The Flim-Flam Man

George C. Scott was/is a fine actor, he never had to flim-flam in performance, not even in the title role on this one. Watching the dailies, as the Casting Director I knew for sure we had the right leading man. As himself George could not put up with the flim-flam & hype of showbiz. That led to his refusing the hyped & exploited presentation of the awards the industry gave him. He's a true Actor for eternity now.

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.

This film has long been one of my favorites, and I think it's just a crime that this wonderful movie is not on DVD yet! I mean come on, this movie was no small time production. It boasted a big name, George C. Scott, as well as a few other well-known supporting players such as Harry Morgan (Col. Potter on "M*A*S*H"), Strother Martin ("What we got here is failure to communicate" from "Cool Hand Luke"), Jack Albertson ("Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "Chico and the Man"), and Slim Pickens (who also appeared with Scott in "Dr. Stragelove").

The story is quite amusing and wonderfully crafted: A slick con man way up in his years takes a young army deserter under his wing to teach him the tricks of the confidence game. The young man-gone-AWOL at first is taken in by how easy it is to sucker people out of their belongings by having the right props and a perfectly rehearsed act. But he begins to have doubts about the illegal and dishonest ways of his aging con artist mentor and decides that a life on the run is just not for him.

All in all, the film is an incredible light-hearted comedy/adventure complimented by a great musical score by Jerry Goldsmith.

As for a DVD release, I wouldn't even complain if the disc had no special features on it (commentary tracks, theatrical trailer, etc.). Just a widescreen presentation for 16:9 televisions would be plenty enough for me. I hope when 20th Century Fox looks through their film vaults for potential DVD releases that they don't overlook this one!

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.

One of those movies that's fun to watch over and over. An all around excellent cast headed up George C. Scott as the traveling con-man . Support by Harry Morgan, Slim Pickens, Strother Martin, Jack Albertson, Michael Sarrazin, Sue Lyon. Woodrow Parfrey and Alice Ghostley make this comedy/light drama film a classic. The con games played on Martin, Pickens and Parfrey are truly great as well as the car and truck chases. You can't help but like this picture.