I liked the acting of Stella Stevens in the 1968 film, How to Save a Marriage (And Ruin Your Life), but not in the highly commercial 1966 spy adventure, The Silencers. (Dean Martin’ s acting doesn’t pass muster either.) But she is there, and there is actually much to comment on. Stevens has a sophisticated face which can look very vulnerable, and her voice when raised grabs your attention. She has a dandy figure, priceless hair and beautiful breasts. Moreover, she and the other actors look good in Moss Mabrey’s striking costumes. Also co-starring in the movie is Daliah Levi, histrionically dull but certifiably comely.
The Silencers presents Dino as a plebeian American James Bond. It was made at a time when every element of an entertainment film, not just the action scenes, was meant to entertain. Robust but also crass, the pic’s problem is not (covered) female hooters; it’s sexual hedonism.
