The Flim-Flam Man (1967)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Irvin Kershner

Writers:

Guy Owen (novel)
William Rose (writer)

Release Date:

29 September 1967 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Meet Mordecai Jones; Master of Back-Stabbing, Cork-Screwing and Dirty-Dealing-Dealing!

Plot:

Mordrcai Jones (George C. Scott) is a rural con artist (a 'flim flam man') who takes on a young army...

Plot Keywords:

Con | Desertion | Automobile Accident | South | Friendship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

George C. Scott	...	Mordecai Jones
Sue Lyon	...	Bonnie Lee Packard
Harry Morgan	...	Sheriff Slade
Jack Albertson	...	Mr. Packard
Alice Ghostley	...	Mrs. Packard
Albert Salmi	...	Deputy Meshaw
Slim Pickens	...	Jarvis Bates
Michael Sarrazin	...	Curley
Strother Martin	...	Storekeeper Lovick
George Mitchell	...	Tetter
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Supermarket manager
Jay Ose	...	2nd Fertilizer Man
Raymond Guth	...	1st Fertilizer man

Also Known As:

One Born Every Minute (UK)
The Flim Flam Man (USA) (alternative spelling)
Carta che vince, carta che perde (Italy) [it]
Enas yperohos palianthropos (Greece) [el]
Fabelhafte Mr. Flim Flam, Der (West Germany) [de]
Fabuloso bribón, Un (Spain) [es]
Pesunkestävä huijari (Finland) [fi]
Rufflaren (Sweden) [sv]
Tolle Mr. Flim-Flam, Der (West Germany) [de]
Une sacrée fripouille (France) [fr]

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia) | USA:Not Rated | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Irvine, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The Vaughn Tobacco Warehouses in Lexington, Kentucky were converted to soundstages for interior shooting of this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The deflated tires are fully inflated when the truck leaves the railroad tracks.

Quotes:

Mordecai Jones: Son, you'd be amazed at the hundreds of satisfied students I've matriculated over the last 50 years!

Movie Connections:

Features "Peyton Place" (1964)

Lawrenceburgs claim to fame

I first saw The Film Flam Man in the early 70's and it became my favorite film. George C. Scott plays light comedy effortlessly. As you watch him he really seems to be enjoying himself as" Mordecai Jones." Known for dramatic roles during his long career this character stands out from all of his others. Michael Sarrazin (in his film debut) gives a likable performance. Veteran character actors Woodrow Parfrey, Strother Martin,Harry Morgan, Alice Ghostley, Albert Salmi and Slim Pickens are all excellent in their supporting roles. 20th Century Fox started filming The Film Flam Man in September 1966. The town of "Clayton" North Carolina was actually Lawrenceburg Kentucky where many scenes were shot. We traveled through Lawrenceburg in 2000, and the downtown was virtually unchanged.The editor of the local newspaper was kind enough to point out some of the filming locations and gave us some FFM movie posters. The local newspaper covered the filming in '66 and I was able to access the articles on microfilm in the towns library. Legendary stunt driver Bill Hickman [ Bullitt, Seven ups, Vanishing Point] who drove the red Plymouth convertible in the chase sequence ,hit a street sign,shoving it through a window ,injuring a woman watching the action. The mishap is shown in the film. The Film Flam Man is a little known gem ,worthy of repeat viewings.