Murderers’ Row ** (1966, Dean Martin, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Camilla Sparv, James Gregory, Beverly Adams) – Classic Movie Review 6374

There is some mild Sixties spy spoof fun to be had from director Henry Levin’s silly, vacuous second Matt Helm 1966 spy comedy-thriller caper (following the hit The Silencers).

The splendidly insouciant, carefree, unconcerned and light-hearted Dean Martin is back again as the fondly remembered Sixties top-secret American agent Matt Helm, with all the predictable espionage spoof jokes and an unexpected plot: criminal organization boss Julian Wall (Karl Malden) abducts Suzie Solaris (Ann-Margret)’s scientist father Dr Norman Solaris (Richard Eastham) and plots to melt Washington with the deadly Helium laser ray gun (Hello Beam) he has invented. Matt Helm follows the trail to to the Cote D’Azur. Well, maybe the plot is not all that expected after all!

Martin, Ann-Margret and Malden are especially good company, but the amiable players are working frantically up against a dim screenplay by Herbert Baker, based on Donald Hamilton’s novel, and the slack handling by Levin. And, in a crowded market, it was clearly getting harder and harder to find good spy spoof jokes.

Also in the cast are Camilla Sparv as Coco Duquette, James Gregory, Beverly Adams, Tom Reese, Duke Howard, Jacqueline Fontaine, Ted Hartley, Marcel Hillaire, Corinne Cole and Robert Terry. Dean Paul Martin and Desi Arnaz Jr appear as themselves.

Running 108 minutes, this Columbia release is shot in Technicolor by Sam Leavitt, produced by Irving Allen and Euan Lloyd, and scored by Lalo Schifrin.

Two more sequels followed: The Ambushers (1967) and The Wrecking Crew.

Apparently, Michael Caine was dating Sparv at this time. Ah, the Swinging Sixties!

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6374

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