Saturday, September 10, 2011

Our Man Flint (1966)




Director: Daniel Mann

Starring: James Coburn, Lee J. Cobb, Gila Golan, Edward Mulhare, Benson Fong

More info: IMDb

Tagline: "Our Man Flint" makes love in 47 languages! He's a karate champion, brain surgeon, swordsman and nuclear physicist...He's the top Master Spy of all time, with his cigarette lighter containing 82 death-dealing devices, his 2 man-eating dogs, his 4 luscious playmates and his love nest--built--for-5......

Plot: When the intelligence agencies of the world find that their agents are being murdered at an alarming rate their leaders all write out the qualities an agent will need to succeed against the terrible crisis they are facing. Derick Flint is the only agent with all the qualities, but his old boss refuses to work with him until ordered to by the president. Flint is the worlds greatest secret agent, worlds greatest lover, an expert on electronics and Dolphin speech and goes to Moscow for Ballet (To Teach!) When attempts on his life are made, Flint begins to search out the mad scientists who want to remake the world after taking over with the aid of their earthquake machine.



My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Hells, yeah!

#285 on Drive-In Delirium Volume 1 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)

The two Flint pictures James Coburn made in the mid 60s are, as far as I've seen, the best of the Bond spoofs. They take the great 60s mod look and ramp it up as well as take Bond's seemingly expertise at everything. Derek Flint is THE MAN! And no one can pull it off like Coburn. Damn, he's hilarious. That grin slays me every time.


And, boy, oh boy can that man dance!




This movie's all kinds of fun and for good reason. Besides Coburn, you've got Lee J. Cobb. He's another one that can do no wrong in my book. It's been a gazillion years since I saw it but he was great in THAT LUCKY TOUCH (1975) with Roger Moore and Susannah York.



Outside of the Bond films, Jerry Goldsmith's music for both of the Flint pictures is some of the absolute best the genre had to offer. It's fun, effective and infectiously catchy!




The only thing that hurts the film is the final third. It drags a little. Other than that it's a hoot. If the only spy spoof you've ever seen are the Austin Powers movies, you owe it to yourself to see where Myers got some of his ideas from. Both Flint movies are worth checking out if you're so inclined.






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