The Wrecking Crew (1968 film)
The Wrecking Crew is a 1968 American spy comedy film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Dean Martin as Matt Helm, along with Elke Sommer, Sharon Tate, Nancy Kwan, Nigel Green, and Tina Louise. It is the fourth and final film in the Matt Helm series, and is loosely based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Donald Hamilton. The film opened in Canada in December 1968 before premiering in the United States in February 1969.[2]
| The Wrecking Crew | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Robert McGinnis | |
| Directed by | Phil Karlson |
| Produced by | Irving Allen |
| Screenplay by | William McGivern |
| Based on | The Wrecking Crew by Donald Hamilton |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Hugo Montenegro |
| Cinematography | Sam Leavitt |
| Edited by | Maury Winetrobe |
Production company | Meadway-Claude Productions Company |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.4 million (US/Canada rentals)[1] |
It was Sharon Tate's last film released before her death in 1969. It was also the Hollywood film 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.
Plot
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, Freya Carlson, a beautiful but bumbling woman from a Danish tourism bureau.
A pair of Contini's accomplices, the seductive Linka Karensky and Yu-Rang, each attempt to foil Helm's plans. The former is killed in an ambush intended for Helm, the latter in an explosion. On each occasion, Freya's clumsy attempts to assist Matt are helpful, but not particularly appreciated.
McDonald, his chief at ICE, turns up to aid Helm, but is wounded in action. McDonald confides to Helm that the seemingly inept Freya is actually a top-secret British agent herself, using a clever guise. They go to Contini's chateau for a showdown, and Helm creates chaos and destruction with a variety of unique gadgets. Contini escapes with the gold on a train bound for Luxembourg, but Helm and Freya are able to catch up to him in a minihelicopter. 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 an appreciative Freya as only he can.
Cast
- Dean Martin as Matt Helm
- Elke Sommer as Linka Karensky
- Sharon Tate as Freya Carlson
- Nancy Kwan as Wen Yu-Rang
- Nigel Green as Count Contini
- Tina Louise as Lola Medina
- John Larch as 'Mac' MacDonald
- John Brascia as Karl
- Weaver Levy as Kim
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). Bruce Lee does not appear in the film, but receives a production credit as "Karate advisor" (action choreographer) for the fight scenes.
The Wrecking Crew was Tate's last film released before her death in August 1969.
Production
The film is the first in the series to not be written or co-written by regular screenwriter Herbert Baker, who was working on Irving Allen's more serious spy film Hammerhead. The screenplay was written by former police reporter and crime novel author William P. McGivern.
Helm's chief at ICE, MacDonald, is played by John Larch in this film, replacing James Gregory, who played the role in the other three films. Gregory said in an interview in Filmfax magazine that he was sent a reduced amount for his fee in the film. He was told that the film was reducing its budget, and Gregory refused to take the lower fee.[3]
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.
Principal photography took place in California, with locations including Palm Springs, Idyllwild, and the Walt Disney Ranch.[2]
Music
Hugo Montenegro who wrote the score for The Ambushers returned to compose 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 working title of the film.[4]
Reception
Box office
In the United States and Canada, the film earned $2.4 million in theatrical rentals.[1]
Critical response
Critical response to this film varied, with some calling it the worst of the series. It mostly features Helm playing up to glamorous women, and the storyline is merely the bits that join those many encounters. Also some acting was poor, and the film had many minor mistakes in it which should have been edited out, as well as so-so special effects. Others called it the best, due to its reduced reliance on outlandish gadgets and story lines. It is also notable for the appearance of Tate and martial arts scenes choreographed by Bruce Lee.
Legacy
The film ends with the announcement of a fifth Matt Helm film, The Ravagers (which would have been based upon Hamilton's 1964 novel of the same title). However, Martin declined to return for another film in despair over the murder of Tate six months after the film's release. When Martin refused to make The Ravagers, Columbia held up Martin's share of the profits on the second Matt Helm film, Murderers' Row.[5] The project was then cancelled.
Several years later, a Matt Helm TV series featuring Tony Franciosa was attempted, with Helm now a private detective.
The Wrecking Crew was Sharon Tate's last film released before her death in 1969. It was also the Hollywood film 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.
In 2019, the film is referenced and briefly seen in Quentin Tarantino's film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, in which Tate is shown enjoying the film at the Fox Bruin Theater.[6]
References
- "Big Rental Films of 1969". Variety. 7 January 1970. p. 15.
- "The Wrecking Crew (1969)". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- James Gregory Interview Filmfax Magazine #84 Apr 2001
- p.166 Freedland, Michael F. Dean Martin: King of the Road
- Tosches, Nick Dino Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams 1999 Delta
- De Loera, Carlos (July 26, 2019). "Experience the L.A. captured in 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
