Der tolle Mr. Flim-Flam

Happened to be channel-surfing today and, how amazing!, came in on an early scene of this film (instead of one of the endless stream of advertisements and promo clips that pad their broadcasts) on American Movie Classics. Not letterboxed, of course (and WHY NOT?!!?, may I ask), so that director Irvin Kershner's Panavision framing was not part of the pleasure of viewing this pell-mell tale, scripted by the gifted William Rose. I don't know why I avoided catching this during its initial theatrical release, possibly because the trailers were somehow drab-looking (a fault of the cheap film stock commonly used at the time to advertise films shot in DeLuxe Color) and too frantic, the latter easily achieved when there's so much amazingly choreographed action for an editor to choose from.

Anyway, the cast, topped by George C. Scott, clearly enjoying himself in a bravura performance, includes Harry Morgan, Albert Salmi, Alice Ghostley, Slim Pickens...wow! What a roster!...and the lovely Sue Lyon (who, in one carefully lit shot looked like the ideal choice to play Joanne Woodward's younger sister in a movie one could imagine but that never got made before Ms. Lyon's retirement to, one hopes, a very happy marriage.) Michael Sarrazin acquits himself quite well, despite the formidable presence of Mr. Scott in full thespic throttle, and Jerry Goldsmith's music underscores the proceedings quite skillfully, including his use of a harmonica (which I usually find somewhat off-putting.) My only complaint, as an enthusiast for Detroit products of the past, is the merciless destruction of that bright red Plymouth convertible as it careens through a town left devastated in its wake. That particular sequence packed more eye-popping excitement than all of the more recent destruction derbies in the many so-called action movies in the decades since.

Anyone who has seen George.C.Scott in his most widely recognized role as PATTON(1970) should take a look at his wonderful performance in THE FLIM FLAN MAN(1967). It's like looking at two absolutely different actors. I have always admired the actors and actress' who completely disappear into their parts (Alec Guiness, Kate Blanchet, Tom Hanks, to name a few) You forget for a few hours that you are watching an actor, and that makes the characters they play stand out all the more. In this film, Scott plays Mordecai Jones, a legendary con-man who takes up with a young soldier awol from the army. The two stike a chord immediately, and start working together to make a quick buck. Things start to get interesting when the young soldier proves to be a little bit too honset for the Flim Flan Man. The locales, supporting cast, and a top notch car chase make this film top notch entertainment, but it is Scott who steals the picture (as he has done so many times i.e DR STRANGELOVE, THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS) as the wiley and charming Flim Flan Man. Grab a copy of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, and make it a evening. You won't be disappointed you did.

An aging con artist teams up with an Army deserter to begin fleecing the locals of their hard earned cash. The flim flam man knows all the cons and he and his sidekick run several smooth operations; doing well until they have a run-in with the local constable. Their problems are a direct result of something that the older con man no longer believes in, but is still alive and well in the human heart. Good comedy even though it is dated.

George C. Scott pulls out the player's whole bag of tricks to play the title role in The Flim Flam Man. This film is one rollicking good time from beginning to end as Scott is always thinking and fast on his feet even when in the clutches of the law.

When we first meet Scott he's at a rural general store showing the locals the fine art of three card monte. At that time he picks up young Michael Sarrazin who Scott takes under his wing, teaches him the tricks of the trade. But Sarrazin is a liability as he's an army deserter. That means he'll have military police forever on his trail.

Sarrazin also gets some romantic notions about the farmer's daughter, in this case Sue Lyon. She wants him to settle down.

The film is one laugh riot from beginning to end. In the supporting cast I have to single out Harry Morgan as the Wile E. Coyote type sheriff and Slim Pickens who gets taken good by his own greed.

My own advice to Sarrazin is turn yourself in and do your time in military prison before you embark on being a conman. Don't need those guys forever on your case. Or get into Canada and do your thing there.

The Flim Flam Man most definitely is George C. Scott's best role in one of his few attempts at comedy.

Wanted to point out that the 1967 20th Century Fox film The Film Flam Man starring George C Scott and Michael Sarrazin has never see digital media. No laser discs were ever made, and now in its 14th year, no DVD either. This wonderful panavision comedy, and cast along with an excellent soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith is just crying out to be made in 5.1 surround and 2:35.1 widescreen. All prints on TV are purple in texture, and the VHS, though as good as we can get now, is full screen. I have heard rumors that AMC has run this film in widescreen. But AMC doesn't reach all the populace in every region on cable TV. I have written many letters on different forums and also to Fox themselves, but never a peep from the studio when a DVD may be in the works. Can others help me and others like me, to get this gem on video in proper form??