Our Man Flint (1966)
America's greatest secret agent faces a race against time to save the world.
Starring: James Coburn, Lee J Cobb, Gila Golan, Edward Mulhare
Director: Daniel Mann
Running Time: 105 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: PG
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
On DVD James Coburn stars as Derek Flint in this spoof of the 'James Bond' spy genre. On this occasion, three scientists have taken control of the world's weather and are holding the military at bay while causing earthquakes, volcanoes and floods. They demand that all governments give up their nuclear weapons leaving the scientists to govern a utopian world. Many of the world's intelligence agencies send in their men, but the agents are being killed off at an alarming rate - something more is needed.
All the leaders of the intelligence agencies gather together to select an agent to represent them. They input into a computer the qualities that each of them believes an agent would need in order to take on this challenge. The computer has only one name for them - Derek Flint - a capable but unpredictable American super-agent. Flint is extremely wealthy, has an endless supply of spy gadgets, is good at everything from fencing to ballet, and is constantly surrounded by a harem of pretty girls. Flint sets out to try to infiltrate the enemy, while at the same time avoiding their assassination attempts.
Camp and colourful, 'Our Man Flint' is clearly a product of the 1960s, and although it has dated it hasn't done so badly. A spoof of the 'James Bond' and 'Man From UNCLE' genre, it was later taken off in turn by the 'Austin Powers' films. The plot is wonderfully silly, with Coburn clearly having fun making a fool of himself. Cheerfully politically incorrect, the film nonetheless remains current in the way it seems to send up even the 1960s view of women - they are much more liberated here than in any Bond film of the period. Hardly great art, 'Our Man Flint' is nonetheless jolly good fun and straightforward entertainment.
DVD Extras: In the UK, 'Our Man Flint' is currently only available on DVD as part of a double-disc set with 'In Like Flint'.
Extras: Theatrical trailer.
It's Got: Plenty of digs at more 'serious' secret agent films.
It Needs: Not to be taken too seriously.
Alternatives: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Casino Royale, The Man from UNCLE: The Spy with My Face.
Summary: Trashy and implausible but fun spy story that remains a great way to waste a couple of hours.
Review by Andrea Chee
Review Date: 23rd June 2003
External Links
Our Man Flint at the IMDB
