The Silencers

1966
TV-PG
1h 42m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

Retired agent Matt Helm is re-activated in order to stop an evil organization from exploding an atom bomb over the USA and starting WWIII.

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Retired agent Matt Helm is re-activated in order to stop an evil organization from exploding an atom bomb over the USA and starting WWIII.Retired agent Matt Helm is re-activated in order to stop an evil organization from exploding an atom bomb over the USA and starting WWIII.Retired agent Matt Helm is re-activated in order to stop an evil organization from exploding an atom bomb over the USA and starting WWIII.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Trivia
This is actually based on two Donald Hamilton novels - the one with the same title and also the first in the Matt Helm series, "Death Of A Citizen". From this novel comes the introductory business of Matt Helm returning reluctantly to the world of espionage through the intercession of a woman named Tina. However, it must be stressed that there is very little of either book in this film - the Matt Helm novels are very serious and view the world of espionage coldly as something very unpleasant, whereas the films are ridiculous parodies done in imitation of the James Bond series.

Goofs
When Matt Helm slides off into the bathtub there are already several water stains visible on the sheets, including one where likely he was wearing a swimsuit, already wet from previous takes.

Quotes
Tina: This is just like old times.
Matt Helm: Yeah, especially with that body on the floor.
[Pointing to Barbara in the background, who has just been shot twice in the back by Tina]
Tina: What do we do with *her*?
Matt Helm: You put her on ice, let ICE take care of it.
Tina: And what happens when the maid walks in, in the morning?
Matt Helm: You know, you're right. Let's put her in my bed, so we don't arouse suspicion.
[Matt and Tina start walking towards Barbara's body, cut]

Crazy credits
Woven (almost literally) through the opening credits are three cleverly staged striptease dances by Mary Jane Mangler (brunette in blue), Larri Thomas (blond in white), and 'guest star' Cyd Charisse in red (who also performs the title number, voice dubbed by Vikki Carr). Charisse emerges roughly 40 minutes later in the film as an actual character - nightclub dancer Sarita.

Connections
Featured in The Obsession of Billy Botski (1980)

Soundtracks
The Silencers
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Lyrics by Mack David
Performed by Cyd Charisse (dubbed by Vikki Carr)

User reviews73

Review

Featured review

7/10

Double O Martin

Retired secret agent Matt Helm (Dean Martin) is a photographer of beautiful models with beautiful assistant Lovey Kravezit. His former boss Macdonald at Intelligence Counter Espionage with deadly Tina recruit him back in the fight against the evil Big O organization led by Tung-Tze who plans to use the underground atomic bomb test in New Mexico to start WWIII. Andreyev is the evil henchman. Matt encounters bumbling bosom blonde Gail Hendricks (Stella Stevens) and Sam Gunther.

Before Austin Powers, there was Matt Helm. This is a semi-spoof of Jimmy Bond. Dean Martin is the perfect lady's man to play the role. It's a lot of scantily clad beautiful women and outrageous spy stuff. It is semi-spoof because it's not that that far from the actual Bond franchise. It's got some song and dance as long as the dancing has the girls jiggling. The most important part is that this is fun and Martin seems to be having fun winking at the audience.