A swinging spy spoof where only women can fly the government’s top-secret saucer.
THE AMBUSHERS
Matt Helm rides again! ... with the Ambushers on his back, and some fun on the side!
A U.S. government built flying saucer is launched into space on a top secret test flight, but is brought down by exiled ruler of an outlaw nation who uses a remote control device to cause the ship to land at his secret base in Mexico. Agent Matt Helm is assigned to find the saucer and has to contend with an enemy agent and an Arab assassin.
Quick Answer
The Ambushers is a 1967 American action-comedy-science fiction film directed by Henry Levin about secret agent Matt Helm investigating the disappearance of a government-built flying saucer that only women can pilot.
Programmer's Pick
Dean Martin slips into his turtleneck as Matt Helm in this campy cocktail of sci-fi and spy parody, where the gadgets are as cheeky as the innuendo. It’s the only film where your odds of surviving a flying saucer ride depend entirely on your chromosomes—and your willingness to pose as a photographer in Acapulco.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Henry Levin
- Writers
- Donald Hamilton, Herbert Baker
- Release
- 1967
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Action, Comedy, Science Fiction
Why This Matters
As the third entry in the Matt Helm series starring Dean Martin, this film continues the franchise's blend of spy parody and science fiction, drawing from multiple Donald Hamilton novels and incorporating elements like UFOs and Cold War intrigue.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The film’s experimental flying saucer can only be piloted by women, thanks to its lethal electromagnetic energy for men.
From camera guns to bra pistols and sparkler weapons, the movie revels in outlandish gadgetry straight out of a mod fever dream.
With mod fashions, Mexico-set escapades, and a playfully camp take on espionage, this is pure '60s pop cinema.
Dean Martin’s laid-back, wisecracking take on superspy Matt Helm anchors the film’s blend of action and spoof.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Experimental flying saucer stolen
Electromagnetic energy of flying saucer
Kills males who attempt to pilot it
ICE headquarters and Mexico
Questions from the Vault
Who directed The Ambushers? +
The Ambushers was directed by Henry Levin.
How long is The Ambushers? +
The Ambushers has a runtime of 102 minutes.
What genre is The Ambushers? +
The Ambushers is an action, comedy, and science fiction film.
Where can I watch The Ambushers? +
You can watch The Ambushers on SassyFlix.
Why can only women pilot the experimental flying saucer in The Ambushers? +
Because the saucer’s electromagnetic energy is fatal to men, only women are able to fly it safely.
