Which non-Bond spies do you like?

User avatar
charliechaplinfan
Posts: 9040
Joined: January 15th, 2008, 9:49 am

Post by charliechaplinfan »

For me the whole appeal of Charade is seeing Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn together. Two of my favorite people to gaze at.
Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself - Charlie Chaplin
User avatar
Rita Hayworth
Posts: 10068
Joined: February 6th, 2011, 4:01 pm

Re: Which non-Bond spies do you like?

Post by Rita Hayworth »

MATT HELM - Starring Dean Martin

When Dean Martin in the mid 60's did The SILENCERS, The MURDERER's ROW, The AMBUSHERS, and THE WRECKING CREW - most of these movies are in 90-100 minutes long and I have all 4 of these movies on DVD and once a year - I watch all 4 of them at one time to remind myself the groovy times of the 60's were. There is so many sexy actresses in these series and the fashions were out of this world. Sexy actresses like Elke Sommers, Ann Margret, and others like Sentra Berger are more enough to keep Dean Martin in check. I love the action in these movies and the pure fun associated in these 4 rock and rollin films.

I would love to see a remake of MATT HELM - too bad George Clooney is getting too old - If he were 10 years younger - I would love to see him to take on the role of MATT HELM. These four movies are so groovy - I'm a big fan of the Rat Pack and both Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra always did a wonderful job entertaining me.

DEREK FLINT - Starring James Coburn

During that same time period - in late 60's - James Corburn did Our Man Flint and In Like Flint - I love these two movies and again they are in the same 90-100 minutes long - just like the Matt Helm movies that I mentioned earlier - I always watch these two movies on the annual basis and have the DVD's as well. I love the action in this movie and the excellent stunt work by James Corburn. He was unreal as Derek Flint. The settings in Our Man Flint - is wild, groovy, and out of this world. The writing is excellent and the girls in this movies are downright gorgeous. In "I like Flint" - I was surprised to see Yvonne Craig who played one season as Batgirl in the Batman TV Series had a prominent cameo - in extended format romancing our hero Derek Flint.

Both Matt Helm and Derek Flint were American answer to the continuing success of Bond Franchise that was hugely popular in in the 60's to 2000's with many actors playing the role of 007.

In regarding to Derek Flint - I was very, very disappointed that James Corburn did not did a 3rd Flint movie - I wanted more of Derek Flint and I was also equally disappointed (Speaking of Matt Helm) that they did not do RAVAGERS for the 5th.

I love these characters and always will.
stuart.uk
Posts: 1805
Joined: January 21st, 2008, 12:25 pm
Location: Dundee, Scotland

Re: Which non-Bond spies do you like?

Post by stuart.uk »

Tony Franciosca played Matt Helm on tv
stuart.uk
Posts: 1805
Joined: January 21st, 2008, 12:25 pm
Location: Dundee, Scotland

Re: Which non-Bond spies do you like?

Post by stuart.uk »

Tony Franciosca played Matt Helm on tv
User avatar
Rita Hayworth
Posts: 10068
Joined: February 6th, 2011, 4:01 pm

Re: Which non-Bond spies do you like?

Post by Rita Hayworth »

stuart.uk wrote:Tony Franciosca played Matt Helm on tv

Stuart.uk - I did not know that :D . I have to Google it ... was the show any good?
Thanks for sharing this. I really do ... nice going pal.
stuart.uk
Posts: 1805
Joined: January 21st, 2008, 12:25 pm
Location: Dundee, Scotland

Re: Which non-Bond spies do you like?

Post by stuart.uk »

It never aired in the UK
RedRiver
Posts: 4200
Joined: July 28th, 2011, 9:42 am

Re: Which non-Bond spies do you like?

Post by RedRiver »

I'd love to see the Matt Helm books come around again. Those things have practically disappeared. I read some as a child. My recollection is that they weren't real good. But I would enjoy another look, for old time's sake. They're American, kind of hard boiled. And don't feature Dean Martin acting like a fool! Dean was a great singer. One of the best. But he was not a secret agent to be taken seriously!

My favorite spy novel is William Goldman's MARATHON MAN. Of course, the hero is an innocent, caught in something he doesn't understand. The spies are the bad guys! The author's quirky, personal style draws the reader right into the story, making it that much more exciting. As good as the 1976 film is, the book is much better.

I enjoy the Bond books too, with CASINO ROYALE the most realistic, and best of the series. Ken Follett turned out some intriguing tales in the 1970's. And I love Hitchcock's "man on the run" films. SABOTEUR, the seldom screened YOUNG AND INNOCENT, and the master's masterpiece, THE 39 STEPS.

For the record, my favorite 007 film is DOCTOR NO. So often, the first is the best!
Post Reply