Murderers' Row

11/25/2022

**_Britain has James Bond while America has (the inferior) Matt Helm_** An American ICE agent (Dean Martin) fakes his own death and goes to the French Riviera to track down the creator of a device that uses the concentrated power of sunlight for mass destruction. A diabolical organization has taken the scientist captive with intent to use his weapon for world domination. Karl Malden plays the leader of BIG O. "Murderer’s Row” (1966) was the second of four Matt Helm movies released in three years from winter, 1966, to winter, 1969. The franchise was obviously inspired by the great success of the first four James Bond flicks from 1962-1965. Unlike the books (and Bond), the tone is lighthearted and spoofy with Martin doing his wink-at-the-camera act, similar to the contemporaneous Derek