El super agente Picapiedra

The 1994 big screen version of "The Flintstones" was undeniably atrocious, so if you want a decent "Flintstones" movie, then "The Man Called Flintstone" works (if only marginally). The plot has secret agent Rock Slang, who just happens to be Fred Flinstone's doppelganger, getting injured and replaced with Fred. This not only complicates Fred's vacation plans, but makes him the target of spies Ali and Bobo (fortunately for Fred, these guys are beyond incompetent). In the end, Fred's big mission is to stop master criminal Green Goose from destroying the world.

Okay, so this movie won't challenge your mind or anything (and I guess that it does go overboard at times), but at least it's not a travesty of the show (I can't say the same for the 1994 movie). This one passes.

There is so much padding here that the movie seems to last three hours instead of one and a half. The plot parts are fine, with some good gags and an okay spy spoof story, but the songs are just interminable. The kids one has cute animation but serves no purpose to the plot and slows the movie to a crawl. If they'd cut out all the songs, you'd have a decent movie here, but with them it's just bleh.

I first remember seeing "The Man Called Flintstone" in 1968 when the elementary school I attended in Warren, Michigan obtained a 16mm print of the film and ran it as an "after-school" movie, complete with popcorn and soft drinks. (My folks never had the time to take my younger sister and I to see it at the theater, but then, in 1966 I was only 4 years old.) Cartoon Network's Boomerang channel ran it a couple of months ago, and it was certainly a treat to see "The Man Called Flintstone" again after so long.

I do agree, the movie's opening with Wilma as the Columbia Pictures torch lady was a riot; her torch exploded into the opening credits. Sadly, current television prints have deleted this opening, since Hanna-Barbera first became part of the Turner Entertainment empire in 1992 and is now a part of the Time Warner empire; Warner Bros. Television now syndicates this film (Sony Pictures Television ceased television syndication of "The Man Called Flintstone" in the mid-1980s). I highly doubt that opening will ever be restored, even if the movie ever appears on DVD.

And I never knew that was Henry Corden, the future voice of Fred Flintstone, singing the duet with Mel Blanc as Barney. I recently discovered (according to a Goldmine record collectors' guide) there was a soundtrack album of "The Man Called Flintstone" - on HBR Records (Hanna-Barbera's record label), naturally - but it is very hard to find. If and when I ever do locate a copy, though, it'll certainly have a place in my record library (I recently found a copy of the soundtrack album of "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear," Hanna-Barbera's first movie musical, and that album is even harder to locate)! Notice to collectors: extant copies of the soundtrack of "The Man Called Flintstone" command $50 and up, depending on the condition of the vinyl (good luck locating it).

I can also hope Warner Home Video will strongly consider putting "The Man Called Flintstone" on DVD soon!

THE MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE was the first-ever animated theatrical feature based on the highly-successful television series THE FLINTSTONES which ended its run in 1966 after six seasons and an astounding 166 episodes when it aired on ABC-TV. The theatrical version came out five months after the television series ended. Today it is rarely seen in some markets,but it was a great follow-up to this TV show. In this version,Peebles and Bamm-Bamm along with Dino are not in this one. This version focuses on Fred Flintstone his wife Wilma,and their neighbors The Rubbles(Barney and Betty). In this version(which in the opening credits of the picture features Wilma Flintstone portraying the Columbia Pictures model is a riot)Fred Flintstone is mistaken for a American secret agent Rock Slag,who was wounded while chasing after international espionage spy Green Goose and his girlfriend,Tanya.

Fred is asked to take Rock's place and fly to Rome(along with Barney and Betty and his wife Wilma of course,leaving the children behind with the babysitter along with the pet dinosaur Dino)to help corral and captured Green Goose once and for all. The whole thing turns out to be a trap for Fred and the real Rock Slag,who comes fully recovered to comes to Fred's rescue and saves the day.

The theatrical version THE MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE,released by Columbia Pictures was released in theatres on August 3, 1966 and produced and directed by William Hanna and Joesph Barbera,who also served as executive producers with the script written by R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock(based on a story by Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen with additional story material by William Hanna,Joesph Barbera along with Warren Foster and Alex Lovy) and for this theatrical version,which is by the way was animated of course featured the voices of Alan Reed, Jean Vander Pyl, along with Mel Blanc and Gerry Johnson with additional voices by June Foray,Paul Frees,Janet Waldo,and Don Messick(in fact Janet Waldo,who was also the voice of Judy Jetson and Don Messick were regular voice-over stockplayers for a lot of animated shows and cartoons for Hanna-Barbera). With a Running Time of 87 minutes,it was shown as part of a kiddie matinée feature for Columbia Pictures. However,Columbia Pictures re-released this feature again in the 1970's and during the early 1980's as part of its family matinée series that was to be shown theatrically. After this,it was rarely shown on television in certain markets.

I grew up watching the re-runs of the original Flintstones and tried to avoid the new Flintstone shows. Some of these new shows had the kids all grown up and many of the original voices were not used or not available. However, the original show, especially before the Great Gazoo(sp) was bought into the series, were great. The only real follow up to the original show that was any good was The Man Called Flintstone.

This movie had most of the original voices, except for Betty, and has a good story line. Fred fills in as a substitute for an injured spy and takes on James Bond type missions.

I found this film held my attention and when I watch it now it brings back the good memories from when I was a kid. I hope the DVD is released soon.