Murderers' Row (1966)

Director:

Henry Levin

Writers:

Herbert Baker (screenplay)
Donald Hamilton (novel)

Release Date:

20 December 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

The handsome top agent Matt dies a tragic death in his bath tub - the women mourn about the loss. However...

Plot Keywords:

Spying | Spoof | James Bond Spoof | Matt Helm | Sequel

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Dean Martin	...	Matt Helm
Ann-Margret	...	Suzie
Karl Malden	...	Julian Wall
Camilla Sparv	...	Coco Duquette
James Gregory	...	MacDonald
Beverly Adams	...	Lovey Kravezit
Richard Eastham	...	Dr. Norman Solaris
Tom Reese	...	Ironhead
Duke Howard	...	Billy Orcutt
Ted Hartley	...	Guard
Marcel Hillaire	...	Police Capt. Deveraux
Corinne Cole	...	Miss January
Robert Terry	...	Dr. Rogas
Dean Paul Martin	...	Himself (as Dino, Desi & Billy)
Desi Arnaz Jr.	...	Himself (as Dino, Desi & Billy)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | USA:Not Rated (DVD) | UK:PG | Iceland:L | USA:Approved (Certificate #21397) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Soon-Tek Oh's film debut.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the final scene, the Slaymates are saying something to Matt and Suzie, but their voices remain silent.

Quotes:

Matt Helm aka Jim Peters: [under arrest by the French police] Now, wait just a doggone minute. I have some rights, too. I'm an American citizen.
Police Capt. Deveraux: We will play the Star-Spangled Banner while you are in the electric chair.
Matt Helm aka Jim Peters: Ahhhh - then I have to stand up!

Movie Connections:

References "What's My Line?" (1950)

Soundtrack:

I'm Not the Marrying Kind

MURDERERS’ ROW (Henry Levin, 1966) **

Having managed to acquire this one soon after THE SILENCERS (1966) and THE WRECKING CREW (1969), I can say that, while a definite comedown from those two Matt Helm adventures directed by Phil Karlson, it’s fairly enjoyable in itself and far from the “uncontrolled disaster area” the late eminent critic Leslie Halliwell took the sequels to be (though I haven’t been able to get my hands yet on THE AMBUSHERS [1967], considered the worst in the series).

Things start off nicely enough with the elimination of all the top I.C.E. agents: Helm’s photo has him taken from the back – thus making his undercover activity later within the enemy ranks seem more plausible – but, amusingly, amply displaying his fondness for booze and broads. The villain this time around is played by Karl Malden, while Helm’s women include Ann-Margret (as the daughter of an inventor of a deadly ray being held captive by Malden) and the latter’s assistant Camilla Sparv; the girls both look good but aren’t given a lot to do – besides, Ann-Margret relies too much on the energetic dancing style she had displayed in the Elvis Presley vehicle VIVA LAS VEGAS (1964)…though this does result in a funny scene inside a nightclub where Martin has a hard time trying to ape (and keep up with) her irrepressible moves! Incidentally, despite the set-up at the end of THE SILENCERS with respect to the upcoming contribution of Beverly Adams’ Lovey Kravezit, it’s still too brief (to say nothing of secondary) here!

The film also features an imposing henchman fitted with an iron plate over his bald head – appropriately dubbed “Metalhead” – who may or may not have inspired the “Jaws” character from a couple of much-later James Bond adventures; the hovercraft chase (starting at sea, continuing on dry land, and ending in a crowded street) also anticipates the one from the 007 flick MOONRAKER (1979). As for preposterous gadgets, here we get a gun programmed to delay shooting for a few seconds – so that, if it were to fall into enemy hands, the holder will invariably point the gun at himself (believing it to be empty) with fatal consequences! Martin, of course, gets to sing as well – and there’s another jibe at Frank Sinatra; however, a rather blatant goof went unnoticed by the film-makers: Martin and Ann-Margret flee a scene in the latter’s car (with the top uncovered) but, somewhere down the line, the vehicle turns into that usually driven by Martin (complete with specially-fitted equipment to thwart the pursuers)! Once again, then, the final scene paves the way for the next entry in the series.