31/03/2012: Our Man Flint [1966]

Like a long lost Bond film, Our Man Flint gives us Derek Flint, the original man of mystery. Our Man Flint is the American counterpart of James Bond, and among the first to parody his style. Flint however does it quite well, and make for one hell of a secret agent.






Although I have yet to review any James Bond movies yet, I will say that I am a huge Bond fan, and have seen almost every movie about three times. So when I happened across In Like Flint on Netflix I looked it up. I discovered Our Man Flint was actually the first so I decided to start there and I can say, it is almost like watching a classic Bond film. Our Man Flint, is almost a homage to the classics, but coming out in 1966,with only 4 Bond movies out it was a little early for an homage.

Our Man Flint is a Bond movie without the budget. It features, a highly skilled, ladies man special agent, as he takes on a group of scientists who plan to control the weather and take over the world. It has all of the important James Bond elements:

• Gadgets
• Girls
• Smokey strip-club meetings
• Double-agents
• Secret lair with a secret army
• Evil villians
• A submarine
• Hand to hand fighting
• Suits
• And evil henchmen

Where James Bond only tango's with at most 2 women, Derek Flint has 5 live-in girlfriends.

 As you can see from the above screenshot however, Our Man Flint has no problem going over the top and making things humorous, which is why it can be considered a parody of Bond. Where Bond powers of seduction lies in the Bond girl of the movie, and occasionally the evil villainess, Flint has four girlfriend and has no problem also seducing the villainess as well. Flint's mockery of Bond is even more obvious when it comes to his gadgets. When offered a Walther PPK and a briefcase with a concealed knife, Flint calls Bond's typical weapons crude. Instead Flint ops for simply his lighter, which features 82 functions, 83 if you want to light a cigar.

Flint is a man of many talents, and is not lacking in the department of party tricks.

It is also clear however, that Our Man Flint is the inspiration for the later parodies of Austin Powers. Most notably is the telephone ring, which many may recognize from Powers' movie actually originated from hear. Our Man Flint's plot also leans a little more towards Austin Powers when it comes to controlling the weather, mind control and the like, but is still not far from anything Bond every came up against.

The cast in Our Man Flint is no one I recognize, but then again 60's actors are not my forte. They give some decent performances however. James Coburn, who plays Flint is the only recognizable, acting in 174 movies from The Great Escape to voice acting in Monsters Inc. It is his performance and skill that makes the character, Flint, and without him the movie would have been easily dismissible.

No that is not an opium pipe, apparently as a pastime from being a secret agent he is a diamond appraiser.

Overall, Our Man Flint is a movie that feels just like the old Bond movies, and with Bond being played by so many actors, Flint almost fits right in. If you enjoyed Bond in the Sean Connery days Our Man Flint should please you. I will be checking out In Like Flint, although I read it wasn't as great.

Link:
Our Man Flint IMDB