Matt Helm Will Return

Loeffelholz · August 2009

This will be interesting news for those of us "Old School" types who remember a series of very entertaining espionage novels by Donald Hamilton, written from the 1960s to the 1980s---and who were probably made to smile bemusedly at the Swinging Sixties Dean Martin Films...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006669.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

In a way, it's regrettable that this won't be a post WWII, Cold War 'period' picture set in the early '60s, which is when Death of a Citizen made its bookstand debut. It would certainly be interesting to see Spielberg tackle this one, although I hope it isn't too much like Bourne X-( But at any rate, I'm thrilled that it apparently won't be a sendup like the Dean Martin pictures...

For those lucky enough to have read DOAC, or some of the others: Whom do you think ought to play Matt Helm?

Barry Nelson · August 2009

I hear Matt Helm, I think Deano, can't help myself. Based on my read of the article a lot of behind the scenes corporate issues to resolve before anything gets moving. I think Deam Martin, they say it may be like Bourne, kind of confusing. Since I am not familiar with the novels I don't know who I would want to play the character. How about the Brozzer.

)

Barbel · August 2009

It's a pity that Clint Eastwood's not 40 years old anymore....

Loeffelholz · August 2009

I highly recommend the novels to anyone who hasn't read them; they'll go a long way toward suppressing memories of Deano. I actually like those films for what they are---pure camp, like James Coburn's Derek Flint pictures; overt capitalizing on the Bond-inspired spy craze of that era.

Sounds like the new Matt Helm picture, given its fresh rewrite, is ready to roll into pre-production...except for the question of who directs. Once a project gets to this stage, they generally want to keep it moving, since every day it stays in the pipeline is money being spent on nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if Paramount goes with someone other than Spielberg, to save cash on the back end...but then again, Spielberg puts butts into seats, and he knows a thing or two about how to shoot a good film...

Matt Helm---in the books, if that means anything

---was lean, rangy and tall, a tough and dangerous hombre who called Santa Fe, New Mexico home. In Death of a Citizen, he's at a cocktail party in the early Sixties, when he spots a woman across the room: a woman with whom he made love in a ditch in occupied France during World War Two, during his OSS days B-) Her reappearance in his life tips the first of a series of dominos...which ultimately brings him out of retirement. Now, I'm far too jaded* to expect them to adhere much to the books (

), but I hope the spirit and intent of Hamilton's character will survive the transition to the Big Screen better than he did in the mid-Sixties...wouldn't take much...

I hope they don't just cast some young buck for this part. I'd like to see someone in their late thirties (at the youngest!), or preferably early forties---a dark-haired Lee Marvin type.

EDIT: That's it, Barbel...Eastwood would have been perfect B-)

*_{Only RogueAgent will get my double entendre...}

Hardyboy · August 2009

I'm fine with this. . .so long as Spielberg and whoever plays Helm don't prattle on about how "dated" Bond is, how Helm is the future of spy cinema, etc., etc. . . .

Loeffelholz · August 2009

Spielberg's always professed respect for the Bond films, and might have made one if Eon were more liberal with the back end*, so I'd sure like to think he wouldn't pull a Greengrass. If he does, in fact, do Helm**, I guess we'll see...press junkets produce all kinds of unscripted fun...

*_{My gift to Napoleon Plural...}

**_{My sense of charity knows no limits...}

)

blueman · August 2009

Spielberg doing Helm could work just fine, his period work - especially Catch Me If You Can, as it would seem to apply here - is always very good. Sounds like he'll only produce, not direct...?

Rick Roberts · August 2009

Hardyboy wrote:

I'm fine with this. . .so long as Spielberg and whoever plays Helm don't prattle on about how "dated" Bond is, how Helm is the future of spy cinema, etc., etc. . . .

I know. Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass were such douchenozzles. X-(

Anyway, once Loeffelholz mentioned Deano I remembered Matt Helm.

blueman wrote:

Spielberg doing Helm could work just fine, his period work - especially Catch Me If You Can, as it would seem to apply here - is always very good. Sounds like he'll only produce, not direct...?

As long as he does better then Kingdom of The Crystal Skull.

Higgins · August 2009

does better than

7289 · August 2009

Spielberg hasn't delivered much in the action genre since the third Indiana Jones. IMO he has been uninspired and overblown. The last of the Jones flicks was a real waste of time.

In the same manner Spielberg FAILED to take advantage by staging "War of the Worlds" in the early part of the last century, he would no doubt fail again to take advantage of the Matt Helm series by updating it to modern times, thus losing all the potiential charm of a film set in the early 1960's.

For my money someone like Martin Campbell would be a better bet, his track record is good, with a decent script he can produce a fine film.

As to who could play Helm, someone like Jason Statham - who has a decernable amout of testostrone - would be a good choice.

Rick Roberts · August 2009

7289 wrote:

As to who could play Helm, someone like Jason Statham - who has a decernable amout of testostrone - would be a good choice.

Statham ? Oh god you can do a hell of alot better then him. All he does is bloated, mindless action movies. We need an actual actor for the helm films. I think Edward Norton is a good choice.

Also I do agree Martin Campbell would be a great choice. Given a good script, he adds flavor to his film.

Thunderpussy · August 2009

I take it also that if spielberg takes on the M Helm project and gives it a sixties twist,big sets and action sequences then as always the Bond producers will jump on this new band wagon and drop the Bourne clone and copy the New Helm movies instead.so stand by for Moonraker2.

darenhat · August 2009

This sounds like great news! I think Spielberg could really pull this off. And I don't think setting it in the present is a bad idea. While a couple of Cold-War era films would be fun, I think it would become tiresome if the series were to become a franchise. The novels weren't written to be 'period' pieces, and I think making the films that way would be more of a distraction for the overall film.

I'm only guessing, but I think Spielberg is really looking for something to hang is hat on...maybe a direct a couple of films then hand it over to someone else like Jurassic Park. Regardless of whether you cared for Indy IV, the franchise as a film series is on it's last legs due to Harrison Ford's age.

Rick Roberts · August 2009

darenhat wrote:

Regardless of whether you cared for Indy IV, the franchise as a film series is on it's last legs due to Harrison Ford's age.

The Indiana Jones series was orginally commissioned for five films so Indy V is going to be the last one.

Loeffelholz · August 2009

My only problem with Jason Statham would be a totally believable American accent; The Bank Job convinced me that he's got the chops for more than just pure actioners. And I'm a big fan of Ed Norton, but we need someone a bit more 'Alpha Male' if they're going to do justice to the literary character.

Scott Glenn, in his prime, would have been a good candidate, like Eastwood. This is somebody who needs to look credible wearing jeans, in a dusty pickup truck with a shotgun hanging in the back window. Viggo Mortensen could do it, if they hurry, but he's a bit small...

It's a puzzler.

Hardyboy · August 2009

Loeffelholz wrote:

Viggo Mortensen could do it, if they hurry, but he's a bit small...

What's the steam bath scene from Eastern Promises have to do with this? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Anyway, I read today that Spielberg is about to take on a remake of Harvey (ten bucks says it'll star Tom Hanks), so he'll likely only produce Matt Helm or make it a "back burner" project.

Loeffelholz · August 2009

Hardyboy wrote:

What's the steam bath scene from Eastern Promises have to do with this? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

You ought to be ashamed of yourself

) Great flick, BTW...

Hardyboy wrote:

Anyway, I read today that Spielberg is about to take on a remake of Harvey (ten bucks says it'll star Tom Hanks), so he'll likely only produce Matt Helm or make it a "back burner" project.

I'd never take that Hanks bet...he's a shoe-in...but I hate it when they remake classics... X-(

If that's the way it's going to go, better to hire somebody who really wants to do Matt Helm than let it languish in development hell

Rick Roberts · August 2009

Loeffelholz wrote:

My only problem with Jason Statham would be a totally believable American accent; The Bank Job convinced me that he's got the chops for more than just pure actioners. And I'm a big fan of Ed Norton, but we need someone a bit more 'Alpha Male' if they're going to do justice to the literary character.

Scott Glenn, in his prime, would have been a good candidate, like Eastwood. This is somebody who needs to look credible wearing jeans, in a dusty pickup truck with a shotgun hanging in the back window. Viggo Mortensen could do it, if they hurry, but he's a bit small...

It's a puzzler.

Saw Statham in Bank Job, was not impressed personally. Mortensen is a better idea but IDK, I just never cared for him movies. With a good script though, it's possibilty.

In general like I said in Cavill forum, there are not many manly man actors in films these days.

7289 · August 2009

It occurs to me that if Speilberg went ahead with the "Helm" project he might hire Tom Hanks for the lead!

While Hanks' testorone levels are not quite up to the task, he has had his hairline lowered lately, and his American accent is quite acceptable. Prehaps Statham would be a better choice for the "Harvey" remake?

Thunderpussy · August 2009

With all the talk on other threads about a black Bond mabey Will Smith would be a good choice for Helm.

darenhat · August 2009

I would hope for a relatively unknown to take the role...someone not burdened with too many preconceptions and can make the role his own. However, I must bow to the fact that outside of some hardcore spy enthusiasts and Dean Martin fans, I'm not sure the primary movie audiences will know who Matt Helm is.

One good thing...such a deal might herald a re-release of Hamilton's novels!

7289 · August 2009

Thunderpussy wrote:

With all the talk on other threads about a black Bond mabey Will Smith would be a good choice for Helm.

Probably the best prediction to date!!!!

Loeffelholz · August 2009

No thanks; I'm a Will Smith fan, but I still haven't been able to forgive Wild Wild West X-(

I'd support him for Alexander Mundy, though, if they actually get around to shooting It Takes A Thief B-)

The advantage of playing Helm as he actually appeared in the books is that nobody's really seen an action hero quite like that on film for quite a while...it would be the same if someone magically acquired the rights to John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series B-)

7289 · August 2009

Loeffelholz wrote:

"The advantage of playing Helm as he actually appeared in the books..." B-)

"You must give me the name of your occulist" Helm cast from a reading of the novels!!!!

) That's like hoping for a Bond script based on a novel ... it's just not Hollywood!!!

Maybe not Will Smith, Angelina Joile .... as Moira Helm!!!!!

Loeffelholz · August 2009

7289 wrote:

Helm cast from a reading of the novels!!!! ) That's like hoping for a Bond script based on a novel ... it's just not Hollywood!!!

Never say never B-) Sometimes Hollywood swerves into the right thing by accident...

Rick Roberts · August 2009

"Hollywood" is a collection of former lawyers and soccer moms who once in a while allow good ideas but then they want lesser imitations after said idea succeeds. In the golden age it was the exact opposite. They were heartless cigar chomping business men but they knew a good film when they saw it because they had some previous experience in the entertainment industry. They also did imitations of a successful idea but they thought "how could we be unique ?".

Sorry for the rant but I just hate the way they treat the animation industry, it's worse then live action films.

7289 · August 2009

Loeffelholz wrote:

7289 wrote:

Helm cast from a reading of the novels!!!! ) That's like hoping for a Bond script based on a novel ... it's just not Hollywood!!!

Never say never B-) Sometimes Hollywood swerves into the right thing by accident...

For a Bond/Helm film based on a novel, there would have to be a train wreak of major proportions ... Instead I'll keep watching those Sunday morning religious shows about the coming apocalypse!

Loeffelholz · August 2009

I think Helm stands a better chance of it than Bond at this point...which is to say, probably not much chance at all

Barbel · August 2009

Loeffelholz wrote:

... if someone magically acquired the rights to John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series B-)

Now that would be interesting- Bruce Willis...? (with Michael Clarke Duncan as Meyer?)

Matt Helm Will Return

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