The Ambushers (1967)

Secret agent Matt Helm must battle foreign spies and a rogue nation's exiled ruler in order to recover a hijacked U.S. government experimental flying saucer.

Director:

Henry Levin

Writers:

Donald Hamilton (book), Herbert Baker (screenplay)

Stars:

Dean Martin, Senta Berger, Janice Rule

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Martin	...	Matt Helm
Senta Berger	...	Francesca Madeiros
Janice Rule	...	Sheila Sommers
James Gregory	...	MacDonald
Albert Salmi	...	Jose Ortega
Kurt Kasznar	...	Quintana
Beverly Adams	...	Lovey Kravezit
David Mauro	...	Nassim
Roy Jenson	...	Karl
John Brascia	...	Rocco
Linda Foster	...	Linda
Tomiko Ishizuka	...	Slaygirl (as Yumiko Ishizuka)
Karin Feddersen	...	Slaygirl (as Karin Fedderson)
Ulla Lindstrom	...	Slaygirl
Marilyn Tindall	...	Slaygirl

Storyline

Without a doubt, there's a mole in the secret Intelligence and Counter Espionage agency. Right after the successful launch of the first state-of-the-art USAF flying saucer, the powerful tractor beam of a nefarious criminal organisation forces the experimental vessel to crash-land in the lush Central-American jungles. As a result, having no recollection of the mysterious incident, the amnesiac test pilot, Sheila Sommers, will have to join forces with the spy extraordinaire and suave photographer, Matt Helm, and travel to sun-kissed Acapulco to shed light on this thorny case. Nevertheless, their luxurious Mexican resort is rife with deadly traps and crafty double-agents, bent on stopping the prying intruders. Will Matt and Sheila unearth the dangerous conspiracy? Can they retrieve the top-secret spacecraft?

---

Plot Keywords:

pokies | spilling coffee | espionage | engagement ring | woman in a bikini | 

---

Taglines:

Matt Helm's Biggest and Boldest!

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film also marked the final time that Matt faced an agent from the Bureau of International Government and Order (a.k.a. BIG-O).

---

Goofs

Matt pulls his car off the road, pulls a lever resulting in a large inflatable tent. He unzips the flap and looking inside there's a circular bed, bedside table and fridge. He ushers Sheila in and follows. The inflatable items are now solid and in addition there are 2 chairs and there's a radio on the table. Cut to when they're in bed, which is now against one of the walls, they have proper pillows and the gold coloured cover is now a green blanket- when it was earlier seen in the car boot it was black or dark blue and by freeze framing it can be seen that thee are now magazines, a phone and a camera on the table.

---

Quotes

Matt Helm: Let Helm put you in the driving seat.

---

Crazy Credits

Next in view, The Wrecking Crew

---

Connections

Followed by The Wrecking Crew (1968)

---

Soundtracks

The Ambushers
Lyrics by Herbert Baker
Music by Hugo Montenegro
Sung by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Courtesy of A&M Records

User Reviews

3rd Helm flick & 3rd best!

This Helm flick should be ranked slightly lower than THE SILENCERS or MURDERER'S ROW, but definitely better than that final train wreck - THE WRECKING CREW (great babes though). The Ambushers sports Janice Rule (great actress from the 60's - check her out in THE CHASE with Brando) and Senta Berger, a European beauty with exotic looks and voice. Beverly Adams is on hand again as the sweetheart assistant, Lovey Kravezit.

A 4 out of 10. Best performance = Janice Rule. Give this one a chance. It's not THAT bad! Dino is starting to show a lack of energy by the end of it, but the girls hold him up. If you're not a complete spy-spoof snob, this is a perfect way to waste 100 minutes.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Ambushers

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Gross USA:

$10,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Meadway-Claude Productions Company (I) (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1