Blast from the Past
Phil Karlson directed The Wrecking Crew, a spy comedy film starring Dean Martin as Matt Helm, along with some very beautiful actress, Elke Sommer, Sharon Tate, Nancy Kwan, and Tina Louise.
Grade: C+
The fourth and final film in the Matt Helm series, Wrecking Crew is loosely based on Donald Hamilton’s 1960 novel of the same name.
Matt Helm is assigned by his secret agency, ICE, to bring down an evil count named Contini, who is trying to collapse the world economy by stealing a billion dollars in gold. Helm travels to Copenhagen, where he is given a guide named Freya Carlson, a beautiful but bumbling woman from a Danish tourism bureau.
Contini’s accomplices, the seductive Linka Karensky and Wen Yurang, each attempt to foil Helm’s plans. The former is killed in ambush intended for Helm, and the latter in explosion. On each occasion, Freya’s clumsy attempts to assist Matt are helpful, but not appreciated.
In the end, Freya is almost killed by Contini, but Helm rescues her, then kills Contini by throwing him through a trap door onto the railroad tracks. Successful and alone at last, Helm finally has an opportunity to thank Freya in his own way.
The film featured a number of wrestlers, boxers, and karate experts in small or uncredited roles, including Wilhelm von Homburg, Pepper Martin, Joe Gray, Joe Lewis, Ed Parker and – in his first screen role – Chuck Norris (background player in the House of 7 Joys scene).
It was also the Hollywood film debut for two future action movie stars: Bruce Lee, who worked behind the scenes as action choreographer, and Chuck Norris, who made his film debut.
Bruce Lee does not appear in the film, but gets credit as “Karate advisor” (action choreographer) for the fight scenes.
The Wrecking Crew was Tate’s last film released before her murder in August 1969
The film is the first in the series to not be written by regular screenwriter Herbert Baker, who was working on Irving Allen’s spy film Hammerhead. The script was written by former police reporter and crime novelist William P. McGivern.
Helm’s chief at ICE, MacDonald, is played by John Larch, replacing James Gregory, who played the role in the other films; Gregory refused to take the lower fee.
Bruce Lee, who worked on set as an action choreographer, remarked that he “tried to teach Dean Martin how to kick but he was too lazy and too clumsy” and they had to rely on stand-in Mike Stone.
Lee said that Sharon Tate and Nancy Kwan were better, “doing sidekicks pretty good with just a minimum of teaching.” Moreover, Kwan approached him to become her private long-term teacher but he told her that she wouldn’t be able to afford him.
The Wrecking Crew is the only film in the series not to feature Helm’s secretary, Lovey Kravesit, played by Beverly Adams, who was also appearing in Hammerhead.
It is also the only movie in the series not to feature the villainous group BIG O.
Hugo Montenegro who wrote the score for The Ambushers composed the score. Mack David and Frank DeVol wrote the theme song played over the opening and end credits, “House of Seven Joys,” which was the film’s working title.
The Wrecking Crew opened in New York in February 1969 in 44 theaters, and despite the worst snowstorm in New York in years, grossed $316,000 in its first five days. In the U.S. the film earned $2.4 million in rentals
The film ends with the announcement of fifth Matt Helm entry, The Ravagers (which would have been based upon Hamilton’s 1964 novel). However, Martin declined to return for another film in despair over the murder of Tate six months after the film’s release. As a result, Columbia held up Martin’s share of profits from the second Matt Helm film, Murderers’ Row. The project was then cancelled.
The Wrecking Crew was Tate’s last film released before her death in August 1969. It was also the Hollywood debut for two future action movie stars: Bruce Lee, who worked behind the scenes as an action choreographer, and Chuck Norris, who made his film debut in a small role.
Intertextuality: Tarantino
In 2019, the film is referenced and briefly seen in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, in which Tate (played by Margot Robbie) is shown enjoying the film at the Bruin Theater.
Years later, a “Matt Helm” TV series featuring Tony Franciosa was attempted, with Helm now a private detective.
Cast
Dean Martin as Matt Helm
Elke Sommer as Linka Karensky
Sharon Tate as Freya Carlson
Nancy Kwan as Wen Yurang
Nigel Green as Count Contini
Tina Louise as Lola Medina
John Larch as ‘Mac’ MacDonald
John Brascia as Karl
Weaver Levy as Kim
