I just bought the DVD boxed set of all 4 of Dean Martin's "Matt Helm" movies from the 1960s. The set is appropriately titled MATT HELM LOUNGE (and Dean sure does a lot of drinking, smoking, and sleeping around).
The 4 movies are:
* THE SILENCERS
* MURDERER'S ROW
* THE AMBUSHERS
* THE WRECKING CREW
I watched THE SILENCERS last night. Dean stars as super agent Matt Helm (who is basically a cross between James Bond and Dean Martin). Victor Buono plays the (oriental????) villain (with very bad eye make-up to make him look oriental). The movie is more of a sex farce than a spy film, but it's great to see all of those "mod" 1960s fashions. My favorite scene is when Dean is driving in his car with one of his many female companions. A Frank Sinatra song comes on the radio and Dean makes a derogatory comment about Sinatra's talent. The woman changes the radio to a different channel and a Dean Martin song comes on. Dean says "Now THAT guy can sing!" Other than that, you get about an hour and forty five minutes of Dean making wisecracks, getting into fights (his stunt double is SO obvious as he flys through the air with Karate kicks), and romancing scantily-clad women. For me, these movies are pure, cheesy entertainment. I can't wait to watch the rest of them!
I would love to pick up that set (probably will one of these days). The only one I have so far is MURDERERS' ROW, which costars Ann Margret (luscious!) and Karl Malden.
Dean Martin's son also makes an appearance with his band Dino, Desi & Billy (Dean Martin Jr., Desi Arnaz Jr. and their buddy Billy Hinsche). At one point, Dino Jr. calls Dean Martin "Dad" (in the slang sense) at which Dino Sr. says, "Who you calling 'Dad'?"
Oh, yeah. Higher end MST3K prospects, to be sure.
Sinatra jokes pop up in about all of them.