The Wrecking Crew
 Poster by Robert McGinnis | ||
| Starring |
| |
| Directed by | Phil Karlson | |
| Produced by | Irving Allen | |
| Studio | Meadway-Claude Productions Company | |
| Based on | The Wrecking Crew (novel) by Donald Hamilton | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures | |
| Released | Canada 1968 New York City 1969 | |
| Runtime | 105 minutes | |
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]
It was 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 Wen Yurang, 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 mini-helicopter. 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.
Reception
Box office
In the United States and Canada, the film earned $2.4 million in theatrical rentals.
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. 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 (played by Margot Robbie) is shown enjoying the film at the Fox Bruin Theater.
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