In the 1960’s there was no one more exciting than James Bond, Agent 007. Inspired by his success at the box-office, other studios tried to come up with their own version of a playboy spy.(Matt Helm, anyone?) This spy would be different. This spy would be American. This spy would be “ours”. But what man could possibly be more exciting than James Bond? The answer is obvious: Errol Flynn. Naturally, the studio couldn’t name their spy “Errol Flynn”. So they simply, ingeniously, altered Errol’s name ever-so-slightly and christened their American super-spy “Derek Flint”. At one point, Flint even beats up a Sean Connery-look-alike playing “Agent 0008”. In other words, only Errol Flynn could beat up Agent 007.
The first film in the series was named “Our Man Flint” and its poster made it clear that “our man” was better than Bond. ” ‘Our Man Flint’ makes love in 47 languages! He’s a Karate Champion, Brain Surgeon, Swordsman and Nuclear Physicist… He’s the top Master Spy of all time, with his Cigarette Lighter containing 82 Death-Dealing Devices, his 2 Man-Eating Dogs, his 4 Luscious Playmates and his Love Nest-Built-For-5……”
If the name “Derek Flint” wasn’t clear enough, the sequel left no doubt. It was titled “In Like Flint”, a not-so-subtle reference to “In like Flynn”.
The film spawned only the one sequel but they are both highly entertaining, thanks immeasurably to the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek performance of leading man James Coburn. But their legend lives on because we all know that only one man is better than Bond.
— zacal
Gentleman Tim
September 8, 2014 at 4:36 am
I Love this, zacal! Brings back such great memories!! I think Errol would have loved it, too. Coburn was terrific. And you’re so right – as formidable as Bond was, he was second string to Our Man Flynn! (Ian Fleming surely knew that, too!)
Fencing for Breakfast. Dancing for Dinner
Whether the Casbah or the Boudoir
Our Man Flynn could handle it!
rswilltell
September 8, 2014 at 8:19 pm
The Derek Flint series was way over the top to the point of being ridicules. The series was expensively produced by 20th Century Fox and I admit to enjoying them but come on Flint could speak to Dolphins? Flint also danced in Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet and with a leap from the stage soared to the balcony (on a wire)! I spoke with beautiful Jean Hale who co-starred in In Like Flint. She thought Jim Coburn was a wonderful guy but he hated makng those films. Both movies were big hits and Fox wanted to sign Coburn for at least three more but he refused point blank. He was a classically trained stage actor and along with co-star Lee J. Cobb though the films were big budget trash! Ralph
zacal
September 10, 2014 at 1:45 am
They were WAY over the top, Ralph. It was a spoof of Bond.(before Bond started spoofing itself) Thanks for the info on James Coburn. I always wondered why they didn’t make more. They should have signed him to a multi-picture deal.
Tina
September 13, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Here is Errol, the true and only James Bond 007 ever!
The nail is hit on the head!
What a great picture – love it!
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/A-A-efbondj.jpg[/img]
Gentleman Tim
September 15, 2014 at 12:48 am
Here’s a terrific article, from the Emerald Isle I believe, agreeing with your assessment of Our Man Flynn, Tina!