THE SILENCERS
US, 1966, 105 minutes, Coloour.
Dean Martin, Stella Stevens, Daliah Lavi, James Gregory, Victor Buono, Arthur O’ Connell, Robert Webber, Cyd Charisse, Nancy Kovack, Roger C. Carmel, Beverly Adams.
Directed by Phil Karlson.
The Silencers is the first of four films starring Dean Martin as a super-agent, Matt Helm, an American James Bond. There were several US answers to the James Bond series, including James Coburn as agent Flint.
This film capitalises on Dean Martin’s laid-back personality, difficult to imagine him as the agent even though, towards the end, the screenplay gives him a few action sequences. But, he is very much preoccupied with women and sex. In fact, the credits sequence is much more suggestive than many in later years, dancers and provocative striptease. However, the credits finish with a dance by Cyd Charisse who also appears later in the film, another dance, but also shot as she passes on secret roll of film. In many ways, these dances by Cyd Charisse are campy versions of what she did so well at MGM in the 1940s and 1950s.
The 1960s was a decade with nuclear apprehensions as well as Cold War confrontations, especially with Russia. These are some of the themes in The Silencers. However, the villain is mysteriously Asian and played by Victor Buono. Arthur O’ Connell, Robert Webber and Roger C. Carmel play American villains.
James Gregory plays the ICE, International Counter Espionage, Director. He played the same role in other films of the series.
However, the leading ladies are important. Daliah Lavi portrays Dean Martin’s partner and then traitor. Stella Stevens begins with one of those daffy roles she does so well, mishaps everywhere, then under suspicion, then accompanying the agent on his travels and then participating in the climax.
The film was directed by Phil Karlson who had a strong reputation for brief, black-and-white thrillers in the 1940s and 50s. This must be one of the biggest budget he ever had in filmmaking. The other films in the series were Murderers Row, The Ambushers, The Wrecking Crew (also directed by Phil Karlson).
1. The popularity of the James Bond films in the 1960s? Matt Helm as an American version? The 1960s, the Cold War, nuclear issues, enmity with Russia?
2. The visual style of the film, pop, glitz, glamour, sexuality? The credits and the women, the striptease, Cyd Charisse?
3. Dean Martin as hero, the beginning of the series, as a Type, credibility as an agent, the few scenes in action, sex and his relationship with the range of women, clashes with authorities, license to kill?
4. The Washington locations, the headquarters? ICE? Intelligence Counter Espionage? The luxury and the detail of Helm’s home? The countryside? The Cabaret sequences? The resort? The nuclear plant?
5. The musical score, the range of songs, Dean Martin singing and listening to himself?
6. Introduction, the eye, the close-up, the bullets, Matt Helm’s name on them? The contact, the network, Tung- Tze and the nuclear threat, the style of Ian Fleming’s Blowfeld character? The headquarters, his being enthroned, the range of staff, military, experiments?
7. Headquarters, Mac Donald, the phone calls, Helm ignoring them, Tina arriving, memories of the past, liaison, going to action together, the collaboration? Her coming to the house, the vamp girl and her death, attempting to kill Helm? The thugs outside and the confrontation with them?
8. The plot, going to the resort, Gail and her continued mishaps, Gunther and his presence? Suspicions? The information, the role, Sarita and her dance, her death, the message?
9. Gail and the room, the phone, the spray? The effect on Helm? Mac Donald interviewing him? The effect on Tina? Gail and her options, not being believed, being arrested or going with Helm?
10. On the road, the travel, Gail in the car, the continued mishaps, in the mud? Her trying to tell the truth? Going to the town, the service station, the encounter with Wigman? Their being captured? Being taken to the Plant?
11. The deadline, the odds against Helm overcoming the enemy? His equipment, the gun and its effect of this in killing by backfire, Gail using it in the range of deaths? Gunther and his death? The explosive buttons on his jacket? His ability to destroy? The confrontation with Tung- Tze, the chase, his death? The failure of the launch? It crashing in a different destination?
12. Matt Helm, the women – and getting ready for the sequel?
