View source for Matt Helm

{{Short description|Fictional character created by author Donald Hamilton}}
{{About|the fictional character}}
{{Infobox character
| name             = Matt Helm
| series           = <!-- use without the italic on the outside -->
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| first            = ''[[Death of a Citizen]]''
| last             = ''[[The Damagers]]''
| creator          = [[Donald Hamilton]]
| portrayer        = [[Dean Martin]]
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| species          = <!-- for non-humans only -->
| gender           = Male
| occupation       = [[Espionage|Spy]], [[Assassination|assassin]]
| affiliation      = United States government
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| nationality      = [[Americans|American]]
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'''Matt Helm''' is a fictional character created by American author [[Donald Hamilton]] (1916–2006). Helm is a U.S. government counter-agent, a man whose primary job is to kill or nullify enemy agents—not a spy or secret agent in the ordinary sense of the term as used in most [[Spy fiction|spy thrillers]].

Helm appeared in 27 adventure/suspense novels by Hamilton, first published in 1960, and the character was later adapted into film, television and other media. The 1960s film series, starring [[Dean Martin]], featured a [[campy]], humorous tone quite different from the gritty novels. The 1970s [[Matt Helm (TV series)|television series]] featured a more serious dramatic tone but was a relatively standard private investigator series with little connection to Hamilton's books.

==The character and the books==
Published between 1960 and 1993, the 27 books in the series portrayed Helm, who acquired the code name "Eric" during his secret wartime assignments, as jaded, ruthless, pragmatic, and competent.  The series was noted for its between-books [[continuity (fiction)|continuity]], which was somewhat rare for the genre at the time. In the later books, Helm's origins as a man of action in [[World War II]] disappeared and he became an [[floating timeline|apparently ageless]] character, a common fate of long-running fictional heroes.

The first book in the series, ''[[Death of a Citizen]],'' takes place in the summer of 1958, 13 years after the end of the war. In the book, other characters describe Helm as verging on middle age and apparently soft and out of shape, although no specific age for him is given. In the next story, which apparently takes place in the summer of 1959, a hostile agent from a rival American spy organization taunts Helm as a shopworn 36-year-old and clearly over the hill as a physical specimen. Later in the book, Helm himself says that he is 36 years old. Writer [[Hayford Peirce]] examined the issue of Helm's age, and found this figure to be improbably young given the information about Helm's background in ''Death of a Citizen.''<ref name=Peirce>{{cite web |last1=Peirce |first1=Hayford |author-link1=Hayford Peirce |title=Some Thoughts on Matt Helm's Birthday |url=http://www.matthelmbooks.com/agetheory.html |website=Matt Helm Books|publisher=Don Winans |access-date=May 13, 2015 |date=2000}}</ref>  Peirce postulated that Helm was actually several years older than the 36 years mentioned in ''[[The Wrecking Crew (novel)|The Wrecking Crew]]'' and that he was probably born around 1918.<ref name=Peirce/> By ''[[The Betrayers]]'', the tenth book, the age issue vanishes completely.<ref name=Peirce/>

Critic [[Anthony Boucher]] wrote: "Donald Hamilton has brought to the spy novel the authentic hard realism of [[Dashiell Hammett]]; and his stories are as compelling, and probably as close to the sordid truth of espionage, as any now being told."<ref>''Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection,'' compiled by [[Chris Steinbrunner]] and [[Otto Penzler]], New York, 1976, page 195.</ref> [[Golden Age of Detective Fiction|Golden Age]] mystery writer [[John Dickson Carr]], who began reviewing books for ''[[Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine]]'' in 1969, "found Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm to be 'my favorite secret agent,'" wrote Carr's biographer, noting that Hamilton's books had little in common with Carr's.  "The explanation may lie in Carr's comment that in espionage novels he preferred Matt Helm's '[[Cloud cuckoo land|cloud-cuckooland]]'. Carr never valued realism in fiction."<ref>''John Dickson Carr, The Man Who Explained Miracles,'' by [[Douglas G. Greene]], New York, 1995, page 443.</ref>
===List of books===
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Death of a Citizen Gold Medal 957 first edition.jpg|thumb|right|200px|1960s ''[[Death of a Citizen]]'' was the first Matt Helm novel.]] -->

(all by Donald Hamilton)
#''[[Death of a Citizen]]'' (1960)
#''[[The Wrecking Crew (novel)|The Wrecking Crew]]'' (1960)
#''[[The Removers]]'' (1961)
#''[[The Silencers (novel)|The Silencers]]'' (1962)
#''[[Murderers' Row (novel)|Murderers' Row]]'' (1962)
#''[[The Ambushers (novel)|The Ambushers]]'' (1963)
#''[[The Shadowers]]'' (1964)
#''[[The Ravagers (novel)|The Ravagers]]'' (1964)
#''[[The Devastators (Hamilton novel)|The Devastators]]'' (1965)
#''[[The Betrayers]]'' (1966)
#''[[The Menacers]]'' (1968)
#''[[The Interlopers (novel)|The Interlopers]]'' (1969)
#''[[The Poisoners (Hamilton novel)|The Poisoners]]'' (1971)
#''[[The Intriguers]]'' (1972)
#''[[The Intimidators]]'' (1974)
#''[[The Terminators (novel)|The Terminators]]'' (1975)
#''[[The Retaliators (novel)|The Retaliators]]'' (1976)
#''[[The Terrorizers]]'' (1977)
#''[[The Revengers (novel)|The Revengers]]'' (1982)
#''[[The Annihilators (novel)|The Annihilators]]'' (1983)
#''[[The Infiltrators]]'' (1984)
#''[[The Detonators]]'' (1985)
#''[[The Vanishers]]'' (1986)
#''[[The Demolishers]]'' (1987)
#''[[The Frighteners (novel)|The Frighteners]]'' (1989)
#''[[The Threateners]]'' (1992)
#''[[The Damagers]]'' (1993)
#''[[The Dominators (novel)|The Dominators]]'' – unpublished. Hamilton finished this novel in the late 1990s, and was reportedly revising it in preparation for seeking a publisher in mid-2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/MacBorden/update080202.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2005-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123101714/http://members.aol.com/MacBorden/update080202.htm |archive-date=2005-11-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

All of Hamilton's Matt Helm novels were first published in the United States by [[Fawcett Publications]] under their [[Gold Medal Books|Gold Medal]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]].

These titles have since been republished by [[Titan Books]].

==Matt Helm in other media==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2021}}
In 1965, [[Columbia Pictures]] acquired the film rights to eight Matt Helm novels.<ref>p. 191 ''The Film Daily'', Volume 127
Wid's Films and Film Folk Incorporated, 1965</ref> A five-film series of parody or spoof spy movies was planned and four were produced, debuting with ''[[The Silencers (film)|The Silencers]]'' (from Hamilton's novels ''The Silencers'' and ''Death of a Citizen'', adapted by acclaimed [[A Streetcar Named Desire (1951 film)|''A Streetcar Named Desire'']] screenwriter [[Oscar Saul]]). The series was produced by [[Irving Allen]], former partner of [[James Bond]] film producer [[Albert R. Broccoli]]. They were made to star [[Dean Martin]], who co-produced them with his Meadway-Claude Production company and received a share of the profits. 

The films used the name Matt Helm, his cover identity, plus book titles and some very loose plot elements, but otherwise the series bore no resemblance to the character, atmosphere, or themes of Hamilton's original books, nor to the hard-edged action of Bond.

Martin played the part with his own persona of a fun-loving, easygoing, wisecracking playboy with plenty of references to singing and alcohol consumption. Helm's government agency, unnamed in the novels, was called Intelligence and Counter-Espionage (ICE) in the films. Like the Bond series, the Helm films featured a number of sexy women in each, sometimes referred to as "The Slaygirls". Martin co-starred in the films with popular '60s actresses such as  [[Stella Stevens]], [[Ann-Margret]], [[Sharon Tate]], [[Elke Sommer]], [[Janice Rule]] and [[Tina Louise]].

A 1970s TV series ''[[Matt Helm (TV series)|Matt Helm]],'' which cast [[Tony Franciosa]] as Helm, an ex-spy turned [[private detective]], also departed from the books and was unsuccessful.

In 2002, it was reported that [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]] had [[option (films)|optioned]] the entire Helm book series.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} In 2005, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that DreamWorks had signed [[Michael Brandt]] and [[Derek Haas]] to write a screenplay for a high six-figure deal.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} According to the article, the film was to be a contemporary adaptation of the character, but no casting or release information was announced.

[[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] retained the film rights to the Matt Helm series after its 2008 split from DreamWorks.<ref>{{cite web
  |url = https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/spielberg-spying-matt-helm-1118006669/
  |title = Spielberg spying 'Matt Helm'?
  |access-date = 2014-12-09
  |author =  Michael Fleming
  |date = July 29, 2009
  |work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]
}}</ref> In 2009, it was reported that [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]] would produce a more serious version of the Helm franchise, with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' saying that the tone of [[Paul Attanasio]]'s script had a similar tone to ''[[The Bourne Identity (2002 film)|The Bourne Identity]]'', and that [[Steven Spielberg]] was considering directing or producing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Michael |title=Spielberg spying 'Matt Helm'? |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/spielberg-spying-matt-helm-1118006669/ |access-date=August 11, 2017|work=Variety |date=July 30, 2009}}</ref>

In March 2018, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' reported that Tom Shepard had been hired to rewrite the script, with [[Bradley Cooper]] attached to play Helm. Spielberg reportedly would remain involved in some unspecified capacity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/matt-helm-movie-tom-shepherd-writing-bradley-cooper-paramount-1202325873/|title=Bradley Cooper's 'Matt Helm' Movie At Paramount Moves Forward With Scribe Tom Shepherd|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|date=2018-03-09|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-03-09|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Films===
(all starring [[Dean Martin]] as Helm)
#''[[The Silencers (film)|The Silencers]]'' (1966)
#''[[Murderers' Row (film)|Murderers' Row]]'' (1966)
#''[[The Ambushers (film)|The Ambushers]]'' (1967)
#''[[The Wrecking Crew (1968 film)|The Wrecking Crew]]'' (1969)

A fifth film was planned, based upon the novel ''The Ravagers'', but Martin declined the opportunity to play the role again. The title of the film was announced at the end of ''The Wrecking Crew''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hmss.com/otherspies/matthelm/|title=www.hmss.com|website=www.hmss.com}}</ref>

==== Box office performance ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" width=99%
|- 
! Film
! U.S. release date
! US/Canada [[theatrical rental]]
! class=unsortable | {{nowrap|{{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}}}
|-
| ''The Silencers''
| {{dts|1966|2|18}}
| $7,350,000
| <ref name=rentals>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=All-Time Film Rental Champs|date=October 15, 1990|pages=M142-184|first=Lawrence|last=Cohn}}</ref>
|-
| ''Murderers' Row''
| {{dts|1966|12|20}}
| $6,350,000
| <ref name=rentals/>
|-
| ''The Ambushers''
| {{dts|1967|12|22}}
| $4,700,000
| <ref name=rentals/>
|-
| ''The Wrecking Crew''
| {{dts|1969|2|5}}
| $2,400,000
| <ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=Big Rental Films of 1969|date=January 7, 1970|page=15}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Total
! $20,800,000
! 
|-
|}

====Home media====
''Murderer's Row'' was initially released on [[VHS]] in 1980, with a reissue in 1987. ''The Ambushers'' was released on VHS in 1986, with a reissue in 1991. ''The Silencers'' and ''The Wrecking Crew'' were both released on VHS only in 1996, with no reissues for either film. The 1996 releases consisted of 2 box sets, one containing ''Murderer's Row'' and ''The Ambushers'', with the other containing ''The Silencers'' and ''The Wrecking Crew''. It is unknown if these releases were sold exclusively as box sets, or if they were also issued individually. A 4-[[DVD]] box set containing the four films was released in [[North America]] in December 2005.

===Television series===
{{Main|Matt Helm (TV series)}}

A television series loosely based upon Hamilton's character was launched by the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Network]] in 1975. Titled simply ''[[Matt Helm (TV series)|Matt Helm]],'' the series starred [[Anthony Franciosa]] as a retired spy who becomes a [[private detective]]. After being launched by a pilot TV movie, it ran for only 14 episodes.

=== Manga ===
In [[Japan]], Jin Kimura ({{langx|ja|木村仁}}), also known as {{ill|Mitsuhisa Kimura|ja|木村光久}} ({{langx|ja|木村光久|links=no}}) drew {{nihongo|''Matt Helm Series''|マット・ヘルム・シリーズ|Matto Herumu Shirīzu|lead=yes}}, based on the novel, in the magazine ''[[Boy's Life (Japanese magazine)|Boy's Life]]'' ({{langx|ja|ボーイズライフ|links=no}}), November 1968 – March 1969.<ref>[http://shotokimura.web.fc2.com/boyscomic.htm 少年まんが作品] {{in lang|ja}}, {{langx|ja|木村祥刀|links=no}} official website, Retrieved September 30, 2012.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''John Dickson Carr, The Man Who Explained Miracles'', by Douglas G. Greene, New York, 1995
*''Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection'', by Chris Steinbrunner and Otto Penzler, New York, 1976, {{ISBN|0-07-061121-1}}
*"Spielberg Spying Matt Helm: Secret Agent May Be Subject of Director's Next Film", by Michael Fleming, ''Variety'', Wed., Jul. 29, 2009

==External links==
*Article on the history of the Matt Helm films: "[http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/164-MR.-HELM-GOES-TO-HOLLYWOOD.html/ Mr Helm Goes to Hollywood]," November 14, 2011. ''[[Cinema Retro]].''<ref>{{Cite web|title=MR. HELM GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Cinema Retro|url=http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/164-MR.-HELM-GOES-TO-HOLLYWOOD.html/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=www.cinemaretro.com}}</ref>

{{Matt Helm}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Helm, Matt}}
[[Category:Matt Helm| ]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1960]]
[[Category:Fictional United States government agents]]
[[Category:Fictional spies]]
[[Category:Novel series]]
[[Category:Characters in American novels of the 20th century]]
[[Category:American film series]]
[[Category:Male characters in literature]]