Murderers' Row

Murderers' Row Theatrical release poster Country USA Directed by Henry Levin Release Date 1966 Language English Studio Columbia Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Matt Helm Dean Martin Suzie Ann-Margret Julian Wall Karl Malden Coco Duquette Camilla Sparv MacDonald James Gregory Dr. Norman Solaris Richard Eastham "Ironhead" Tom Reese

Murderers' Row is a 1966 spy comedy directed by Henry Levin. It's the second of four films about the adventures of "super spy" Matt Helm, preceded by The Silencers (1966) and followed by The Ambushers (1967) and The Wrecking Crew (1969). All films are very loosely based on the novels by Donald Hamilton; while the original novels are written in serious key, the films tend to be parodies on James Bond genre.

The plot of the film revolves around the attempt of Bureau of International Government and Order ("BIG O"), usual "bad guys" of Matt Helm series, to create a heliobeam weapon of mass destruction. So they kidnapped Dr. Solaris whom Mutt Helm must find before BIG O will use the weapon to destroy Washington, D.C.

The following weapons were used in the film Murderers' Row:

Handguns

Hy Hunter Bolomauser

Matt Helm's (Dean Martin) main weapon and a valuable plot item is a "ten-second delay gun" that appears to be a Hy Hunter Bolomauser, a pistol version of Armalite AR-7 that was manufactured in 1960s. The pistol several times passes from Matt to other characters and back again.

Charter Arms Explorer II - .22 LR. Though this version of AR-7 appeared after 1973, it looks very similar to early Hy Hunter Bolomauser.

Disassembled pistol in box.

Matt Helm holds his pistol.

"Ironhead" (Tom Reese), Wall's killer, holds Helm's pistol.

A perfect view of the pistol.

Helm and Julian Wall (Karl Malden) struggle for the pistol in the climactic scene.

Wall with the pistol.

MBA Gyrojet Short Barrelled Mark 1 Model B

An BA Gyrojet Short Barrelled Mark 1 Model B pistol is used by Julian Wall (Karl Malden) in one scene. It is fitted with a spear that appears to be taken from the related Gyrojet Lancejet underwater pistol. Despite working on a similar principle, it is not possible to fire these darts from a normal Gyrojet due to the fact that the hammer needs to be able to strike the front of the round to push it back against a fixed firing pin, a physical impossibility with a dart that protrudes through the full length of the firing chamber and barrel.

Gyrojet Mark 1 Model B with short barrel - 13mm

A close view of the pistol, loaded with dart. Note the length of the barrel and position of the front sight which differentiates it from the standard variant, as well as the slightly shorter and more common snub nosed variant. Also, it can be seen that the hammer (the lever located on the left side of the frame directly above the trigger) is not cocked meaning that the gun is incapable of firing.

Wall reloads his gun.

The muzzle can be seen.

"Freezer Pistol"

In one scene Coco Duquette (Camilla Sparv) is seen with a "Freezer Pistol" that produces a spray, capable of turning a man into a snowman. Later this pistol is used by Matt Helm (Dean Martin). The gun resembles a Baby Browning though it could be simply a water pistol.

Factory Nickel Baby Browning with Browning Factory Engraving, Pearl Grips and Gold Trigger - .25 ACP

Coco Duquette with her pistol.

Another view.

Helm finds Coco's pistol.

He examines the gun.

"Freezer pistol" in work. Here it looks slightly different so a real gun can be substituted with a mockup in this scene.

Walther PP

In the scene of the brawl in discotheque a plainclothed French police detective is armed with a pistol that appears to be a Walther PP.

Post war Walther PP Pistol - .32 ACP

The detective aims his pistol at Matt Helm.

Unidentified handguns

In several scenes various characters are seem with handguns that aren't identified.

French policeman fires at Helm's car during the chase.

Julian Wall (Karl Malden) is armed with a revolver in one scene.

One of Wall's henchmen holds a revolver during the car chase.

Guards at the right carry revolvers in holsters.

Submachine Guns

Thompson

In the ending one of the girls in Matt Helm's apartments holds a "Tommy Gun" that looks similar to M1921A version.

Colt M1921A Thompson with 20-round magazine - .45 ACP

Rifles

M1 Carbine

The guards in Wall's headquarters carry M1 Carbines, fitted with heat shields, pistol grips, underfolding stocks and M9 flash hiders. In one scene Matt Helm (Dean Martin) fires a captured carbine that produces the sound of full-auto fire (like M2 Carbine) but the holes from the bullets appear with the speed of semi-auto shooting.

Post-war M1 Carbine with 30 round magazine and metal barrel shroud - .30 Carbine

M1 Carbine in Universal folding stock - .30 Carbine

A guard escorts Matt Helm.

Unfolded stock is seen.

A good view of a carbine.

Matt Helm fires a captured gun.

Other Weapons

Volley Pistol

A six- (or seven?) barreled pistol is used by Julian Wall (Karl Malden) during the chase on hovercrafts. Though various sources claim it to be a Pepperbox version of Gyroject, it's most likely a non-functional movie prop (see Discussion page for detailed arguments).

Wall takes the pistol.

He aims...

...and fires!

Very angry Wall holds a discharged pistol.

Julian Wall's Armory

In one scene Julian Wall's (Karl Malden) is seen. It contains six bolt action rifles with sniper scopes (supposedly Winchester 70s), two M1 Carbines with folding stocks, three revolvers (unidentified), a pistol (bears resemblance with Remington Model 51 but the grip looks more slim), Webley No. 1 Mark 1 flare gun and MBA Gyrojet pistol. Except Gyrojet, other guns aren't used in action.

Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 - .30-06

M1 Carbine in Universal folding stock - .30 Carbine

Webley No. 1 Mark 1 Flare Gun - 37mm

Gyrojet Mark 1 Model B with short barrel - 13mm