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There’s one thing that Marvel used to do better than any other studio, and that’s build hype. Ever since the series debuted with Jon Favreau’s “Iron Man” in 2008, these superhero films were filled with promising easter eggs and, in a game-changing creative masterstroke, post-credits scenes that promised future characters and crossovers and villains, which Marvel then actually delivered.

Now, Marvel has made its worst MCU post-credits scene ever with the tag for “Captain America: Brave New World.”

Marvel didn’t invent the post-credits scene — so-called because they drop after the closing credits (sometimes spiked with a mid-credits scene as well or instead) — nor did they make the first good one. The first, according to most historians, came at the end of the 1966 spy comedy “The Silencers,” starring Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin as Matt Helm. The scene depicted Helm on a bed, either pre-or-post-orgy, with a cadre of scantily clad,...

Andrew Stevens pays loving but not hagiographic tribute to his late mother, famed actress Stella Stevens, in his documentary recently showcased at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The film convincingly makes the case that its subject, best known for her performances in such pictures as The Poseidon Adventure and The Nutty Professor, is severely underrated, both as an actress and social activist. Stella Stevens: The Last Starlet aims to rectify that perception and, thanks to numerous clips of her work and effusive commentary by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Vivica A. Fox, it succeeds beautifully.

The filmmaker (who appears frequently) admits that his relationship with his mother was rocky, to say the least, in the early years. Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Stevens got married at age 16 and had Andrew, her first and only child, six months later. The marriage soon dissolved, and when she moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career,...

Different adaptations of 12 Angry Men feature diverse casts with unique approaches to the classic characters, maintaining audience engagement. The characters in 12 Angry Men bring varied life experiences and viewpoints to the intense deliberation process that shapes their decisions. Despite the singular setting of the jury room, the script and cast changes in different versions ensure memorable and impactful performances.

Two adaptations of 12 Angry Men came 40 years apart and feature a diverse group of actors who put their spin on the famous jurors. Originally a teleplay written by Reginald Rose, 12 Angry Men follows a group of jurors that deliberate on the fate of an accused murderer facing the death penalty if given a unanimous guilty verdict. The teleplay has since been adapted numerous times in various formats and, despite its singular setting, 12 Angry Men has characters and dialogue that are sharply written and never lose the audience's attention.

Post-credit scenes have been used in films from various genres, not just superhero movies, to engage and interact with the audience. The first film to feature a post-credit scene was the spy comedy "The Silencers" in 1966, which parodied James Bond movies. Post-credit scenes can be creative and dynamic, serving to tease future entries, provide a final joke, or tell a follow-up story in a shorter format.

Post-credit scenes may have become synonymous with superhero movies, but plenty of other genres use the space after the credits in ingenious ways. Post-credit scenes have spiked in popularity since franchises like the MCU, Dceu and Sony Spider-Verse Universe started including one or two clips during the credits to build anticipation for future projects. However, superhero movies were not even close to being the first genre of film to use a post-credit scene to further interact and engage with the audience.

In fact, the...

It's important to remember that few of the actors on "Star Trek," especially in the early days, were familiar with the universe of "Star Trek." While the trappings and themes of Trek are a deeply embedded part of popular culture in the early 21st century, back in the 1960s, "Star Trek" was merely a middling, mid-budget sci-fi network show. As such, when guest stars signed on to play an alien or a creature, they likely needed the premise of "Star Trek" explained to them by a director or a screenwriter. This is the 23rd century, war is over, and humanity is traveling the stars in military-twinged vessels devoted to study and diplomacy. That man, Bill, plays a starship captain named Kirk who leads by instinct. You play a [insert character description here]. These are basic motivations that an actor would need to hear in order to fall into the "Star Trek" ethos before cameras began rolling.

Moviegoers are truly living in the golden age of post-credit scenes. What was once considered something of a novelty has been rendered a necessity in an era when the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other film franchises are expanding faster than Dwayne Johnson’s biceps in a 5 a.m. weight session. However, the concept’s origins date back further than the dawn of the superhero movie era or anything equally fast and furious. Back in 1966, in fact, Dean Martin was proving to the world that not all heroes wear capes or drive ludicrously fast cars; some prefer a suave suit and a scotch. He may have been known as a crooner, but in the 1960s, Martin also played the part of Matt Helm, a U.S. government counter agent in a series of films based on books by author Guy Hamilton.

Essentially pitched as a more laid-back James Bond, Martin’s first outing as Helm,...

Post-credits scenes have become a burden and are hurting movies, expanding beyond superhero films and spreading to other types of films. Including after-credits sequences feeds into Hollywood's efforts to turn every movie into its own franchise, impacting the quality of films being made. Post-credits scenes point to a larger issue in Hollywood, where everything is turned into a series or rebooted, and they are more about marketing sequels and spinoffs than enhancing the movie-going experience.

The post-credits scene trend is actively hurting movies, especially as the unspoken after-scrawl requirement expands to non-superhero fare. What started out as a fun surprise for viewers who sat through the credits has become something of a burden. In recent years, plenty of Marvel Cinematic Universe after-credits teases haven't even paid off. Even so, audiences linger in anticipation. Although the MCU and other superhero films have trained viewers to stay in their seats, the trend...

James Bond's influence on the spy genre is undeniable, with countless films shamelessly ripping off the iconic character and his style. The '60s saw a boom of Bond imitators, such as Our Man Flint and The Silencers, which captured the plot and humor of Bond with their own unique twists. Other films, ranging from Westerns like Sabata to spy thrillers like The MacKintosh Man, have also drawn inspiration from Bond, showcasing the character's enduring impact on cinema.

Ever since his big screen debut in 1962's Dr. No, James Bond has been a staple of the action genre and one of the most influential fictional characters in the history of cinema. For over 60 years, movies featuring 007 have been worldwide box office hits, as well as fan favorites. As such, it's only natural that the James Bond movies have their fair share of imitators. From cheap spy films from the...

There was one joke in The Sopranos that didn't get James Gandolfini's approval. The series aired on HBO from 1999 to 2007 and followed Gandolfini's character Tony Soprano, a member of the Italian-American mafia. The Sopranos nailed every joke with or without approval from the actors who had to say the lines. Showrunners took the series very seriously, allowing actors very little room to add their own spin on things. While it may sound strict, it worked in their favor as the series was a massive success with an incredible legacy. 16 years after its finale, The Sopranos has not been forgotten.

The series won 21 Emmys in its time on air, further proving how well-received it was. However, Gandolfini carried the series as the main character, so it's understandable why he felt he should offer some feedback on one of the show's jokes. Ultimately, it didn't ruin the episode or make The Sopranos any less legendary,...

Los Angeles – Stella Stevens had a prolific and adventurous career, especially considering all the famous co-stars and directors she encountered over her 60 year run. She began near end of the studio system in the late 1950s, and worked through the first decade of the post millennium. Stevens was 84 years old when she passed away February 17th, 2023, in her native Los Angeles.

Her leading men were as diverse as Glenn Ford, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Elvis Presley, Jason Robards and Ernest Borgnine. The directors included Vincente Minnelli, Peter Bogdonovich, John Cassavetes, Sam Peckinpah and Jerry Lewis (he also directed “The Nutty Professor”).

Stella Stevens in Chicago circa 2011

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Stella was born in Mississippi as Estelle Egglston, and her family moved to Memphis soon thereafter. After an early marriage and divorce, she became interested in acting and modeling while at Memphis State University.

Stella Stevens, who starred in such films as “The Nutty Professor”, “The Poseidon Adventure” and alongside Elvis Presley in “Girls! Girls! Girls!”, has died. She was 84.

According to multiple reports, Stevens died Friday in Los Angeles following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Before making a name for herself on the big and small screen, Stevens was a Playboy Playmate and appeared on its centerfold page in January 1960. She was modeling in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, when she was discovered, ultimately leading her to roles in the 1962 music comedy “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and then starring alongside comedy giant Jerry Lewis in the 1963 sci-fi comedy “The Nutty Professor”.

Read More: Raquel Welch, Actress and Legendary Bombshell, Dead at 82

In a New York Times review of the film (via Variety), Stevens’ performance as Stella Purdy (the student Lewis’ nutty professor character pursues) is singled out.

“It’s about a shy...

Stella Stevens is the actress known for playing Stella Purdy in The Nutty Professor (1963) and starring alongside Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! Sadly, Ms. Steven passed away on Friday in Los Angeles after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her death was confirmed by her son, actor-producer Andrew Stevens, and her long-time friend John O’Brien.

A former Playboy centerfold from January 1960, Stevens participated in a screen test by 20th Century Fox as a part of launching her Hollywood career. She signed on the dotted line with Paramount and Columbia through the ’60s, appearing opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls!, a role that sent her star soaring. She played Stella Purdy opposite Jerry Lewis’ Prof. Julius Kelp in The Nutty Professor, then acted in such films as Advance to the Rear, Synanon, The Silencers, Rage, How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life, The Mad Room, and more.

Stella Stevens, who starred in the 1972 disaster film “Poseidon Adventure” and in films opposite Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, died Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 84.

Her son, actor/producer Andrew Stevens, confirmed her passing to TheWrap via email. “I was notified early this morning,” Stevens said. “Stella had been in hospice for quite some time with stage seven Alzheimer’s.”

She is perhaps best known for her role as one of the victims of an ocean liner disaster in Irwin Allen’s epic “Poseidon Adventure.” She played a former prostitute married to Ernest Borgnine’s police detective, who, along with Gene Hackman and Shelley Winters, try to make it to the top of the overturned ship.

Stevens also starred with Elvis Presley in the 1962 musical “Girls! Girls! Girls!,” Jerry Lewis in 1963’s “The Nutty Professor,” and Dean Martin in the 1966 spy spoof “The Silencers.” In...

Stella Stevens, the screen siren of the 1960s who brought sweet sexiness to such films as The Nutty Professor, Too Late Blues and The Ballad of Cable Hogue, has died. She was 84.

Stevens died Friday in Los Angeles, her son, actor-producer-director Andrew Stevens, told The Hollywood Reporter. “She had been in hospice for quite some time with Stage 7 Alzheimer’s,” he said.

Shining brightest in light comedies, the blond, blue-eyed actress appeared as a shy beauty contestant from Montana in Vincente Minnelli’s The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963), portrayed a headstrong nun in Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows! (1968) opposite Rosalind Russell and frolicked with the fun-loving Dean Martin in two films: the Matt Helm spy spoof The Silencers (1966) and How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968).

Stevens also starred opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), a movie she said she detested.

Her signature role, however, came in The Nutty Professor (1963), produced,...

Stella Stevens, who starred with Elvis Presley in “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and with Jerry Lewis in “The Nutty Professor” as well as in disaster film “The Poseidon Adventure,” died Friday in Los Angeles. Her son, Andrew Stevens, said she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84.

“Girls! Girls! Girls!” (1962) was one of the more generic Elvis films— there wasn’t all that much for Stevens to do — but Variety was keen on her performance in 1963’s “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” starring Glenn Ford and Shirley Jones in the story of a widower who’s romantically interested in one woman while his son wants him to marry another: “Stella Stevens comes on like gangbusters in her enactment of a brainy but inhibited doll from Montana. It’s a sizzling comedy performance of a kook.”

In “The Nutty Professor” (1963) or any other Jerry Lewis film, one might expect the...

Stella Stevens, the actress best known for her roles in The Nutty Professor and The Poseidon Adventure and starring opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls!, died today in Los Angeles after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84.

Stevens’ passing was confirmed to Deadline by her son, actor-producer Andrew Stevens, and her longtime friend John O’Brien.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story How To Watch Lisa Marie Presley's Graceland Memorial Service Online Related Story Lisa Marie Presley Dies: Singer, Songwriter, Daughter Of Elvis Was 54 Elvis Presley and Stevens in ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’, 1962

A former Playboy centerfold from January 1960, Stevens was modeling in her hometown of Memphis when she was discovered and given a screen test by 20th Century Fox. She wound up under contract with Paramount and then Columbia through the ’60s, starring opposite such big names as Presley in Girls!

When you think of post-credits scenes, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since the House of Ideas started putting them at the end of their movies in 2008 to tease whatever they had in store next, many other movies (mostly ones with superheroes in them) have followed suit and they've become trademarks of the genre at this point.

However, post-credits scenes aren't that new. "The Silencers" featured one in 1966. John Hughes utilized them in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." And who can forget Animal's lovely send-off at the end of "The Muppets Movie"? So when it comes to Kevin Smith's "Clerks III," does the New Jersey native follow in the footsteps of some classic comedies that came before him?

Well, the answer to that is a little complicated. To address the question in this article's title directly, no, there...

Dean Martin in "The Silencers" (1966), the first of the Matt Helm spy spoofs.

Cinema Retro has received the following press release:

Turner Classic Movies (TCM), now in its 27th year as a leading authority in classic film, will present the U.S. broadcast premiere of the documentary Dean Martin: King of Cool on Nov. 19, 2021. Director Tom Donahue and producer Ilan Arboleda will appear alongside TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz to introduce the documentary and four of Dean Martin’s most iconic films, including Ocean’s 11 (1960) and The Caddy (1959).

Dean Martin epitomized cool. A founding member of the Rat Pack, Dean was a multi-talented performer who was part of the number one comedy act in America, a chart-topping singer for over half a century and one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and on TV. He was the consummate charmer on stage and off. Yet for all his celebrity, fame, and adoration,...

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has perfected the art of the Post Credits scene, the House Of Ideas isn’t remotely the first movie to ever have one. That honor goes to the Dean Martin pic, The Silencers from 1966. This post-credit scene featured Martin’s Matt Helm with a bevy of beauties and the caption that “Matt Helm Will Return.” There are all kinds of ways to do a post-credits scene. Some movies do bloopers, some do outright teases for the next movie, and some are callbacks to other scenes in the movie (eating shawarma in the original Avengers).

Related: The 10 Best Post-Credit Movie Scenes Of The Decade, Ranked

Often times, the post-credit scene is set up to build to the next movie. But when there is no next movie, then the scene is just there and goes nowhere. Here are 10 Movie Post Credits Scenes That Went Nowhere.

James Schmerer, a veteran television writer with credits on numerous 1970s and 1980s classics like “CHiPs,” “MacGyver,” “Fantasy Island” and “Hawaii Five-0,” died in his Oregon home on Oct. 4, the Writers Guild of America West announced Tuesday. He was 81, and had recently suffered a stroke.

Born in Flushing, New York, Schmerer’s career on television began in the 1960s — he was admitted to Wgaw in 1965 — with his rise to prominence coming during the following decade. His many credits also included “Vega$,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “The High Chaparral,” “Eight is Enough,” “T.J. Hooker” and “The Fall Guy.”

Schmerer also wrote for “The Rookies,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “The Mod Squad,” “Medical Center,” “Mannix,” “Wimzie’s House,” “Matt Helm,” “Isis,” “True Confessions,” “The New Mike Hammer,” “Logan’s Run,” “Code R,” “24-Robert,” “Tales of the Unexpected,” and “Star Trek: The Animated Series.”

Also Read: John Clarke,...

Prolific television writer James Schmerer, whose credits included “The High Chapparal,” “MacGyver” and “CHiPs,” died on Oct. 4 at his home in Eugene, Ore., following a stroke. He was 81.

Schmerer, a native of Flushing, N.Y., launched his television writing career in the 1960s and became a member of the Writers Guild of America West in 1965. He was an in-demand TV writer during the 1970s and ’80s, with credits on “Vega$,” “Fantasy Island,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Eight is Enough,” “T.J. Hooker” and “The Fall Guy.”

He also had TV writing credits on “The Rookies,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “The Mod Squad,” “Medical Center,” “Mannix,” “Wimzie’s House,” “Matt Helm,” “Isis,” “True Confessions,” “The New Mike Hammer,” “Logan’s Run,” “Code R,” “24-Robert,” “Tales of the Unexpected” and “Star Trek: The Animated Series.” Schmerer was a producer on “The High Chaparral,” “Chase,” “The Delphi Bureau,...

Veteran television writer James Schmerer, whose credits encompass some of the most popular series of the 1970s and ’80s including MacGyver, CHiPs, Vega$, Fantasy Island and Starsky & Hutch, died Oct. 4 at his home in Eugene, Oregon, following a stroke. He was 81.

Schmerer’s death was announced by Writers Guild of America West.

A native of Flushing, New York, Schmerer launched his television writing career in the 1960s (he became a Wgaw member in 1965), and by the ’70s was a sought-after scripter for action series of all types, with the occasional family series – Eight is Enough – and sci-fi show – Star Trek: The Animated Series – tossed in for good measure.

Just a few of the other series that carried a Schmerer “Written by” credit: Hawaii Five-0, The Six Million Dollar Man, The High Chaparral, T.J. Hooker, and The Fall Guy.

Schmerer also wrote scripts for The Rookies, The Streets of San Francisco,...

April 16th will see the release of both The Manitou and Superstition on Blu-ray and we have new details on both titles straight from Scream Factory:

"Horror enthusiasts and classic movie collectors rejoice! On April 16, Scream Factory™ is proud to present the 1978 supernatural cult classic The Manitou Blu-ray and horror classic Superstition Blu-ray. Produced and directed by William Girdler and based on the best-selling novel by Graham Masterton, The Manitou stars Tony Curtis (Spartacus), Michael Ansara (I Dream of Jeannie), Susan Strasberg (Scream of Fear), Stella Stevens (The Silencers), Burgess Meredith (Rocky), Jon Cedar (Death Hunt), and Ann Sothern (The Whale of August). Directed by James Roberson (The Giant of Thunder Mountain) and produced by Ed Carlin (Battle Beyond the Stars), Superstition stars James Houghton (The Colbys), Albert Salmi (Caddyshack), Lynn Carlin (Faces), and Larry Pennell (Bubba Ho-Tep).

A must-have for collectors, The Manitou Blu-ray boasts new 4K scan from...

He's back! 

No, I'm not talking about Green Arrow 2.0; he's still mysteriously absent. I'm talking about Badass Oliver Queen. That's right, our old friend who's been missing for years has finally returned gloriously on Arrow Season 7 Episode 3. 

Oliver Queen has always been a badass, but not in the same way he once was. On Arrow Season 5 and Arrow Season 6, Oliver started changing. He was no longer the anti-hero turned full-fledged superhero we fell in love with. Instead, he became a self-righteous, "we must do things the right way" kind of guy. 

Frankly, that guy was kind of boring. 

Related: Arrow Season 7 Episode 2 Review: The Longbow Hunters 

However, Slabside Maximum Security Prison is bringing back the Oliver Queen we once knew. The guy who took no prisoners and did what he needed to do to get the job done. 

That Oliver Queen was a total badass and now that he's broken...

It’s a road picture, a spy chase and an oddball romance all in one. A casual highway hitch-hike leads to intrigues with shady doctors, guided missile secrets and espionage intrigues. Possible escaped nut case Ruth Roman enlists nice guy Sterling Hayden’s help, and before you can say Alfred Hitchcock they’re handcuffed together and on the run. It’s a B-picture gem from the mid-fifties, all the more amusing for its awkwardness.

Five Steps to Danger

Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1957 / Color / 2:35 1:85 widescreen 1:37 flat full frame / 81 min. / Street Date April 24, 2018 / 29.99

Starring: Ruth Roman, Sterling Hayden, Werner Klemperer, Richard Gaines, Charles Davis, Jeanne Cooper, Peter Hansen, Ken Curtis.

Cinematography: Kenneth Peach

Film Editor: Aaron Stell

Original Music: Paul Sawtell & Bert Shefter

Written by Henry S. Kesler, from a book by Donald Hamilton

Produced and Directed by Henry S. Kesler

Celebrity business agent Henry S. Kesler became a production manager,...

Glamorous film actor who made her name in spy spoofs of the 1960s

With the huge success of the James Bond film franchise, starting with Dr No in 1962, a plethora of spin-offs appeared throughout the 1960s. They followed the original recipe of exotic locales, an evil genius who wishes to take over the world, a laidback, oversexed super spy hero and a bevy of (mostly treacherous) beautiful women. Among the actors portraying the last of these was Daliah Lavi, who has died aged 74.

Almost all Lavi’s film career took place in that swinging decade during which she was most likely to be seen in miniskirt and kinky boots, or displaying her underwear. The multilingual Lavi (born in the British Mandate of Palestine) had already made several French, German, Italian and Hollywood films before she starred as a sexy double agent opposite Dean Martin in The Silencers (1966), the first of...

Lavi in "The Spy With the Cold Nose".

By Lee Pfeiffer

Israeli actress Daliah Lavi has passed away at age 74. Lavi was discovered by Kirk Douglas, who met her on a film shoot when she was ten years old. She went on to stardom in the 1960s, appearing with Douglas in "Two Weeks in Another Town" before often being cast as femme fatales in various thrillers including the Matt Helm film "The Silencers" and "Some Girls Do". She also was the female lead in "Lord Jim" and showed her talents for comedy in the spy spoofs "Casino Royale" and "The Spy with the Cold Nose", as well as the zany comedy "Those Fantastic Flying Fools" (aka "Blast-off"/ "Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon"). Lavi eventually left acting to concentrate on a singing career and became a major pop star in Germany. For more click here. ...

Daliah Lavi, an actress who made her femme fatale reputation in such 1960s spy comedies as The Spy With a Cold Nose, Some Girls Do, The Silencers and the classic of the genre Casino Royale, died yesterday at home in Asheville, N.C. She was 74, and her death was announced by her family. “Daliah has lived in Asheville, with her husband, Chuck Gans, since 1992,” her family wrote. “Prior to that, she was an international actress and singer…” That international career started…...

Daliah Lavi, the exotic beauty who starred in the swinging 1960s spy spoofs Casino Royale and The Silencers, has died. She was 74.

Lavi died Wednesday at her home in Asheville, N.C., her family announced.

In The Silencers (1966), the first of the four Matt Helm movies that starred Dean Martin as the American superspy, Lavi played the femme-fatale Tina Batori; she saves the hero from getting a dagger in the back while he is in the embrace of a gorgeous female enemy agent.

The dark-haired, dark-eyed sex symbol then...

In the 1970s crime films morphed into sadistic vigilante fantasies about tough-guy heroes avenging terrible crimes against their families. Veteran noir director Phil Karlson directed the bruiser’s bruiser Joe Don Baker in a standard tale of violent vengeance, with the violence factor given an extra bloody boost.

Framed

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1975 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date February 28, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Joe Don Baker, Conny Van Dyke, John Marley, Gabriel Dell,, Brock Peters, John Larch, Warren J. Kemmerling, Walter Brooke, Paul Mantee, H.B. Haggerty, Roy Jenson.

Cinematography: Jack A. Marta

Film Editor: Harry W. Gerstad

Stunts: Carey Loftin, Gil Perkins, Buddy Joe Hooker

Original Music: Pat Williams

Written by Mort Briskin from a book by Art Powers & Mike Misenheimer

Produced by Joel Briskin, Mort Briskin

Directed by Phil Karlson

Time for another curiosity review, of a grindhouse gut-basher from the 1970s — a subgenre I avoided when new.

By Doug Oswald

Rock Hudson is an American commando sent to blow up a dam in “Hornets’ Nest,” a 1970 WWII action adventure set in 1944 Italy as the Allies advance on the German occupation force. Directed by Phil Karlson (“Hell to Eternity,” “Kid Galahad,” “The Silencers,” “The Wrecking Crew” and “Walking Tall”), the movie was an American-Italian co-production filmed in Italy with a mostly all Italian cast and crew.

The movie opens as the residents of Reanoto are massacred by German soldiers after they refuse to give up the location of Italian resistance fighters. Meanwhile, American commandos parachute in on a mission to blow up a nearby dam, but all are killed except for Capt. Turner (Hudson). A group of boys hiding in the hills when the German’s murdered their families rescue Turner and hide him from the Germans. Turner is running a fever from his wounds and the boys convince a local doctor,...

By Darren Allison

“The Silencers” – Elmer Bernstein

It’s always great to see a classic soundtrack album receive its debut on CD, and Elmer Bernstein’s stylish Matt Helm score The Silencers (CDLK4573) is no exception. Dean Martin’s campy but hugely enjoyable spy capers were made during a successful period of spy-time, when Bond, Flint and numerous other secret agents were dominant in cinema entertainment. Bernstein’s jazzy, cool and deliciously infectious score ticks all the desired boxes. Bernstein fills the soundscape with big brass and fast percussion, most of which are laced with a hip, Latin beat. The composer provides plenty of swing, but it’s never without an underlying sense of fun, a playfulness throughout which perfectly mirrors Helm’s on screen exploits. Aside from Bernstein’s score, the two vocal tracks sung by Vikki Carr (co-written by Mack David) ‘The Silencers’ and ‘Santiago’ also offer a sassy sense of relevant glitz.

Bourne and Mission: Impossible, right back to Harry Palmer and Danger Diabolik - meet the many pretenders to James Bond's throne...

Since 1962, the James Bond franchise has come to define the spy genre, for good or ill. More broadly, every thriller and action film that comes out now either uses them as inspiration, or attempts to ignore or re-work the tropes that have come to be associated with the series.

Coming off the release of Kingsman: The Secret Service, and with the release of a new Bond film this year, now seems like the perfect time to take a look at a sample of the films which have been inspired by James Bond — either as homages, parodies or reactions.

The Ipcress File (1965)

Produced by James Bond producer Harry Saltzman as a more grounded alternative to the largesse of Bond, The Ipcress File is more concerned with the intricacies of real spy-work — the endless paperwork,...

 

What a year it was! In 1966, you could see the following movies playing locally in Winnipeg, Canada: Dean Martin as Matt Helm in The Silencers, James Coburn as Our Man Flint, The Trouble With Angels, Carry on Cleo, The Sound of Music and a quadruple feature of monsters flicks: Die Monster, Die, Eegah, Tomb of Ligeia and Planet of the Vampires. ...

Larri Thomas, an actress and dancer who did a striptease during the steamy opening title sequence of The Silencers, the first movie to star Dean Martin as counter-agent Matt Helm, has died. She was 81. Thomas, who also adorned the big screen as a featured Goldwyn Girls dancer in the classic musical Guys and Dolls (1955), died Sunday at her home in Van Nuys shortly after suffering a fall, a family friend said. A leggy blonde, Thomas also appeared in such films as Road to Bali (1952), Million Dollar Mermaid (1952), House of Wax (1953), Artists and Models (1955),

read more...

 

Rare 1966 trade magazine ad

On Monday evening commencing at 8:00 Pm (Est), Turner Classic Movies (North America) will present back-to-back 1960s spy flicks starting with Our Man Flint starring James Coburn, followed by the first two Dean Martin Matt Helm films (The Silencers and Murderer's Row), then Carry on Spying and finally two Vincent Price camp classics, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine and Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs.  ...

Given all the controversy about the movie poster for the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only that depicted Agent 007 as seen through the open legs of a bikini-clad model, you would think it was the first time that concept had been used for an ad campaign. In fact, there are plenty of precedents including this Australian daybill poster for Dean Martin's first Matt Helm film, The Silencers (1966). ...

Steve Davis is the artist behind Memories of Elvis., a show he’s been performing in the St. Louis area for decades. Steve has dedicated over 20 years to perfecting the Elvis experience by paying incredible attention to detail and now he’ll be bringing that experience to Super-8 Elvis Movie Madness Tomorrow Night! This is a last-minute addition to the program which consists of condensed (average length: 15 minutes) versions of several of Elvis.s greatest films on Super-8 sound film projected on a big screen. Here.s the Elvis line-up: Blue Hawaii, Tickle Me, Roustabout, Girls Girls Girls, an Elvis Blooper Reel, and episode of The Steve Allen Show featuring guests Elvis Presley and Andy Griffith (who perform together!), and the 1978 biopic Elvis The Movie directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell as Elvis. . Steve Davis will take the stage during the break and perform some acoustic Elvis tunes.

There have been many TV bios of Elvis Presley but Elvis, The Movie, the once-elusive 1979 feature starring Kurt Russell, was the first and is still the best. When Elvis died August 16 1978 at age 42, it sent shock waves around the world, comparable to the deaths of Princess Diana or Michael Jackson in later decades. A carnival atmosphere developed in Memphis as thousands of mourners gathered around the gates of Graceland and sales of Elvis. music skyrocketed. The 3-hour epic Elvis The Movie, produced by Dick Clark for the ABC network premiered 18 months later on February 11 1979 and, despite CBS airing Gone With The Wind the same night, was one of the highest rated made-for-television movies ever shown (it played theatrically on other parts of the world . in Japan it was called The Singer!). The script by Antony Lawrence, who had penned two Elvis movies earlier in his career (Paradise Hawaiin Style and...

Article by Dana Jung

In 1970, the Vietnam War had already dragged on for nearly a decade. Filmmakers, like society in general, were making their opinions about the war known. The great anti-war films M*A*S*H and Catch 22 were released that year and, though not set in Vietnam, made bold satirical use of past wars to make their points. However, that same year brought us another anti-war film somewhat overshadowed by those two classics, Hornet’S Nest, starring none other than Rock Hudson. Like some surrealistic cross between John Wayne’s The Cowboys and the original Inglorious Bastards (both of which it predated), Hornet’S Nest is notable for several reasons: it was the final Hollywood film of European screen star Sylva Koscina, it was one of director Phil Karlson’s last movies, and it was the film debut of Hudson’s trademark mustache! However, it is Not notable for being on DVD.

Character actor Richard Devon was a familiar face in films and television from the early 1950s. He was often cast as desperados and gangsters in western and crime films. He was also noted for his roles in a handful of Roger Corman cult classics in the 1950s. Devon was featured as Satan in the supernatural tale of past lives, The Undead (1957), with Pamela Duncan and Allison Hayes. He was King Stark of the Grimolts in the campy The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957), with Abby Dalton and Susan Cabot, and was the alien possessed Dr. Pol Van Ponder in the sci-fi feature War of the Satellites (1958) with Cabot and Dick Miller.

Devon worked his way through drama school in Los Angeles, performing chores in lieu of paying tuition. He also worked in early local television, and played a recurring...

The last movie Gary Ross wrote and directed was 2003's Seabiscuit. Except for a little scriptwriting duties for The Tale of Despereaux, Ross has remained relatively quiet in Hollywood. But that's all changed.

While still finishing the script to Spider-Man 4, Ross was hired to rewrite and direct the Spider-Man 3 spin-off movie Venom, but that's not all. ThePlaylist reports that Ross will also direct Matt Helm, a project previously associated with Steven Spielberg.

A 33-volume, pulp novel series about a suave super-spy that began in the 1960s, Matt Helm was written Donald Hamilton. The series has already been adapted into four movies with Dean Martin in the 1960s (The Silencers, The Ambushers, Murderers Row, The Wrecking Crew), and a TV show in the '70s with Anthony Franciosa in the title role.

Paramount is currently seeking Bradley Cooper for the lead, which will be updated from the swinging '...

Cyd Charisse, the long-legged Texas beauty who danced with the Ballet Russe as a teenager and starred in MGM musicals with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, died Tuesday. She was 86.

Charisse was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Monday after suffering an apparent heart attack, said her publicist, Gene Schwam.

It was her uncredited turn opposite Astaire in "Ziegfeld Follies" in 1946 that won her a seven-year contract with MGM. Her moves with Astaire in Vincent Minnelli's "Band Wagon" were often described as "heavenly."

One of the greatest female dancers in the heyday of the Hollywood musical, she starred in such big-screen extravaganzas as "Brigadoon" (1954) and as a young Vicki Carr in "The Silencers" (1966). While she strutted her considerable stuff on the screen, her singing was invariably dubbed.

Though she didn't often spend much time on the screen, her scenes made dramatic impact. Outfitted in the most splendid costumes, she wowed...

Cyd Charisse, the long-legged Texas beauty who danced with the Ballet Russe as a teenager and starred in MGM musicals with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, died Tuesday. She was 86.

Charisse was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Monday after suffering an apparent heart attack, said her publicist, Gene Schwam.

It was her uncredited turn opposite Astaire in Ziegfeld Follies in 1946 that won her a seven-year contract with MGM. Her moves with Astaire in Vincent Minnelli's Band Wagon were often described as "heavenly."

One of the greatest female dancers in the heyday of the Hollywood musical, she starred in such big-screen extravaganzas as Brigadoon (1954) and as a young Vicki Carr in The Silencers (1966). While she strutted her considerable stuff on the screen, her singing was invariably dubbed.

Though she didn't often spend much time on the screen, her scenes made dramatic impact. Outfitted in the most splendid costumes, she wowed audiences with her dance moves in such 1940s entertainments as The Harvey Girls, Three Wise Fools, Till the Clouds Roll By, Fiesta, The Unfinished Dance, Words and Music and The Kissing Bandit. Her final dancing turns were in the '50s in such films as Brigadoon, It's Always Fair Weather, Invitation to the Dance and Silk Stockings, a musical remake of Ninotchka that reteamed her with Astaire.

Donald Hamilton’s Serious Spy Becomes a Bond Parody

By Matthew R. Bradley

When JFK revealed his fondness for the James Bond books by Ian Fleming, and 007—ably embodied by Sean Connery—struck box-office gold with Dr. No (1962) and its sequels, the resultant “Bondmania” set off a spy craze manifested in everything from atmospheric adaptations of Len Deighton and John le Carré to tongue-in-cheek secret agents on screens small and large. Perhaps the most successful of the latter was Matt Helm, a singing and swinging spy played in four films for Columbia Pictures by Rat Pack member Dean Martin, who unlike Connery shared in the profits from the outset via his own company, Meadway-Claude Productions. The former partner of Bond producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli - Irving Allen - was playing catch-up after deeming Fleming’s work unworthy of filming, which speeded his breakup with Broccoli. But ironically, his quartet...