Amazon.com

Austin Powers undoubtedly stole a few moves from Matt Helm, the swinging secret agent embodied by Dean Martin in four intentionally dopey late-'60s movies. The Silencers is the first and best of the bunch--but at that, it's barely a movie. Dino is first seen reclining in his automated bed, and he hardly wakes up for the remainder of the picture. (When a stunt double performs athletic moves in the action scenes, you rub your eyes at the impossibility of Martin moving that quickly.) And yet Matt Helm manages to stave off a nuclear disaster in the southwest desert, the nefarious plot of a Chinese archvillain (Victor Buono). The 007-style gadgets include exploding sportcoat buttons, plus the wet bar in Dino's station wagon--so he cangulp whiskey while he drives. The women are, of course, outrageously sexist playthings, although Stella Stevens remains the most adorable of '60s sex kittens. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Censorship and bad cropping give Helm hell!
I've waited many years to see this fearsome foursome of cheese find a decent release in DVD. Sadly, thanks to bad cropping and seemingly random censorship, it still hasn't happened yet.

The four films are, of course, The Silencers, Murderers' Row, The Ambushers, and The Wrecking Crew. (A fifth intallment was storeyboarded but never shot.)

Letting the studio off the hook by saying things like "widescreen areas always crop full frame versions," is being much too gracious in the face of these money-grabbing studio weasels who also CUT entire parts of the film and never even gave you an original trailer.

And I should know about the widescreen concept, since I am, after all, the chairman of the WWS - the Widescreen Watchers Society. (Yes, my organization has a movie site online, but an Amazon review is not the place to plug it by posting links to it.)

Rather I just wanted to point out that it is instead within the "full frame" or "standard screen" format that all cropping takes place. The most dominant style is pan-and -scan, which is done by zooming in on whatever the TV film editor decides is the most important area on screen at any given moment.

That's why you often end up with the ridiculous sight of one person chattering happily away to the air for long periods of time, since you can't see the other person he's talking to. And because of the zoom effect, naturally you also get a more blurred focus on the overall picture.

But a presentation in widescreen, whether it be a regular rectangle (Vista-Vision style) or a more narrow rectangle (Panavison style), or somewhere in between, never crops and/or zooms in after the fact at any point - resulting in a vast difference of ultimate picture composition in crystal clarity, giving you the best total viewing experience possible - which is why the original director filmed it that way for its theatrical release in the first place!

How today's studios stamping out inferior DVDs think the public will never notice such a huge difference is completely mind-boggling! And who buys most of the DVDs of older movies anyway? Film buffs who are very picky about such things to begin with!

RECOMMENDATION: Wait until all four films are put out together in an improved deluxe edition - TRUE widescreen (non-cropped and non-censored), featuring behind the scenes featurettes (which they shot back in the '60s as long commercials for such films), surviving crew interviews, trailers, etc. Otherwise, forget it.

Hey, Rat Pack fans - or just fans of Dean Martin in general - you know ol' Dino deserves far BETTER than this shoddy treatment! Mama mia!

Funniest spy spoof ever
Although I loved reading James Bond books and Matt Helm books, I also enjoyed the first movies of those books very much. After "Thunderball" 007 moved further away from the book each new movie. In the meantime I discovered Matt Helm on film. The first film was a very humorous impression of the book "The Silencers". Dean Martin, to me, was a very good choice for the Helm-figure. His jokes appealed to me, especially the autoradio-joke on his own hit-music. Also the joke with the reverse-firing gun takes care of some fun. But I must admit: Stella Stevens' appearance was the real finishing touch. I still have a clear image in my mind (after 33 years) of the scene where Helm tears off her dress in the hotel room. I guess it must be considered now a typical 60's movie, but reviewing it will undoubtedly amuse you again. If so ... you could also try other Helm-movies, especially "The ambushers", and another amusing Spy spoof, with James Coburn, called "Derek Flint". You could even try Bond's own spoof "Casino Royale", but that's very much pop-art and confusing, next to being funny. Even if you don't like secret agents you can enjoy these movies. But ""The silencers" is the best as a try-out!

The Silencers Revisited
Dean Martin's Matt Helm and James Coburn's Derek Flint were both well done serio-comic Superspies in the James Bond genre. While the two Flint flicks have been available on DVD for some time, The Silencers is the first Matt Helm film to make it to DVD. After watching The Silencers, my only question is--When will the rest of the Matt Helm movies be available on DVD?

Glad I Read Reviews
As much as I would like to have this movie on DVD, I would
not buy this issue because of the reviews posted here. When
are studios going to get it? We don't want DVD issues of movies
that are sub-standard or something that is different than
theatrical release.

A word about The Silencers.
This is a very nice transfer to DVD and only appears cropped to other reviewers because this is the way audiences saw it in the theater almost forty years ago. The 1.85:1 widescreen area is indeed cropping the full frame but the cropped area was never meant to be seen. Only television introduced the full frame area to viewers. To fully understand this one must discard his ignorance of projected film formats and do some research in this area. That way, a decent film to video transfer like this one won't receive such bad billing and we can all be happy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"It ain't nothin' without the stuffin'!" That's what all the groovy beach partyers say when a phantom bikini appears out of nowhere, and suddenly fills out its two-piece form with the voluptuous body of Cassandra (Beverly Adams), who soon has all the beach-hunks drooling. Along comes Madison Avenue adman "Peachy" Keane (Mickey Rooney) to recruit Cassandra for his "Girl Next Door" ad campaign, while his assistant Ricky (Dwayne Hickman) gets all googly-eyed for Dee Dee (Annette Funicello), who's not as easy as the other sand 'n' surf chickie-babies. And where's Frankie (Avalon)? He's on a tropical island with the navy reserve, sampling the comely native fauna and bribing the local medicine man Bwana (played by... Buster Keaton?!) with generous doses of alcoholic "torpedo juice" in return for a failsafe love potion. Oh, and did we mention the cross-country cycle race that will determine who's the fairest young couple in the land?

The sixth installment of the seemingly endless Beach Party series, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini is a minor step up from Gilligan's Island, but you've got to love a movie that includes a mischievous pelican, an appearance by the Kingsmen (of "Louie Louie" fame), and a half-dozen forgettable pop songs that virtually define the beach-party genre. Comedy purists may lament the downward spiral of Buster Keaton's career, but he's just having good, dumb fun like everyone else, and geographic distance doesn't stop Frankie and Annette from crooning a split-screen duet. And dig those clay-animated opening credits by Gumby creator Art Clokey! Let's face it, these movies are perfect time capsules of juvenile entertainment, and if you can't enjoy them in all their cheesy glory, you're nothin' but a square! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Right Stuff
Frankie Avalon was growing tired of the beach movies, and only agreed to appear in this film if he could get a starring vehicle of his own. In this movie, Frankie is a member of the naval reserve and stationed on a tropical island, thus limiting his screen time. Dwyane Hickman (Ricky) ably serves as a new love interest for Annette Funicello (Dee Dee). Their scenes together were reminiscent of the first beach movie, when boy meets girl, boy wants girl, but the girl is playing hard to get. Beverly Adams is the voluptuous redhead Cassandra, filling out the wild bikini very nicely, who magically appears to keep Ricky away from Dee Dee. Mickey Rooney is hilarious as Peachy Keane, the ad executive who wants to hire Cassandra to be the girl next door and to be Ricky's partner for their sponsored motorcycle race. The only problems are that Ricky wants Dee Dee to join him, and Cassandra is nervous and very clumsy around Ricky. However, there is a cyclist she feels very comfortable with.

She takes a shine to Eric Von Zipper, played to perfection by Harvey Lembeck. He is an expert cyclist from his years of being the leader of the Rat Pack. He is more than happy to keep Cassandra away from Ricky and the bad influence of "them beach bums." When Dee Dee finds out that Frankie is playing around with a native girl, she decides to join Ricky for the motorcycle race. Since Cassandra has signed a contract with the ad agency, it's decided to pair her with Eric Von Zipper. Peachy decides that an image makeover is necessary. Thus, Eric trades in his leather outfit and chains for a gray business suit! This entry in the beach movie series shows off Eric Von Zipper to best effect. Despite the Rat Pack's best efforts at sabotage, Ricky and Dee Dee end up winning the motorcycle race. However, Dee Dee doesn't want to go on a cross country promotional tour. Frankie is magically reunited with Dee Dee on the beach for a happy ending. This is the last of the classic beach movies to have Frankie and Annette together, and also features the most musical numbers. As for the movie Frankie starred in shortly afterwards, it was entitled "Sergeant Deadhead." To give you an idea of how successful that was at the box office, "Sergeant Deadhead" has yet to be commercially released on video!

NEAT...AW-REET!!
I admit I was dubious about getting this DVD because of all the negative vibes from various 'squares' but I gotta tell ya...this is one of the most enjoyable 'beach party' flicks I have seen. It's a little different from the rest in that, instead of a number of misplaced pop bands doing lame tunes, most of the music here is ensemble numbers by the cast and they are GREAT FUN. F'rinstance: Mickey Rooney and Brian Donlevy do a musical turn in the boardroom, the always welcome Eric Von Zipper and his biker gang do TWO numbers, the boys on the beach do a tune...as do all the girls. The two numbers by Annette are catchy and better than any she's done in previous beach flicks. Frankie's song is O.K. too! The only band here is The Kingsmen who are pretty cool and having a great time. Buster Keaton has a speaking role, exotic swingin' '60s chick Irene Tsu is on board, and there seems to be more cleavage provided by some of the babes than in any previous beach party film. O.K., there are a couple of flat spots but overall...it's FUN,FUN,FUN! Look for Brian Wilson and surfing legend Mickey Dora in the crowd. There is nothing "Oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen" about this movie. Everybody is clearly having a blast....and I am too! I'm glad I got this disc.

Frankie And Annette And Samantha from Bewitched
The Best scenes are Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello singing a song together and there is a good scene with Elizabeth Montgomery in her role of Samantha from Bewitched sending Frankie home to Annette who plays Dee Dee and also Annette singing songs.Although Frankie isn't in many scenes with Annette since his character is away he is in the story and Frankie does come home to Annette.If you like Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello and Elizabeth Montgomery and Bewitched then you would enjoy this.The scene with Elizabeth Montgomery in her role of Samantha from Bewitched makes this film more fun.Frankie and Annette are always good together and though they don't have many scenes together in the film it is a good film and they do have scenes together later in the film.

Like a Disney film directed by Andy Sidaris.
Too silly. Too leering.

Even more hackneyed than others. Bad songs. Little cleverness.

A supporting cast of lesser interest, to me anyway. (No Susan Hart, no Don Rickles, no Donna Loren, darn little Buster Keaton and Bobbi Shaw- and she's a brunette here).

Watchable at best.

Like a Walt Disney film directed by Andy Sidaris.
All very silly and naive, but as leering *in tone* as just about anything you'll find. The movie opens on a close-up of a girl's navel, and soon a group of boys are singing a song about girls' measurements. It continues downward (?) from there. There are much better Beach Party movies than this recycled patchwork of earlier and superior songs, characters, situations and chases.

IMHO, "How to Stuff..." needed more Buster Keaton and Bobbi Shaw. An appearance by Susan Hart wouldn't exactly have felt like a sharp stick in the eye, either. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Right Stuff
Frankie Avalon was growing tired of the beach movies, and only agreed to appear in this film if he could get a starring vehicle of his own. In this movie, Frankie is a member of the naval reserve and stationed on a tropical island, thus limiting his screen time. Dwyane Hickman (Ricky) ably serves as a new love interest for Annette Funicello (Dee Dee). Their scenes together were reminiscent of the first beach movie, when boy meets girl, boy wants girl, but the girl is playing hard to get. Beverly Adams is the voluptuous redhead Cassandra, filling out the wild bikini very nicely, who magically appears to keep Ricky away from Dee Dee. Mickey Rooney is hilarious as Peachy Keane, the ad executive who wants to hire Cassandra to be the girl next door and to be Ricky's partner for their sponsored motorcycle race. The only problems are that Ricky wants Dee Dee to join him, and Cassandra is nervous and very clumsy around Ricky. However, there is a cyclist she feels very comfortable with.

She takes a shine to Eric Von Zipper, played to perfection by Harvey Lembeck. He is an expert cyclist from his years of being the leader of the Rat Pack. He is more than happy to keep Cassandra away from Ricky and the bad influence of "them beach bums." When Dee Dee finds out that Frankie is playing around with a native girl, she decides to join Ricky for the motorcycle race. Since Cassandra has signed a contract with the ad agency, it's decided to pair her with Eric Von Zipper. Peachy decides that an image makeover is necessary. Thus, Eric trades in his leather outfit and chains for a gray business suit! This entry in the beach movie series shows off Eric Von Zipper to best effect. Despite the Rat Pack's best efforts at sabotage, Ricky and Dee Dee end up winning the motorcycle race. However, Dee Dee doesn't want to go on a cross country promotional tour. Frankie is magically reunited with Dee Dee on the beach for a happy ending. This is the last of the classic beach movies to have Frankie and Annette together, and also features the most musical numbers. As for the movie Frankie starred in shortly afterwards, it was entitled "Sergeant Deadhead." To give you an idea of how successful that was at the box office, "Sergeant Deadhead" has yet to be commercially released on video!

NEAT...AW-REET!!
I admit I was dubious about getting this DVD because of all the negative vibes from various 'squares' but I gotta tell ya...this is one of the most enjoyable 'beach party' flicks I have seen. It's a little different from the rest in that, instead of a number of misplaced pop bands doing lame tunes, most of the music here is ensemble numbers by the cast and they are GREAT FUN. F'rinstance: Mickey Rooney and Brian Donlevy do a musical turn in the boardroom, the always welcome Eric Von Zipper and his biker gang do TWO numbers, the boys on the beach do a tune...as do all the girls. The two numbers by Annette are catchy and better than any she's done in previous beach flicks. Frankie's song is O.K. too! The only band here is The Kingsmen who are pretty cool and having a great time. Buster Keaton has a speaking role, exotic swingin' '60s chick Irene Tsu is on board, and there seems to be more cleavage provided by some of the babes than in any previous beach party film. O.K., there are a couple of flat spots but overall...it's FUN,FUN,FUN! Look for Brian Wilson and surfing legend Mickey Dora in the crowd. There is nothing "Oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen" about this movie. Everybody is clearly having a blast....and I am too! I'm glad I got this disc.

Frankie And Annette And Samantha from Bewitched
The Best scenes are Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello singing a song together and there is a good scene with Elizabeth Montgomery in her role of Samantha from Bewitched sending Frankie home to Annette who plays Dee Dee and also Annette singing songs.Although Frankie isn't in many scenes with Annette since his character is away he is in the story and Frankie does come home to Annette.If you like Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello and Elizabeth Montgomery and Bewitched then you would enjoy this.The scene with Elizabeth Montgomery in her role of Samantha from Bewitched makes this film more fun.Frankie and Annette are always good together and though they don't have many scenes together in the film it is a good film and they do have scenes together later in the film.

Like a Disney film directed by Andy Sidaris.
Too silly. Too leering.

Even more hackneyed than others. Bad songs. Little cleverness.

A supporting cast of lesser interest, to me anyway. (No Susan Hart, no Don Rickles, no Donna Loren, darn little Buster Keaton and Bobbi Shaw- and she's a brunette here).

Watchable at best.

Like a Walt Disney film directed by Andy Sidaris.
All very silly and naive, but as leering *in tone* as just about anything you'll find. The movie opens on a close-up of a girl's navel, and soon a group of boys are singing a song about girls' measurements. It continues downward (?) from there. There are much better Beach Party movies than this recycled patchwork of earlier and superior songs, characters, situations and chases.

IMHO, "How to Stuff..." needed more Buster Keaton and Bobbi Shaw. An appearance by Susan Hart wouldn't exactly have felt like a sharp stick in the eye, either. ... Read more