Tuesday, October 02, 2012

The Silencers

Having written a review of Our Man Flint on my review blog (click here to read!), I decided to revisit the 60's world of super-spy adventure! James Bond has been a hot property since first appearing on the printed page in 1953, and the movies have been a pop culture staple since Dr. No (1962).  And as has been the case since the dawn of Hollywood, success breeds imitation.  And while many of the Bond knock-offs have long been forgotten (no one I know who loved Austin Powers knew where half the references were coming from), the craze was pretty widespread.


One series seeking to cash in were the Matt Helm movies, starring Dean Martin, and produced by Irving Allen, former partner of Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, producer of the Bond films.  Based on the long-running series of novels by Donald Hamilton, the movies took on a swinging sixties tone compared to the dark and violent atmosphere of the books.  Martin is good fun, the gadgets wacky and vehicles bizarre (Helm's first vehicle is a trick-filled station wagon!), the movies are completely watchable and hilariously awful.  Think of them, if you will, as James Bond as created by the makers of the 60's Batman Tv series.

9 comments:

dino martin peters said...

Hey pallie, likes Mr. Ebelt, what a great homagin' of our Dino as Matt Helm. Specially grooves on the sketch of Dino and Miss Rule on the cycle in "The Ambushers." Never was, never will be anyone as cool as the King of Cool...oh, to return to the days when Dino walked the earth. Know that your Dino-reflections are bein' shared this very day with the pallies gathered 'round ilovedinomartin....and more of your Dino-thoughts will be shared there really soon.

Ryan said...

Thanks Dino Martin Peters, I enjoyed drawing Dino and have a special soft spot for all things Matt Helm.

dino martin peters said...

Ryan, just to let you know man that I found your original review of "The Silencers" from '05 and have posted it this very Dino-day at ilovedinomartin. Glads to know you digs our Dino as spyster Helm!

Ryan said...

I saw that. Thanks for the new press. I might be moving it to my review blog over at: http://friendsofjunior.blogspot.com/ . Just did a write-up on Flint...can't have enough from the age of cool.

dino martin peters said...

Ry, you are welcome man...and that sounds likes a cool plan...woulda loves to have you review the other 3 Helmers 'specially my fav of fav, "Murder's Row."

Ryan said...

I've got the box set. I'll certainly see what I can do.

dino martin peters said...

Ry, very very cool indeed....will be lookin' forward to more Dino-edification from you man...btw when did you first come to know and dig our main man?

Ryan said...

I first knew of Dino as a kid: as a singer from my mom and as an actor from Canonball Run. As a longtime fan of Rickles, I'd catch reruns of Dino's roasts and whatnot on PBS over the years (Thank God for Youtube). Then found Matt Helm, both movies and books, in my 20's.

dino martin peters said...

Ry, very cool indeed...will look forward to more Dino-prose from you man.