with the film can be laid at his feet. There are action sequences where things are obviously sped up, driving and dialogue sequences that take excessively long to get to the point, and there are a lot of stiff acting performances from the actors. Dean Martin is probably the best, but he’s far from great. There’s also a problem with the sound effects; the choices are often irritating, and frequently make no sense whatsoever. When Helm throws his coat-button grenades, there’s a high pitched whistle, like an incoming missile. Grenades don’t make that sound (or any significant sound) when moving through the air, and there’s no reason for the buttons to do so. And it’s not just a choice added by the sound editor; there’s actually a gag based on the noise the things make, so this is the director’s decision. But the biggest problem with the film is simply one of pacing; there are too many scenes that serve no purpose in the film and aren’t of interest on their own.

The Silencers isn’t quite funny enough to be a good comedy, and it’s not slick or exciting enough to be a good spy movie. It’s just charming enough to be entertaining while it’s being watched, but not enough to make me want to seek out any of its three sequels.

Matt Helm actually became Dean Martin for the film rather than Martin becoming Helm.

Hey pallies, likes we gotta 'fess up that we are always! always! always! on the 'lert for more and more Dino-centric postin's puttin' the accent on our most beloved Dino as most beloved swingin' spyster Matt Helm.  Today we are potently pumped to share yet  'nother powerful post a la Helmer uno, "The Silencers"...... purely pleasurable Dino-as-Helm devotion from the blog "B-Movie Detective by Det. Abilene."  Det. Abilene in real life is Mr. Robb Johnson, "a former photographic model, who retired from modeling in 2010 and is pursuing a career in social work."

Likes this Mr. Johnson shares a marvelous missive of powerful prose and potent pixs in his excitin' essay tagged "The Male Ego: The Silencers (1966)."  Robb does the most awesome analysis of the first Helmer taggin' his excellent efforts "The Male Ego: The Silencers (1966).  It's crystal clear that Johnson really "gets  Martin" and we deeply digs this Dino-thought of his that we used to tag this Dino-gram..." Matt Helm actually became Dean Martin for the film rather than Martin becoming Helm."  Likes, ain't that the superbly simple and absolutely  awesome Dino-truth!

And, the screen caps that Robb has shared to illustrate the powerful pleasures of this Dino-epic are top drawer in our book dudes!  We are stunnin'ly smitten 'specially by one of these coolest of cool caps....the moment when our Dino as Matt Helm begins takin' off Miss Stella Stevens as Miss Gail Hendricks wet stockin's in his sexmobile....likes, if you looks closely pallies youse can see clearly that our Dino's smoke of choice is Kents as you will see on the right his pack of smokes and lighter...and the pack sez  "KENT."

Likes our only saddness is that we didn't happen 'pon this powerfully potent Helmer post 'til most recently when it first appeared over three years 'go on "B-Movie Detective by Det. Abilene."   Indeed we solemnly salute blogger Mr. Robb Johnson for one of the bestest of best reviews of a Matt Helm flick that we have ever had the privilege of devourin'!  To checks this out in it's original source, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

The Male Ego: The Silencers (1966)

28 May 2013

The Male Ego: The Silencers (1966)

The basic plot:  Matt Helm (Dean Martin) is a semi-retired secret service agent for ICE (US Department of Intelligence and Counter Espionage, who is pulled back into the spy game by his former boss MacDonald (James Gregory) in order to stop the major criminal organization the BIGO (pronounced “big o”) and its central villainous mastermind Tung-Tze (Victor Buono) – who has hatched a typically convoluted plan to detonate an Atom Bomb in New Mexico.  Helm has access to an outlandish assortment of gadgets and gizmos to assist him in his mission as well has help from sultry fellow ICE agent Tina (Daliah Lavi) and the bumbling klutz Gail Hendricks (Stella Stevens), who may (or may not) be a enemy agent working with BIGO.

Det. Abilene’s rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Analysis: First published in 1960, the character of Matt Helm as created by author Donald Hamilton is a tough-as-nails assassin for the US government and his primary tasks usually involve terminating enemy agents.  The Helm book series ran from ’60-’93 and consists of 27 novels and they almost instantly became noted for their gritty realism and then-shocking violence (Helm was known to torture even women in order to complete the job).  Matt Helm finally made it to the big screen with this film in February of ’66, when the James Bond-fueled spy craze was at its absolute peak with literally hundreds of other spy stories flooding both film and television simultaneously.  The Matt Helm of this film, however, bears virtually no similarity to character that appeared in Hamilton’s original novels, as the realistic espionage tales penned by Hamilton has become a cartoon-like cotton candied spy spoof here in The Silencers.

Supposedly, film producer Irving Allen decided to mount the film a spoof and play the adventure for comedy because he was well aware that there was no way that he could compete with the spectacular James Bond productions produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman – the exact same was true for Fox’s Saul David-produced Our Man Flint (released only one month before The Silencers) which was similarly played with tongue in cheek.  It should be noted with a great deal of irony that Allen was once partners with Broccoli and they ended their professional relationship with Broccoli became insistent upon making Ian Fleming’s James Bond character into a feature film and Allen famous insulted Fleming’s Bond novels as “not good enough for television.”  Allen may very well have regretted that decision after the Bond film series became a top-grossing phenomenon in the mid-sixties and apparently purchased the film rights to the Helm character in an attempt to launch his own spy series.  Allen hired director Phil Karlson (best known at the time for directing the Elvis Presley vehicle Kid Galahadand would later direct the massively successful 1973 biopic Walking Tall) to push the film even further into comedic territory and cast none other than singer/actor/television personality Dean Martin in the lead role (Martin also successfully insisted on becoming a co-producer on The Silencers and the future Helm films).

It is a “chicken / egg” scenario as to whether the film’s Matt Helm came to resemble a boozy, womanizing Vegas-like lounge lizard before or after Dean Martin was cast in the role.  In fact, the film’s portrayal of Helm is so similar to Martin’s own public personae that the film makes it seems as though Matt Helm actually became Dean Martin for the film rather than Martin becoming Helm.  In between playing spy and stopping the bad guys, Martin gets to romance no less than four beautiful women, drink lots of bubbly, make plenty of wisecracks (with even an admittedly funny swipe at real-life pal Frank Sinatra) and even sing snippets of no less 11 songs.  Regardless of how none of this even remotely resembled Hamilton’s Helm, film audiences loved it in 1966 as the film grossed over $16 million the US box office (a healthy sum at the time and more than $111 million in 2012 dollars if adjusted for inflation) leading to three more films with Martin as Helm (a fifth Helm film was planned but Martin decided enough was enough), and the Martin-as-Helm film series served as one of the major inspirations for Mike Myers’ popular Austin Powers trilogy of films.     

In spite of its popularity and influence on the spy parody sub-genre, The Silencers is often harshly criticized by modern audiences and especially by fans of the original novels.  As a fan of the entire mid-sixties spy entertainment, I’ve always enjoyed The Silencers and find it to be a more entertaining spoof than 1967’s Casino Royale and almost as successful as Our Man Flint – though admittedly not nearly as funny as television’s “Get Smart” (1965-1970).  The film is nominally based of Hamilton’s first and fourth Helm books, Death of a Citizen (in which Helm most find his own kidnapped daughter) and The Silencers (in which Helms saves a group of US Congressmen and scientists) but the film only borrows a few elements from the novels and then largely disregards the plots of both books in favor of storyline somewhat similar to the inaugural James Bond film Dr. No (1962), with chief villain Tung-Tze obviously created in the vein of Joseph Wiseman’s portrayal of the title villain in that first Bond cinematic outing.  The screenplay by Oscar Saul (with some additional punching up by Herbert Baker, who would pen the scripts for the next two Helm films) follows the regular espionage outline effectively enough to hang the various puns and sight gags on and most of the jokes here work well enough to at least bring a smile. 

The film opens with an amusing send up of Maurice Bender’s famous credit sequences for the Bond films with various stripers stripping during the opening credits and the gorgeous Cyd Charisse (who was still a sexy knockout at age 45 when this film was shot) lip-synching to pop singer Vikki Car’s recording of the memorable title song.  The film’s art direction by Joe Wright and set decoration by George R. Nelson amps the already grandiose spy movie spectacle to a hilariously ridiculous degree, and pushes the film’s realty even further into the realm of cartoon fantasy.  Helm’s revolving circular bed, swimming pool-sized bathtub, cylinder contact dryers, etc. have become iconic staples of mid-sixties bachelor pad neo-futurism.  Even the lame sight of Helm traveling in a station wagon (what kind of smooth, swinging, womanizing superspy drives a station wagon?) is somewhat redeemed by containing a both a mattress and a fully-stocked bar.

The cast is well-chosen assortment, with Daliah Lavi, Victor Buono, and Robert Webber particularly fun in archly stereotypical performances of spy movie stock characters and Beverly Adams is also funny as Helm’s assistant named Lovey Kravezit (not nearly as outlandish a name as Goldfinger’s Pussy Galore, but points for effort).  The only character that truly breaks cliché is James Gregory playing Helm’s boss as a more sensitive type, a somewhat refreshing change from the typical hard-boiled characterization that is usually the hallmark of such characters.  Best of all, however, is the adorable Stella Stevens who takes on the well-worn role of the klutz ditz (never a favorite of feminist critics and audiences) and brings genuine heart and pathos to potentially one-note role.  Taking pot shots and pratfalls that would scare off even some of the most physical of comediennes, Stevens makes a sincere connection with the audience and delivers a truly Award-worthy comic performance that stands as probably the female portrayal in any of the various spy spoofs before or since.

As for Martin himself, our male ego of the review, his performance as Helm in all four Helm movies has been largely criticized as lazy and apathetic, but I don’t feel that such criticism is valid.  Martin, who was then riding high on his own self-titled variety television series (1965-1974), was cast on the basis of his own public personae (for an example of Martin really acting then be sure to check out his exceptional dramatic performance in 1958’s The Young Lions) and this largely works in the film’s favor.  Martin’s innate charisma and handsome good looks lend the film an easygoing charm that’s awful hard to resist, and (even at age 49) his Italian machismo remains quite sexy – he still looks quite smashing whether in a turtleneck and dinner jacket or simply bare-chested.  He may not bear the slightest resemblance to the Matt Helm of Hamilton’s novels, but Martin is still tops when it comes to comedic, swinging superspies!

If there is sad postscript to spy spoofs like the Helm and Flint movies, it is that their success made mounting a serious, realistic espionage tale more difficult for filmmakers in the following decade.  Case in point, even the James Bond series eventually succumbed to parody in the Roger Moore-led seventies outings like silly box office blockbusters The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) – it wouldn’t be until 1981’s For Your Eyes Only that the Bond series would get serious again and that Moore would finally have a sincere outing as the character.  Matt Helm himself would also get another chance for a more serious treatment when the character was dusted off for a television series in 1975 starring Anthony Franciosa in the title role.  Although the television show was dramatic in nature, the series was little more than a routine detective show and only lasted 13 episodes before cancellation.

Bottom Line: One of the classic ‘60s spy spoofs, The Silencers bears virtually no relation to the gritty Matt Helm novels on which is nominally based but it works on its own merits as a comedy.  Dean Martin is one of the ultimate swinger spies and Stella Stevens delivers an Award-worthy comedic performance. 

All this serves as an excuse to surround Dino with gorgeous women and make with the double entendres in his smooth as Bourbon voice.

Hey pallies, likes let's keep the Dino as Helm posts comin' dudes!     Likes for the next trio of days, we are plannin' on sharin  more Dino-action  accentin' our most beloved Dino as swingin' spyster Matt Helm in Helmer numero uno..."The Silencers."   Today  we thrilled to be visitin'  with movie marvel Mr. Gary Loggins who reigns over "Cracked Rear Viewer and Through the Shattered Lens."  Tellin' us a little bit 'bout himself Gary scribes, "I'm a film fanatic who grew up on old movies, and have as much fun writing about them as I do watching."

Well Loggins has taken his turn at reviewin' "The Silencers" with his coolest of cool captioned blog post, "Secret Agent Double-O Dino: THE SILENCERS (Columbia 1966)."  Likes dudes we digs the tag "Secret Agent Double-O Dino" to the max".....a potent parody on 007...James Bond.  Interestin' 'nough dudes, Gary shares a number of the same screen caps as yesterday's Dino-gramer did and his ravin' review is full of awesome appreciato for our one and only Dino.

The swank sentence that we digs the mostest of the most is what we used to tag this post..." All this serves as an excuse to surround Dino with gorgeous women and make with the double entendres in his smooth as Bourbon voice."  Likes in one simple sentence Gary spells gives us an outstandin' overview of our Dino and Helm!  His words are coolly crafted and certain to energetically encourage many many of his readership to tune in and turn on to our most beloved Dino as the one and only Matt Helm!

ilovedinomartin shouts out kudos to Mr. Gary Loggins for his remarkable review of "The Silencers" and we are pleased as punch to be sharin' with all the pallies gathered  'round our waterin' hole decided to our King of Cool.  Likes to checks this out in it's original source, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-report.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Secret Agent Double-O Dino: THE SILENCERS (Columbia 1966)

Out of all the James Bond-inspired spy spoofs made in the Swingin’ 60’s, one of the most popular was Dean Martin’s Matt Helm series. Based on the novels of Donald Hamilton, the films bore little resemblance to their literary counterparts, instead relying on Dino’s Booze & Girlies Rat Pack Vegas persona. First up was 1966’s THE SILENCERS, chock full of gadgets, karate chops, and beautiful babes, with sexual innuendoes by the truckload.

Our Man Matt is a semi-retired agent of ICE (Intelligence and Counter-Espionage) living in a Playboy Mansion-style pad, and working as a globe-trotting photographer. He’s luxuriating in his bubble bath pool with sexy secretary Lovey Kravezit (“Lovey Kravezit? Oh that’s some kinda name!”) when former boss Mac Donald calls. Evil spy organization Big O (Bureau for International Government and Order) is once again plotting world domination, and the reluctant Helm is pulled back into service.

Matt is teamed with his former partner Tina to thwart Operation Fallout, a nefarious plot to detonate nuclear bombs at Alamagordo and set off a war between the U.S. and Russia. The two spies are sent to Phoenix to retrieve a computer tape from operative Sarita, who works as the featured attraction at the Slayboy Club. Sarita is assassinated onstage, and the tape winds up in the hands of beautiful but klutzy Gail Hendricks. Matt thinks she’s an enemy agent, and they make their way to San Juan, where they’re captured. Tina turns out to be a double agent, and Matt must battle the odds inside Big O headquarters to stop Operation Fallout and defeat evil leader Tung Tze.

All this serves as an excuse to surround Dino with gorgeous women and make with the double entendres in his smooth as Bourbon voice. Dean’s basically playing himself here, or at least his public image of a fun-loving, skirt chasing, boozy lounge lizard. His easygoing charm makes it work, and he has a ball as the ring-a-ding spy. Dean can be heard singing on the soundtrack whenever he’s thinking of girls, and there’s a funny moment when, while driving with Gail, Frank Sinatra comes on the radio crooning “Come Fly With Me”. “Oh, turn him off”, says Dean, “He’s terrible”. He switches the station and Dean himself is on singing his own hit “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes”. Martin smiles and says, “Now that guy can sing!”.

All the women are appropriately attractive. Stella Stevens is the graceless Gail, an innocent caught up in the sinister skullduggery. She give a fine comic performance, and can take a slapstick pratfall with the best of them. A former Playmate of the Month, Stella’s seen to best advantage in the films THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (with Dean’s ex-partner Jerry Lewis), Sam Peckinpah’s THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE, and Irwin Allen’s THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE. Daliah Lavi (Tina) was an Israeli actress featured in the spy spoofs THE SPY WITH A COLD NOSE and 1967’s CASINO ROYALE, as well as Mario Bava’s THE WHIP AND THE BODY. Beverly Adams (Lovey Kravezit) was in HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI, but was best known as the wife of celebrity hairstylist Vidal Sassoon. Nancy Kovack appears as counterspy Barbara, who tries unsuccessfully to knock off Helm. Kovack was a 60’s staple who acted in countless TV shows of the era (MAN FROM UNCLE, STAR TREK, BATMAN, etc), and played the ingénue in JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (The Three Stooges’ last feature), and retired from films after marrying conductor Zubin Mehta .

Cyd Charisse gets “Guest Star” billing as Sarita, the dancing spy. The former MGM musical star gets to strut her stuff once again in both the movie’s opening credits (where she does a striptease number) and onstage at the Slayboy Club (her vocals are dubbed by singer Vicki Carr). It’s basically a cameo role, but it’s good to see the leggy Miss Charisse dancing onscreen again.

The males are all Familiar Faces to movie fans, composed of a fine set of 60’s  character actors. Victor Buono plays villain Tung Tze, and though he’s about as Oriental as Dino, he’s always a welcome presence. Gruff James Gregory is ICE chief MacDonald, and Robert Webber , Roger C. Carmel, and Arthur O’Connell are various Big O bad guys. Director Phil Karlson, known for his tough films like KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL and THE PHENIX CITY STORY , shows his lighter side in this one and balances the comedy and action well.

Producer Irving Allen was once the partner of Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who broke up when Cubby decided to bring James Bond to the silver screen. Allen wasn’t interested, and missed the boat on a franchise that’s still going strong today. After seeing the success of the Bond films, Allen jumped on the bandwagon and obtained the rights to the Matt Helm novels, adding more comedy to the mix. THE SILENCERS and its sequel MURDERER’S ROW were box-office hits, but the final two (THE AMBUSHERS and THE WRECKING CREW) didn’t do so hot, as the spy craze was ending. Martin declined to do a fifth (THE RAVAGERS) and Matt Helm went into retirement. Attempts to revive the character have failed, including a weekly TV series starring Tony Franciosa. The Matt Helm movies are a product of their era, with Dean Martin’s breezy style carrying the load. All the wink-and-a-nod sexual innuendoes seem innocent in today’s anything goes world, but the Matt Helm series is worth watching as artifacts of a time past, no classics but still entertaining.

The second in the glorious Matt Helm spy spoof series and (maybe?) the best.

Hey pallies, likes we're on the grooviest of groovy Dino-roll of our mighty man Dino playin' the mighty mighty Matt Helm.  Today we have one of 'em "short by sweet" swank sharin', and likes as we know it is no always the length of the Dino-prose that matters most.  So, with only a picture, a poster, and a bit of patter, this post may very well qualify as the shortest Matt Helm prose we have ever shared on "Murder's Row," and likes perhaps all of the quartet of Helmer silver screen epics.

However, the pix is one of the coolest, if not the coolest from  "Murder's Row."  The poster is indeed our fav of favs from Helmer duo.  And, likes the patter is powerfully potent for Dino-sure.

Likes we go any further with the raisin' of the praisin', we oughta gives you at least a bit of information of where and from whom today's Dino-devotion comes.  The blog is tagged "RUPERT PUPKIN SPEAKS."  We ain't got a clue who Rupert Pupkin is but the blogger sez 'bout his blog, "This site is all about keeping older films in the public consciousness via lists and short reviews."
Today's "Murder's Row" review is actually taken from movie aficionado Mr. Samuel B. Prine (pictured to left and his post tagged "Underrated '66 Samuel B. Prine," a sharin' of films from '66 includin' Helmer numero duo, "Murder's Row."

It's coolly crystal clear that Mr. Prine is a deeper then deep digger of our most beloved Dino and the Matt Helm big screen capers.  As, we said 'bove Samuel's scribin' are short, but oh oh so sweet.  In fact we tagged this post with Prine's perfectly perfect Dino-as-Helm-observation..." The second in the glorious Matt Helm spy spoof series and (maybe?) the best."  Likes, of course, we couldn't 'gree with him more!

We sez our thoughtful thanks to both the blogger at "RUPERT PUPKIN SPEAKS" and Mr. Samuel B. Prine for spreadin' the Dino-message of cool a la "Murder's Row."  It is always such a pure pleasure to find 'nother awesome advocate of our most most beloved Dino.  To checks this out in it's original source, likes clicks, per usual, on the tag of this Dino-report.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Underrated '66 - Samuel B. Prime



Samuel B. Prime is a writer, film curator, and archivist based in Los Angeles. He deeply admires Dick Cavett's savoir faire and his favorite Sonny Chiba film is Kazuhiko Yamaguchi's perpetually unavailable WOLFGUY: ENRAGED LYCANTHROPE (1975). Find him online at  www.lacinesalon.com   for essays and free streaming movies.

MURDERERS' ROW (Henry Levin, 1966)

The second in the glorious Matt Helm spy spoof series and (maybe?) the best. I mean, Dean Martin (as Matt Helm) throws an exploding white dress at a picture of Frank Sinatra. It really doesn't get much better than that. Oh, wait! Yes, it does!!! Ann-Margret shakes her tuchus like there is no tomorrow. Plus, everybody goes home happy with a glass of scotch - not bourbon!

.....everyone loves some Deano sometimes.....

Hey pallies, likes a few 'go we was doin' some Dino-image searchin'...always a wonderfuly wise way of findin'  Dino-devotion yet to be uncovered by ilovedinomartin, we were led to the blog pad of Mr.
Paul Stockton and his coolest of coolly tagged personal blog, "Dusty Video Box" where he has the swankest of swank scribin's accentin' Helmer numero quartre....."The Wrecking Crew" in his post, "Silly but saved by Sharon… The Wrecking Crew (1968)"  And, we are delighted to know that Mr. Stockton's Dino-reflections are mucho more in line with sold out to Dino-holics likes us then yester-Dino-day's post on the same flick.

While we frankly 'fesses up that this is our least fav of all of the swingin' spyster Matt Helm flicks, it still provides pleasure unendin' for all of us sold-out-to-Dino holics, and likes, Mr. Stockton potently provides patter in his remarkable review that certainly makes us engagin'ly eager to view it for yet 'nother time.  The marvelous mixin' of perfect prose and stunnin'ly shared screen caps powerfully proves to be a cool combo to energetically entice the Dino-faithful as well as those young in Dino to dust off a copy of TWC and get some awesome action from our most beloved Dino.

Likes Paul has a wonderful way with words and we loves the lively way he begins his artful articulation a la Helm..."Sixties comic strip, multi-coloured pseudo-psychedelia, soundtracked by easy legend Hugo Montenegro in an attempt to make the likeable but seasoned, Rat Pack crooner hip enough for families with an increasingly-diverse cultural agenda…"  Truly truly dudes we are diggin' this review likes to the max!

So, enjoys yet ' more fun 'n frolic thanks to our swingin' Dino as spyster Helm courtesy of Mr. Paul Stockton.  We solemnly salute Paul for his efforts in sharin' the Dino-Helmer vib  with all his readership.  To checks this out in it's original source, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Silly but saved by Sharon… The Wrecking Crew (1968)



Sixties comic strip, multi-coloured pseudo-psychedelia, soundtracked by easy legend Hugo Montenegro in an attempt to make the likeable but seasoned, Rat Pack crooner hip enough for families with an increasingly-diverse cultural agenda… is there any point in watching The Wrecking Crew in 2014?

Yes it’s proto-Austen Powers Bond spoofery has genuine period charm and there are lots of groovy chicks and kung fu kicks on view (Bruce Lee choreographed the violence) but Dean Martin as a fifty-something photographer-cum-special agent? Then again, how can you take the mickey out of a film that’s way ahead of you on that score?


Dean adds up his fees for the four Helm films

Dean involves you in the joke and the joke is that he’s getting paid to walk through things pretty much as himself: singing re-worded Martin standards every time he encounters yet another beautiful woman willing to “lie down” with him to talk and always seeking out the drinks cabinet in every room he enters.

It’s knowing, exploitative and laid back, everyone loves some Deano sometimes and…me we can’t just watch Antonioni and Bergman all of the time can we?


Sharon Tate

But what really made this film worthy of comment was watching Sharon Tate as the seemingly bumbling Danish tourist guide Freya Carlson who (obviously) is also a spy. This was the last of her films released before her brutal murder in August 1969 and you watch her all too aware of her tragedy to come. Yet the more I watched the more I thought that she should be remembered for her abilities and achievements rather than the manner of her exit (no matter how horrific and senseless).

The Wrecking Crew is far from the best film she made but she makes her mark with what she had and is energetic, funny and, of course, beautiful. On this evidence she was a versatile actress who would have made many interesting films but we have to appreciate those that she did make in her short span and pay her the tribute of remembering her as a person and not a victim. And this silly, occasionally funny, period piece is a part of her professional life.


Nigel Green - saved by his enduring sense of the ridiculous

The fourth in the Matt Helm series, The Wrecking Crew follows the existing formula of gadgets and girls with Helm (Dean Martin) up against a teched-up, organised and delightfully nasty baddy Count Contini (played by the always excellent Nigel Green who always seems so earnestly world-weary). Contini and his well-drilled mob hi-jack a trainload of gold bullion from a train in Denmark and are intent on using it to destabilise the markets of the western world.


Elke makes an entrance...

Contini is aided by his psychotic-but-lovely left-hand woman Linka Karensky (Elke Sommer) who makes a quite stunning entry in a close-fitting white dress slashed almost to her waist -  they really don’t make spies quite this curvaceous anymore… along with the alluring martial artist Wen Yu-Rang (Nancy Kwan).

After the robbery, the secret service calls Helm away from a surreal garden party/photo-shoot with a bevy of outlandishly attired models. He is briefed by commander 'Mac' MacDonald (John Larch) and told to follow the action to Denmark and to seek out Contini’s former confidant and squeeze, as Lola Medina (Tina Louise... as statuesque as Sommer).


Dean Martin meets Tina Louise

Helm meets Freya in his hotel and is immediately impressed by her legs if not her competency – geeky glasses and clumsy as Clark Kent she can’t be the real deal… or can she

Helm encounters Lola who seems very keen to unburden herself of Contini’s secret plan along with most of her clothes. Sadly, her former boss is ahead of the game and blows her up. Next he gets a visit from Wen Yu-Rang who is similarly drawn to Matt Helm’s magnetism: even though these women mean to kill him they want to enjoy the moment first – psycho-analyse that?!


Nancy Kwan holds talks with Dean Martin

Freya is on hand to get in the way/save the day and the two are chased up to a ski-lift by Wen’s men and we Martin performing some of the moves Bruce Lee put together – not too shabby Dean!

It’s only a matter of time before Linka tries her luck and she proves a match for Helm hiding one more gun than he expected but… so impressed is she that she wants to share the loot with him… or does she?



Everything careers towards the inevitable conclusions and you know at some point it’ll be down to a scrap between Matt and Contini but not before some entertaining gadgetry at the latter’s mansion as Helm tries to avoid being inadvertently fried by Freya. We also have a car chase in which Matt reveals that he keeps are large chopper in his boot… he and Freya assemble the mini-copter in record time and fly off to hopefully stop Contini as he heads off with the billion in bullion to a suspiciously Californian-looking Luxembourg….



 Dusty verdict: Undemanding comfort cinema is an understatement but this is a period piece worth saving for a rainy day when all you can handle is bright entertainment. Matey Martin along for the laughs and it’s really no hardship watching Louise, Kwan, Sommer and the luminous Tate.

The Wrecking Crew is freely available from all good Amazons and there's also a boxed set of all four films if you've got flu or a really bad hang-over.


Matt Helm at his day job... really.


Bruce Lee got Dean kicking


Why Miss Carlson, without your glasses, etc...


Sorry, what's the plot again?