It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it … the world needs Matt Helm and I’m ready…

Oh hi ya folks- just me Matt Helm ready for a little adventure and I have to apologize I didn’t see you there at first ..you see I just got off the phone with Chris from Slay Girl magazine ..you know my editor and boy does he have an assignment for me .. .I’ll be knee deep in sunshine, lush tropical settings and all the tan bodies in a bikini that one guy can stand ..and that ain’t the half of it so just sit back and relax for now …

Taglines-

Matt Helm’s Biggest and Boldest!

See those fabulous SLAYGIRLS in ACAPULCO…dressed to kill by CASSINI!

Matt Helm rides again! …with the Ambushers on his back, and some fun on the side!

Above — Trailer for the The Ambushers featuring Frank Sinatra signing the Title song …not featured in the actual film instead sung by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

***trivia break … the scores for the films were shared by Elmer Bernstein and Hugo Montenegro.

Why doesn’t Sony/Columbia make a Matt Helm flick and make it closer to the original books by Don Hamilton just a little bit of the hard edge with still keeping the humor that Dean Martin brought to the role.. he was brilliant and perfect with the sarcastic cracks and I’m available & the right age…. would you turn this role down? Not this guy.. you’d have to be nuts and I’m all in…

Going back to the the books which were darker and more in line with a Bond would work and Don’s style of writing read like a movie leaving many of the titles very adaptable for the screen.Then taking from the 60’s screen versions of Matt which brought a wider scale and obviously a lot more in terms of the bachelor type mentality along with the exotic lounge/jazz score from that era and along for the ride eye candy galore- between the Slaymates ans well as a bevy of actresses: Elke Summers, Janice Rule, Ann Margaret, Nancy Kwan and Sharon Tate included.This combo would make for a very successful franchise and serve to reignite the franchise.

Matt Helm- the books ..hard edged espionage with real grit where Matt’s world as an ex-spy-assassin past life catches up to him leaving him divorced..his wife not being able to think of him the same way after she finds out what he use to do during the war,code name Eric and sanctioned to make what he used to call a touch or kill. Now turned photographer and brought out of retirement as a last resort..Death of a Citizen the first of the Matt Helm adventures first appeared in 1960 and 27 books later is still in circulation today. His job was to kill or “nullify” the enemy…just a far cry from the movies , but giving that the movie screens already had a British secret service agent saving the world from men like Dr No and Blofeld taking the slightly lighter path just seemed to lend itself perfectly to Dean Martins charms.

Talk about a rough job this was right in keeping with his TV series that was a huge hit at the time and what a way to promote a movie…this was shot for the Silencers and the beginning of the Slaymates

The film series would sprinkle in Deans songs in the background or even Sinatra as a running joke thru out the Helm films..always a welcome bit a wink to the audience and that was also a credit to Deans performance and he could make you laugh or smirk and still throw a great right or a chop to the neck…

Above: Dean posing with the Slaymates from The Wrecking Crew

Quotes and lines -

Matt Helm-Half a bottle is better than none.

Matt Helm: So this is the place I was gonna get shot in the back. Kind of a stylish pad to take off from.

Dialog featuring Sharon Tate and Dean Martin:

Freya Carlson: I was told to work directly under you and you refused to cooperate…

Matt Helm: You say that again and I’m gonna teach you to watch your language.

Hey The Wrecking Crew for those who don’t know featured fight scenes choreographed by Bruce Lee providing very realistic edge to the Helm character as well as the persona envisioned by the author and introduced the film world to Chuck Norris who worked on the stunts with Bruce and he also made his acting debut as well …

this film the last in the Dean Martin run at Matt Helm and actually performed as well the The Silencers the first of the series and for the series the best and one of my favorites especially with Nigel Greene(who past away in 1972) playing main villain. The series or franchise could have gone longer at least if sticking to this approach..maybe a little bit of retooling with the 60’s coming to an end.

The Matt Helm films was Irving Allen’s spin on the spy film explosion of the 60’s and maybe to make up for passing on a deal to obtain the rights to Ian Fleming’s James Bond ..which at one time was partnered with Cubby Broccoli and what probably led to Broccoli desolving his partnership with Allen.

Below: Now that’s a calendar-promo for the The Wrecking Crew

I’ll leave you with this- the last film that was originally scheduled or mentioned to be filmed was listed at the end of The Wrecking Crew credits- Matt Helm will return in The Ravagers was to be Matt’s next celluloid adventure ..but never materialized ..maybe that is where we should start…

For now this is Matt over -n-out and if you happen to get a call from some named Mac watch out because he’ll probably want you trade the girls for guns and that’s no fun..so I’ll just be moseying along, I think I hear Miss Cravesit calling.. might be time for some liquid refreshment …

• *** Where to stream Matt Helm ….

Amazon Prime -

The Silencers in HD

and

Classic Reel on Roku …

All 4 Matt Helm films including the rare-

The Wrecking Crew with fight choreography by Bruce Lee