Notre homme Flint

I've been a fan of this movie ever since I was maybe eight years old. It's not a great movie in the sense that "Citizen Kane" is great, but I love the way my perceptions of it have changed over the years. When I was little, I saw it all as strict action-adventure, but as I got older, I got the jokes, too. It's like James Coburn and company know full well how ridiculous the whole thing is, but they're having fun, and they invite us to do the same.

Someone once called Derek Flint "a cross between James Bond and Hugh Hefner." He's a true Renaissance Man, and I still want to be like him when I grow up.

They don't make them like James Coburn any more; compared to the likes of him, modern Hollywood leading men seem like fairies suited to play nothing more than Tinkerbell in Peter Pan remakes.

Here, Coburn plays the plethoric, three-doses-of-everything Derek Flint. Four girlfriends (up to five at one point as we learn in the sequel), able to stop his heart, master of combat techniques, uses two wolfhounds and a GSD to greet guests and escort them in (dog lovers, note the GSD's silver colouration, a rare combo with black in the US -- and note that a black and tan GSD is used in the sequel), forensic science genius, private jet owner, philosopher... the list goes on.

This is a fun film with plenty of outright silly moments. No more or less silly than James Bond films or even The Saint, the difference being Connery and Moore's characters appear to take themselves and their work much more seriously than Coburn's Flint does -- and with good reason. His clothing, made of fibres not found in nature on this planet, is at least three sizes two small; his pantlegs are configured for an imminent flood; his hairstyle rivals that of any British Invasion band member; his attitude toward women is similar to that of Alexis Zorbas (special albeit frail creatures that must be respected and loved); his shrieks and cries during hand-to-hand combat make Bruce Lee sound like Caruso.

Recommended!

This was the America's answer to Bond, a super agent Derek Flint, and James Coburn plays his part with an outstanding flair. Flint is more scientific in his approach when attacking problems. He's also more lavish and colorful (he's into ballet and stuffs James Bond will never be engaged in). He has more girls, and he's a millionaire to boot ! What more can you expect from this super human hero ? American spirit of independence is also evident in that he's not an "agent" of any government agency, but an independent "consultant". The colors are brighter, and actions more wild. If James Bond was Aston Martin, Derek Flint is a drag racer. There's nothing this man of iron, with science, money, and charm can't accomplish.

In hind sight I can see how difficult it might have been to out Bond a Bond in this type of movie, and Saul David and Daniel Mann did a masterful job of conjuring up a secret agent a la American style. Is it just my imagination or is James Bond starting to look more like Derek Flint after 40 years with his scentific weapons and out landish story lines ?

James Coburn was at top of his game, and I wished he'd done more sequels to this franchise. Colorful '60s; looking at this film really convinces you that there was something special about that era.

James Coburn is "Our Man Flint" in this 1966 spy film. Flint is called in by our government to find and destroy the enemy's capability to control the weather. Given our current situation with global warming, it was actually quite interesting.

The cool, perfect Flint is a derivative of James Bond, a gadget-ridden spy, unflappable in the face of certain death, totally brilliant, and a sex machine surrounded by gorgeous, buxom women. Played by the resonant-voiced, angular-faced James Coburn, Flint sails through his assignment, not only escaping death but faking death when it suits him.

It's a fun movie, but it's amazing how many of this type of film and spy films in general were made in the '60s - not only the Bond films, but caper films like Topkapi, Gambit, the Harry Palmer films, Casino Royale (where James bond was a character) - these films and takeoffs of them, like The Glass-Bottomed Boat - abounded.

It's always nice to reminisce about the '60s, and "Our Man Flint" has the music, the dancing, the gowns, the gadgets and the bustlines that will take you right back. A good time.

I thought this was a clever spoof of Bond. One reviewer criticized it's depiction of women. The whole point was making fun of the Bond character's smooth way with the ladies,and the Bond film's depiction of sexy women. if that is what's bothering you.One female character (the adversary, Gila)was an assertive character and not the typically helpless female. A favorite part in the movie of mine is, when after capturing Flint and she is reading the mock J.B. novel with the character called 0008, she puts down the book and sigh's "God, if there really was such a man!" As for the "dated" comment, c'mon, this is a '66 flick. Of course it's going to be a little dated.Fashions, movie making standards,slang, etc. have come and gone and are coming back. My problem with the movies nowadays is the P.C. crap in them. Now it seems that most action movies have to have a female character be a kick boxer or some other tough character.This crap should be made fun of more too. I have nothing against tough action females, (Cynthia Rothrock's a bad ass!)it's just that now it's un-PC to have a demure soft woman lead character in a lot of action films. I thought this film was so beyond reality and this was the point of the film. As for J.B.,I hope Bond does die soon. Connery commented he'd like to be the villain to do it! That would be most excellent! Besides all that, Coburn was awesome(I bet he was chuckling making this one))and will be sorely missed. R.I.P.