Matt Helm Lounge: The Silencers / Murderers' Row / The Ambushers / The Wrecking Crew [DVD]

If you weren't around in the 1960s, you may not understand the appeal of Dean Martin, who, in his day, was the most popular entertainer in America; the guy who knocked the Beatles' song "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" out of the #1 spot on the charts (with "Everybody Loves Somebody"), star of the most watched variety show on TV, a surprisingly gifted actor, in the right film roles...for nearly a decade, no other performer could match his appeal, not Elvis, not Sinatra, no one...for a guy pushing 50, who never got past tenth grade, and was declared 'washed up' when he broke up with partner Jerry Lewis in 1956, Dino's string of successes were astonishing!Columbia Pictures decided to capitalize on Martin's popularity, and the 'James Bond' spy craze, as well, with a series of films based on the "Matt Helm" espionage novels of Donald Hamilton. While Hamilton's books were gritty and realistic, however, the movies would be light-hearted spoofs, with Martin playing his screen and TV 'persona', an amiable boozer who saved the world while tossing off drinks and one-liners, and beautiful women swooned. In accepting the role, in addition to some very nice paydays, Dino had specific demands; the very short shooting schedule could not interfere with his nightclub work, TV show, or golf; and he would never have to go on location (the "Helm" films would highlight some of the finest second unit film work of the 60s, with glorious views of Monte Carlo, the Riviera, Acapulco, and Copenhagen...while Dino toiled away in the Burbank back lot!).Needless to say, the "Matt Helm" films were never an Oscar threat, but as entertainment, they were far better than some of the schlock of the era, with some first-rate actors, hamming it up!"The Silencers" (1966): First of the series, introducing Martin as Helm, James Gregory as MacDonald, his boss at I.C.E., and Beverly Adams as his 'Girl Friday', Lovey Kravezit (uh-huh). A convoluted, hare-brained plot to explode a missile over an underground nuclear test site (releasing the radiation and thus initiating WWIII), offers rotund, blue-eyed Victor Buono chewing up scenery as Oriental villain Tung-Tze, sexy Daliah Lavi as a double agent, Cyd Charisse (her singing dubbed by Vicki Carr) as a doomed entertainer, and, best of all, Stella Stevens as a beautiful, if VERY clutzy innocent, drawn into the action. Martin is obviously having fun, and Stevens shows why she was as 'in demand' as a comedienne as she was as a serious actress... (3 1/2 stars, out of 5)"Murderer's Row" (1966): Lifting a plot element of "You Only Live Twice" (where 007 is 'killed'), Helm 'dies', so he can go incognito to Monte Carlo, and search for the creator of a dangerous laser beam weapon, capable of destroying Washington. He teams up with the inventor's daughter (jiggly Ann-Margret, at the peak of her 'sex kitten' phase), and the pair face off against uber-hammy villain Karl Malden, sporting a bogus accent from SOMEWHERE in Europe! Camilla Sparv is Malden's sexy henchwoman, and there's a rousing action finale aboard an out-of-control hovercraft... (4 stars, out of 5)"The Ambushers" (1967): A silly premise, as Helm and the female pilot of an experimental USAF 'flying saucer' (Janice Rule), search for her missing Top Secret aircraft, after she stumbles out of a Mexican jungle with amnesia, but without her ride. The film works better than you might expect, as Rule is both attractive, and a very good actress. Senta Berger is the sexy villainess, and slimy Albert Salmi is about as kinky and distasteful a bad guy as you'd ever see in a "Helm" film... (3 1/2 stars, out of 5)"The Wrecking Crew" (1969): A billion in gold is stolen, threatening to topple the economies of the free world, if Helm can't recover it! British character actor Nigel Green is a suave, if shallow villain, but it's the women who truly light up the screen; Elke Sommer, as a ruthless blonde assassin, Nancy Kwan as a calculating Chinese beauty, Tina ("Gilligan's Island") Louise as a doomed gypsy, and, in her next-to-last film, Sharon Tate as Helm's very annoying British(!) ally. John Larch replaces James Gregory as MacDonald, and there is a bittersweet quality to the film, watching the beautiful 26-year-old Tate, who would by murdered by Charles Manson and his followers, barely six months after the film's release. (3 1/2 stars, out of 5).Although another "Matt Helm" film is announced at the conclusion of "The Wrecking Crew" ("The Ravagers"), it was never made. The spy craze had ended, and the "Matt Helm" movies were losing money. After four films in three years, Martin felt it was about time to move on, and Sharon Tate's murder so upset him, he 'pulled the plug' on the series.While Martin's later life would be tragic, "The Matt Helm Lounge" serves as a reminder of a happier time when Dino truly was the 'King'!

This was a fun movie starring two of my favorite performers, Dean Martin and Ann-Margret, and it was the first movie for each of them filmed entirely within my lifetime. If you're a fan of either of them, or of 1960s fun with some drama but nothing too heavy, you'll like this. Make yourself a bowl of popcorn and escape for a little while.

This is a great collection of movies for both Matt Helm and Dean Martin fans. Most viewers will find Dean Martins' slightly comedic approach to the Matt Helm character very entertaining. In addition to some pretty funny moments, the movies are also full of clever songs, such as "When Your Sweetheart Puts A Pistol in her Pillow." These movies provide a fascinating look at American culture of the 1960s. They contain old cars, scantily clad women, and a surplus of sexual innuendo. The behavior exhibited by Dean Martin is also rather interesting. In a scene from "The Silencers", he rips the dress off of Stella Stevens as an incentive for her to start talking. Today, such behavior would be called "assault." In another movie, Dean is drinking from a flask while driving his car and receiving instructions from Headquarters. Obviously, drinking and driving was not an issue in the 1960s. These films contain some of the big name actresses of the day, such as Stella Stevens, Ann Margaret, and Sharon Tate. Sharon Tate, unfortunately, is better known for being murdered by Charles Manson and his family.The quality of the movies is excellent and there were no problems with the DVDs. All four DVDs fit into two slim containers. The entire collection fits into one box the size of a normal DVD case. Unfortunately, the set has the appearance of a rental from the local video store, vice something that was intended for sale. "The Silencers" contain several movie trailers for unrelated films such as "Fun with Dick and Jane." There is no trailer for "The Silencers." The other movies do contain Matt Helm movie trailers, but not on the disk of that movie. The set also contains multiple trailers for "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and an upcoming release of the Seinfeld DVDs. Finally, one DVD came with a small anti theft tag used to prevent shoplifting.Despite these minor anomalies, this is a very entertaining set of movies. Dean Martin is as enjoyable now as he was in the 1960s. The viewer can certainly see how these films were a likely source of inspiration for the Austin Powers movies.

If sequels declare the success of a franchise, and they do, then Dean Martin's four parodies of James Bond by the time Sean Connery made six tells that film freaks got as much entertainment from Matt Helm's SlayGirls as from 007's Bond Girls.The well printed and packaged quartet of The SILENCERS, MURDERER'S ROW, The AMBUSHERS, and The WRECKING CREW are a delightful retrospective showcase of the '60s, when men were hairy and women were leggy, before love was inhibited by AIDS and herpes, and there were no billionaires. Enjoy a nostalgic look at a bevy of forgotten starlets whose thespian charisma was upstaged by their pulchritude: Cyd Charisse, Ann Margaret (CARNAL KNOWLEDGE), Tina Louise (GILLIGAN'S ISLAND), Camilla Spaarv, Stella Stevens, Daliah Lavi (CASINO ROYALE), Elke Sommer (PINK PANTHER), Nancy Kwan (THE WORLD OF SUZIE WONG), Senta Berger (DE SADE), and the horribly tragic Sharon Tate --- they never looked lovlier. While Rat Packer Dino and cowboy James Gregory save the world from domination by archfiends Victor Buono, Arthur O'Connell, Robert Webber and Karl Malden, with one-liners and in-jokes. We shall never see their like again.What are the flicks about? Why, pretty women of course, barely covered by the op-art couturie of Oleg Cassini, not to mention his fledging for peacocks, a few choreographed brawls, a car chase on a mountain road, button bombs, fold-up helicopters, death rays, and travelogues of Monte Carlo and Acapulco. If you want plot, drama, mystery, character development, and verisimulated reality, get CHARLIE'S ANGELS.Sex and violence are good clean fun, but the series should be X-Rated for glorifying smoking and drinking while driving automobiles.

Dean Martin style, need we say more. Very fun to watch: Dean, beautiful ladies, gorgeous vehicles and locales. The Silencers is probably my favourite---it seems best suited to Dean's style, music, and class. The other movies go more into the pop, groovy, Austin Powers/GOGO style music. Worth buying. In a time of many 007 copycats, Dean Martin's Matt Helm took his own road and stylishly to boot! A definite time capsule.

If you like Dean Martin/ James Bond and lots of pretty girls, you will enjoy these movies. Dean Martin is Matt Helm and he is an agent fighting all the bad guys and getting all the pretty girls. So the technology can't be compared with todays movies, but that is what makes Matt Helm so much fun. Even the fashions are fun, some of the styles I see back today.I recommend Matt Helm because it is so much fun to watch for all ages.

This is really campy but it's from my youth. I liked it then & I still like it. If you are expecting a good spy thriller don't watch this but if you want to be entertained & have some fun this is perfect.

I'd read somewhere that Dean Martin rarelThey rehearsed either for his movies or his TV show - so what see on screen is the real Dean, Mr. Cool.