Play Golf With Dean Martin

Dean Martin is inviting all his pallies to join him for a round of golf this weekend.

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Reunion At MDA Telethon In 1976

This picture is from the 1976 reunion of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis at the MDA telethon at the Sahara in Las Vegas. Frank Sinatra was the one who orchestrated this memorable event. It was great seeing these two together again.

Dean Martin Plays Guitar

Check out a relaxin' Dino strummin' that guitar.

Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra Join Up With Anita Ekberg & Ursula Andress In 4 For Texas

I love the film 4 For Texas. It not only stars Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, but also the gorgeous Ursula Andress. I thought it was time that I post some things from this film. I hope you like the pictures and the video clip I'm posting here. Let me know what you think.

Dean Martin As Matt Helm In The Ambushers

It's time for another review of one of the Matt Helm spy spoofs. I've purposely been delaying posting this particular review. I'll honestly admit that I'm not a big fan of this particular film. The Ambushers, released in 1967, is the third and weakest movie in the Matt Helm spy franchise. It follows two really cool movies The Silencers and Murderers' Row, both which hits theaters in 1966. The Wrecking Crew, which was released in 1968, would the last of the Matt Helm spy capers. I always felt like it rebounded the franchise and sent it out on a high note.



Dean Martin once again returns as Matt Helm. Beverly Adams (as Helm's sexy personal assistant Lovey Kravazit) and James Gregory (as Helm's ICE boss MacDonald) are back for a final time. Neither of them play in The Wrecking Crew. Lovey is nowhere to be seen, while Mac is played by John Larch. Henry Levin, the director of Murderers' Row, was again behind the camera on The Ambushers. The screenplay was written by Herbert Baker, who had also worked on Murderers' Row. While I enjoyed what Levin and Baker did on that film, I'm not sure exactly what happened here.



Uncle Sam has manufactured an experimental flying saucer as the latest weapon in its vast arsenal. ICE is supervising the security of the flying saucer. Sheila Summers (played by Janice Rule) is the ICE agent who is piloting the spacecraft. It seems that the saucer has a unique quality about it. The electro magnetic field produced by it is deadly to men. It must be flown by only the female of the species. The flying saucer is hijacked in Mexico where Sheila is captured and assaulted.



When we first see Matt Helm, he is at ICE's training center to brush up on his skills and help in the instruction of newer agents. It seems that all these agents in training are gorgeous young women. They are known as Slaygirls. The scenes at the center are actually some of my favorite of the movie. Matt is definitely in paradise here with all these hot babes.



He encounters a crazed white-haired and pale woman who refuses to have anything to do with men. He discovers that this is Sheila. They go way back. It seems that they had once worked on a mission together. When some bad guys make an attempt on her life, Matt rushes to the rescue. Sheila comes out of her catatonic condition, but she nows believe that she is the wife of Matt Helm. Their cover on a previous mission had been as a married couple. Sheila begans to remember a jingle for a beer company in Mexico. They believe it might be a link to what happened to her and the missing saucer. She tags along with Matt on his mission to Acapulco. Matt's cover will be that he's going to do a photo shoot on the brewery.



There Matt and Sheila meet up with Quintana (played by Kurt Kasznar) who runs the brewery. Quintana is a top henchman for Leopold Caselius aka Jose Ortega (Albert Salmi), the exiled ruler of a rogue nation. I don't want to give too much away, but it's not long before Matt and Sheila are fighting for their lives. They not only face Ortega and his men, but also other baddies who have come to Mexico. It seems that Ortega plans to sell the saucer to the highest bidder. Those seeking to buy the craft include Francesca Madeiros (played by Senta Berger), the best pilot employed by Big O, and a Middle Eastern assassin named Nassim.



Senta Berger, one of my favorite female stars of the 60's and 70's, is not featured enough in this film. Her part as Francesca is way too small. She's one of the major highlights of this film for me. It's just that we don't get a chance to see enough of her. I love anytime she is on the screen. She has great chemistry with Dino in this movie. One of my favorite scenes is when she plays a seductive game with Matt Helm. I won't tell you exactly what happens there.



I have nothing against Janice Rule. I think she's a fine actress. I just think she was wrong for a Matt Helm spy spoof. She seems so out of place here. She's very different than the usual type of actresses that have played in these movies. There's something really missing in the movie. Another actress might have been better suited in this role. She just doesn't have the electricity that Stella Stevens or Ann-Margret had in their roles in the previous two films.



I'm also not a big fan of the main villain in this film. Albert Salmi as Ortega just doesn't intrigue me the way the madman of a spy movie should. He's my least favorite villain of the four films in the Matt Helm franchise. He is too sinister. He doesn't have that wicked sense of humor that the other villains tended to have. I actually much prefer his henchman Quintana (Kurt Kasznar), who really hams it up and chews the scenery so well. There is a really hilarious shoot-out between him and Matt Helm at the beer factory. Just imagine the boozy Dino and lots of beer. You should get the picture.



The special effects in the Matt Helm franchise do tend to be pretty standard for the era. I would have hoped that they might have been a little better this time around since the film has such a science fiction quality to it. Gadgets used by the various characters in this film include a bullet shooting bra, a device that makes men's pants fall down, a weapon that doesn't do much more than make drinks, cigarettes that emit laughing gas, lipstick laced with drugs, etc. Matt Helm even has in his truck a portable bachelor bad. This thing has to be seen to be believed. It's always funny to see what sort of cheesy gadgets will be used in each film.

The musical scores for the first two films were done by Elmer Bernstein and Lalo Schifrin. This time Hugo Montenegro was the man in charge of the music. I'm a huge fan of his style of music. His lounge score is really groovy and catchy. It infects the movie with such a cool and hip vibe. The intro sequence to The Ambushers features a theme song by Boyce and Hart which considers women to be the real "ambushers."



There is definitely lots of eye candy on display throughout the film. Besides the gorgeous and luscious Senta Berger, there are the female ICE agents at the beginning and end of the film, as well as some models at a fashion show down in Mexico. This film doesn't disappoint in that department. There is also a very hot (no pun intended) scene of Matt and his assistant Lovey in a steambath at the start of the film.

I hope I haven't been too hard on this film. I do want you to see if if you haven't. The Matt Helm movies are not high art. They never pretend to be. They are just good campy escapist fun. That's how they should be enjoyed. I do think that this one was a little substandard to the other three. There are still plenty of things I liked in this movie. I'm glad I saw it. I do believe that are things that could have been improved on. These four films are all available in the Matt Helm Lounge DVD set. It's not like you have to buy it separately. You get all four spy flicks together. I hope you'll give it a chance if you haven't seen it. Cheers!

Dean Martin Cowboy Skit Featuring Don Rickles & Roy Rogers

Here's a great clip of a skit from The Dean Martin Variety Show. It features Dino with Don Rickles and Roy Rogers. Dale Evans shows up at the end. This is so hilarious. Don had me laughing so hard. I loved it! I hope you do too.

The Golddiggers Love Dean Martin

Hey girls! There's enough of me to go around. ;-)

Favorite Album Covers: Dean Martin - Dino Magic

Here's another one of my favorite album covers by Dean Martin. The album is called Dino Magic. I love that title. I always did feel that Dino had a magical quality about him that attracted so many fans. It's as if he's bewitched all of us with his coolness and hipness.

Dean Martin & Some Pallies

Here are two pictures of Dean Martin and some of his pallies. They all look like they are having a great time together. Cheers!

It's Celebration Time - My 200th Post!

I think I let the 100th post on this blog go by without mentioning it at all. I can't believe though that this blog has lasted this long. I wasn't sure when I started it whether or not I would do it for very long. I've had some times since then that I've thought of closing the doors down on it, but I'm so glad I've stuck with it. I'm beyond thrilled that this blog has now hit 200 posts. Thanks to all those who read and comment on my blog. I appreciate each and every single one of you. I really love hearing from you. I hope you will continue to not only check out my posts, but also leave your wonderful comments. I really love hearing from people. It's helps me know that I'm doing something that others find some enjoyment in. I raise a toast to Dean Martin and the Rat Pack. Those cool cats are the inspiration for all that I do here. Cheers!



P.S. Please head over to Celluloid Slammer for my latest post there. It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything on that blog. I thought it was time I did so then. I've posted a video clip featuring scenes from one of my favorite Bond films On Her Majesty's Secret Service. I hope you check out that post and leave me some comments there. Thanks.

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Were Great Together

I've really been in a mood lately to watch some of those great comedies from Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. These guys were amazing together. They made quite a fantastic comedic duo. They are truly legends of comedy. I thought I would post a few pictures of these two together. Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra Visits Dean Martin On The Premiere Episode Of His Show

This is a clip from the very first episode of The Dean Martin Variety Show. Dino is visited by his good pallie Frankie, who brings some beautiful ladies with him. I love Frank's idea of friends. Wow! I hope you enjoy this clip. I thought it was really cool. Those were definitely the days. Cheers!

Favorite Album Covers: Frank Sinatra - Cycles

Cycles is one of my favorite Frank Sinatra album covers. It is also one of my favorite Sinatra albums. It's an incredible piece of music that really touches your heart and spirit. I can't heap enough praise on this album. This is definitely one of the Sinatra albums that any music lover should have in his or her collection. I really love that picture of Sinatra. I've had some of those days myself. So what do you think of this album and its cover?

Sammy Davis Jr. Gets Religion

From Amber's Thoughts:

Sammy Davis Jr. has a harrowing experience with a lion.

Hollywood Humor: Sammy Davis Junior Found Religion by Stephen Schochet

In 1954, Sammy Davis Jr. converted to Judaism, which led to him being the subject of several anecdotes. One time he boarded a bus in the deep, segregated south. “Git to the back of the bus”, said the rude driver.”But I’m Jewish”, protested the entertainer. “Then get off.”

Another time Sammy was filming Porgy And Bess(1959) when he announced he would not work on Yom Kippur. Word got back from the set to Porgy’s frugal producer Sam Goldwyn, he immediately called his idle performer who was costing him $30,000. “Sammy, is it true? You refuse to work on the holiday? “Yes it’s true Sam.” There was a tense pause then Goldwyn said,” Bless You.”

Then there was the night of the 1971 Oscars when Sammy hosted the show and remarked,” Tonight, the academy honors both my peoples with Fiddler On The Roof and Shaft.”

But there was one occasion when Sammy came to doubt his conversion. He and Frank Sinatra were asked to perform at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas with the MGM Lion in between them. They were assured it would be safe, the lion would be handled by a trainer with a choke chain. In the middle of the number the lion looked at Sammy and licked it’s lips. The lion hunched back like it was going to leap for Sammy, and Sammy scared to death made the Sign of the Cross. Luckily nothing happened. Later after the show they were having drinks in the lobby and Sinatra said nervously,” Boy Smokey, I thought that cat was going to come after you there– Hey Smokey didn’t you turn Jewish? Why did you make the Sign of the Cross when the cat came at ya?”

“Well babe, I didn’t think I’d have time to make the star of David!”

20 Men I Admire Meme

Hey there. I decided it was time to create my own meme. I'm looking for something to excite me. I've been really bored with the internet as a whole these last few weeks. I'm hoping this will fire me up, plus spark some interest in others as well.

This is called the 20 Men I Admire Meme. The title pretty much says it all. I decided to pick entertainers of the past (some of these men are still living), but other bloggers could pick men of any era.

Make sure you post these rules when you participate in this meme. Here are the rules:

A. Link back to the blog that tagged you.

B. Link back to the originator of this meme, which is The Dino Lounge.

C. Create your own list of 20 men that you admire and post them on your blog.

D. Tag 5 other people to particpate in this meme.

E. If you like, please let The Dino Lounge know that you've participated in this meme so he can check out your posting and comment on it. Thanks.

I think that should be simple for everybody. I hope you like this meme. Below are 20 men that I admire. There are so many others that I could have listed. I thought this was a cool assortment though. They are listed alphabetically and not in order of preference.

I'm tagging my friends:

1. Jeremy at Moon In The Gutter
2. Dave at Planet Mondo
3. Gilligan at Retrospace
4. J.D. at Radiator Heaven
5. Molly at Ashcan Rantings

20 Men I Admire:

1. Louis Armstrong



2. Tony Bennett



3. George Burns



4. James Coburn



5. Nat King Cole



6. Sean Connery



7. Bing Crosby



8. Sammy Davis Jr.



9. Errol Flynn



10. Cary Grant



11. George Hamilton



12. Hugh Hefner



13. Tom Jones



14. Jerry Lewis



15. Dean Martin



16. Roger Moore



17. Wayne Newton



18. Elvis Presley



19. Don Rickles



20. Frank Sinatra