Search - The Silencers on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Not For Children Movie Release: 1966 DVD Release: 11/11/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 42 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Spy Film, Action, Comedy, Glamorized Spy Film

Columbia Pictures tried to create a tongue-in-cheek American James Bond with this, the first of five motion pictures based on the character of Matt Helm, a spy created in a series of novels by Donald Hamilton. Dean Martin stars as Helm, a boozing, womanizing cad of a spy coaxed out of retirement by ex-girlfriend Tina Batori (Daliah Lavi). His mission: stop the evil Big O organization, whose leader, Tung-Tze (Victor Buono), schemes to sabotage an atomic missile and thus spark World War III. Producer Irving Allen had once been partners with Albert R. Broccoli in the British film production company Warwick Films, their alliance ironically disintegrating over the merits of creating a Bond series. When Broccoli's instincts proved correct, Allen attempted to create his own spy franchise with the Helm character. The sequels to The Silencers (1966) were Murderers' Row (1966), The Ambushers (1967), and The Wrecking Crew (1968). Allen unsuccessfully tried to resurrect the character as a TV movie, Matt Helm (1975). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Dean Martin - Matt Helm
Stella Stevens - Gail, Big O's Girl
Daliah Lavi - Tina Batori
Victor Buono - Tung-Tze
Arthur O'Connell - Wigman
Cyd Charisse - Sarita

Dean Martin is back as fun-loving super-spy Matt Helm in this action comedy, which has been given a fine presentation on DVD. The Silencers has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and has been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono with the dialogue in English; optional subtitles in English and French are accessible. A collection of trailers for other Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment releases has been included as a bonus. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide