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 Yu-Rang, 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 minihelicopter. 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.
The film featured a number of wrestlers, boxers, and karate experts in small or uncredited roles, including Wilhelm von Homburg, Pepper Martin, Joe Gray, Joe Lewis, Ed Parker and - in his first screen role - Chuck Norris. Bruce Lee does not appear in the film, but receives a production credit as "Karate advisor" for the fight scenes. The Wrecking Crew was Tate's last film released before her death in August 1969.
Production
The film is the first in the series to not be written or co-written by regular screenwriter Herbert Baker, who was working on Irving Allen's more serious spy film Hammerhead. The screenplay was written by former police reporter and crime novel author William P. McGivern. Helm's chief at ICE, MacDonald, is played by John Larch in this film, replacing James Gregory, who played the role in the other three films. Gregory said in an interview in Filmfax magazine that he was sent a reduced amount for his fee in the film. He was told that the film was reducing its budget, and Gregory refused to take the lower fee. The Wrecking Crew is the only film in the series not to feature Helm's secretary, Lovey Kravesit, played by Beverly Adams, who was also appearing in Hammerhead. Principal photography took place in California, with locations including Palm Springs, Idyllwild, and the Walt Disney Ranch.
Critical response to this film varied, with some calling it the worst of the series. It mostly features Helm playing up to glamorous women, and the storyline is merely the bits that join those many encounters. Also some acting was poor, and the film had many minor mistakes in it which should have been edited out, as well as so-so special effects. Others called it the best, due to its reduced reliance on outlandish gadgets and story lines. It is also notable for the appearance of Tate and martial arts scenes choreographed by Lee.
Legacy
The film ends with the announcement of a fifth Matt Helm film, The Ravagers. 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 is shown enjoying the film at the Fox Bruin Theater.
