Matt Helm 1975-1976

The title character was played by Anthony Franciosa.

The series was loosely based upon the literary character Matt Helm, who had been created and introduced by Donald Hamilton in his 1960 novel, Death of a Citizen; he had also been played by Dean Martin in a series of spy comedy films in the late 1960s. This series resembled neither the books—in which Helm was a terse assassin for a secret government agency—nor the films in which Helm was a womanizing, wisecracking secret agent.

The concept of the series sees Matt Helm, a retired spy, opening a private detective business. Thus, most of the plot lines were standard detective stories of the day, such as one episode in which Helm investigates the disappearance of a race horse. Laraine Stephens co-starred as Claire Kronski, Helm's assistant.

A pilot TV movie aired on May 7, 1975 and was popular enough for ABC to commission a series, which debuted on September 20 of the same year. Ratings were not strong enough for the series to continue past its initial 13 episodes, and the final episode aired on January 3, 1976.

Many notable guest stars appeared on the series during its short run, including Lynda Carter, who appeared in the penultimate episode, "Panic", playing a singer. Her appearance coincided with her rise to fame as Wonder Woman.


Set Contains All Episodes and Pilot.



Episodes

0 "Matt Helm" TV-movie pilot: A former secret agent, now a private investigator, is hired to protect a beautiful film star and gets involved with black marketeers and gun runners.


1 "Dead Men Talk" 
Helm sets out to find an air freight company executive who disappeared after deciding to terminate his involvement with a drug-smuggling ring.


2 "Now I Lay Me Down to Die" 
Helm is hired by a charming socialite with a dual personality to investigate a murder that she may have been committed while acting as her other self.


3 "Scavenger's Paradise" 
After the lawyer who was helping her find her natural parents is murdered, an adopted woman turns to Helm for help.


4 "The Game of the Century"
Helm investigates the death of a tycoon who was going to be a player in the highest-stakes poker game of all time.


5 "Murder on Ice"
Helm agrees to help an old friend find his business partners, unaware that they had been involved in diamond smuggling.


6 "Squeeze Play" 
An old associate of Helm's becomes a hit man's target for no apparent reason.


7 "Deadly Breed" 
Helm investigates the kidnapping of a prized stud horse and the murders of the three men who had been watching the horse.


8 "Death Rods" 
Helm discovers a seriously wounded woman on the beach, only to find her gone when he returns with help.


9 "Double Jeopardy" 
After clearing a businessman of murder charges, Helm discovers some new evidence that points to the man's guilt.


10 "Think Murder"
Matt investigates the death of a research scientist who was found frozen to death after an apparent skiing accident.


11 "Murder on the Run"
While searching for a woman who was involved with a $250,000 robbery, Helm finds himself being trailed by her cohorts who are hoping he will lead them to the loot.


12 "Panic"
Record pirates murder a detective friend of Helm's who had been hired to investigate possible piracy by a suspicious musician.


13 "Die Once, Die Twice" 
With Helm out of the country, Kronski must work alone to uncover evidence to prove that her client did not murder her husband. 

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