The Wrecking Crew, released in 1968 and starring Dean Martin, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate is the fourth and final film in a series of American comedy-spy-fi theatrical releases featuring Martin as secret agent Matt Helm. As with the previous three movies (The Silencers, Murderers' Row and The Ambushers), the film is based only loosely upon Donald Hamilton's 1960 novel of the same title and takes great liberties with the plot and characters, being developed as a spoof of the James Bond films. The Wrecking Crew was the second Helm novel published and the earliest of the books to be adapted.
In a plotline reminiscent of the Bond novel/film, Goldfinger, Helm is assigned by his secret agency, ICE, to bring down an evil count who is trying to collapse the world economy by stealing gold. Along the way, Helm is reluctantly partnered with a British agent played by Sharon Tate (in one of her final appearances on film before her murder at the hands of Charles Manson's followers.) Chuck Norris makes his film debut in a small role, and Bruce Lee is credited with being the film's karate advisor.
Also appearing in the film are Nancy Kwan as Yu-Rang, Tina Louise as Lola Medina, and Nigel Green as the villainous Count Contini. Macdonald, Helm's chief, is played by John Larch in this film, replacing James Gregory, who played the role in the other three films. Gregory said in an interview in Filmfax magazine that he was sent a reduced amount for his fee in the film. He was told that the film was reducing its budget, Gregory refused to take the lower fee.[1] This is also the only film in the series not to feature Helm's secretary, Lovesy Kravesit played by Beverly Adams.
Music
Hugo Montenegro composed the score for the film, and Mack David and Frank DeVol wrote the theme song played over the opening and end credits, "House of 7 Joys".
Reception
Critical response to this film varies, with some calling it the worst of the series, where it mostly features Helm playing up to glamorous women and the storyline is the bits that join those many encounters together. There was also some poor acting and the film had many minor mistakes in it which should have been edited out as well as so-so special effects. Others called it the best due to its reduced reliance on outlandish gadgets and story lines. It is also notable for the appearance of Tate.
Legacy
The film ends with the announcement of a fifth Matt Helm film, The Ravagers (which would have been based upon Hamilton's 1964 novel of the same title). However, Dean Martin declined to return for another film in the face of a declining box office. When Martin refused to make The Ravagers, Columbia held up Martin's share of the profits on Murderers' Row.[2] The project was then cancelled.
A "Tony Rome Meets Matt Helm" movie with Frank Sinatra reprising the character he had played in the films Tony Rome (1967) and Lady in Cement was also bandied about, but never amounted to anything.
Several years later, a Matt Helm TV series featuring Tony Franciosa would be attempted, but in a much more serious vein, and it was unsuccessful. As of 2009, early planning for a new Matt Helm-based film was underway through DreamWorks.
Cast
- Dean Martin as Matt Helm
- Elke Sommer as Linka Karensky
- Sharon Tate as Freya Carlson
- Nancy Kwan as Yu-Rang
- Nigel Green as Count Contini
- Tina Louise as Lola Medina
- John Larch as 'Mac' MacDonald
- John Brascia as Karl
- Weaver Levy as Kim
- Wilhelm von Homburg as Gregor
- Bill Saito as Ching
- Fuji as Toki
- Pepper Martin as Frankie
- Ted H. Jordan as Guard
- Whitney Chase as Miss Natural Gas (uncredited)
- David Chow as Bartender (uncredited)
- Noel Drayton as Man at Downing Street Meeting (uncredited)
- Tony Giorgio as Gadget Agent for I.C.E. (uncredited)
- Joséphine James as Girl (uncredited)
- Kenner G. Kemp as Officer in Hospital Room (uncredited)
- John Kowal as Kelly (uncredited)
- James Lloyd as Desk Clerk (uncredited)
- Byron Morrow as Officer in Hospital Room (uncredited)
- Chuck Norris as Man in the House of 7 Joys (uncredited)
- This movie was Chuck Norris' film debut.
- Allen Pinson as Page (uncredited)
- Bartlett Robinson as President's Aide (uncredited)
- Bill M. Ryusaki as Henri (uncredited)
- Dick Winslow as Man (uncredited)
Uncredited
- James Daris
- Harry Fleer
- Harry Geldard
- Joe Gray
- Rex Holman
- Brick Huston
- J. B. Pick
- Vincent Van Lynn
Miscellaneous credits: Bruce Lee as choreographer for the fight scenes.
References
- ^ James Gregory Interview Filmfax Magazine #84 Apr 2001
- ^ Tosches, Nick Dino Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams 1999 Delta
External links
