The Flim-Flam Man [One Born Every Minute] *** (1967, George C Scott, Michael Sarrazin, Sue Lyon, Harry Morgan, Jack Albertson, Alice Ghostley, Albert Salmi, Slim Pickens) – Classic Movie Review 3,187

The unlikely pair of George C Scott and Michael Sarrazin team up to star in the folksy 1967 US small-town comedy film The Flim-Flam Man as an ageing conman and a young army deserter who join forces to trick suckers out of their money.

The unlikely pair of George C Scott and Michael Sarrazin team up to star in the folksy 20th Century Fox 1967 US small-town action crime comedy film The Flim-Flam Man as an ageing conman called Mordecai Jones and a young army deserter named Curley who join forces to trick suckers out of their money.

The movie’s winning air of whimsical charm is propelled along by an ingratiating performance by Scott, an appealing turn by Sarrazin (who gets ‘introducing’ billing), and sprightly appearances by a likeable support cast of renowned character actors, as well as some well-staged chases by stuntman/ co-director Yakima Canutt.

The result is genial and amusing, with a lively screenplay by esteemed William Rose, based on the 1965 novel The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man by Guy Owen, and sprightly direction by Irvin Kershner.

Sue Lyon as the romantically inclined rich girl Bonnie Lee Packard who pursues Curley, Harry Morgan as the dogged Sheriff Zeb Slade who gives chase, Jack Albertson, Alice Ghostley, Albert Salmi, Slim Pickens, Strother Martin, George Mitchell, and Woodrow Parfrey co-star.

George C Scott was the first choice for Rod Steiger’s Oscar-winning role of Chief Gillespie in the classic In the Heat of the Night (1967) but he was too busy here filming the forgotten The Flim-Flam Man.

Set in the countryside and small towns of the American South, it is filmed in the area of Anderson County, Kentucky.

It is noted for Jerry Goldsmith’s jaunty score, helping the folksy atmosphere.

The title song ‘Flim Flam Man’, written by Laura Nyro for the film, later became a hit for Barbra Streisand, who stars in For Pete’s Sake (1974) with Michael Sarrazin. ‘Flim Flam Man’ was first recorded and released by Nyro in February 1967 on her debut album More Than a New Discovery.

The film cost $3,845,000, and earned $1,200,000 in North America, and made a total of $3,525,000 globally. But 20th Century Fox records said it needed to earn $6,400,000 in cinema rentals to break even, so it lost a very considerable sum.

It was re-titled One Born Every Minute in some countries, including the UK, where flimflam is not a well-known term for trickery and deception, though bamboozle and hornswoggle (!) are popular with some. Flimflam is often used specifically to refer to swindling someone out of money, as here. Its origin is uncertain, but it is probably Scandinavian and may be related to the Old Norse word flim, meaning mockery.

The cast are George C Scott as Mordecai Jones, Michael Sarrazin as Curley, Sue Lyon as Bonnie Lee Packard, Harry Morgan as Sheriff Zeb Slade, Jack Albertson as Mr Packard, Alice Ghostley as Mrs Packard, Albert Salmi as Deputy Meshaw, Slim Pickens as Jarvis Bates, Strother Martin as Lovick, George Mitchell as Tetter, and Woodrow Parfrey as Supermarket Manager.

Sarrazin worked on TV in Toronto, and then gained a contract with MCA Universal. He appeared on American TV in The Virginian (1965) and Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, and in the films The Doomsday Flight (1966) and Gunfight in Abilene (1967).

Michael Sarrazin with Barbra Streisand in For Pete’s Sake (1974).

Tragically, Michael Sarrazin battled cancer and died on April 17 2011, aged 70. He starred with Jane Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) and Barbra Streisand in For Pete’s Sake (1974).

Sue Lyon (July 10, 1946 – December 26, 2019). She won a Golden Globe for the title role in Lolita (1962), and appeared in The Night of the Iguana (1964), 7 Women (1966), Tony Rome (1967), and Evel Knievel (1971).

http://derekwinnert.com/they-shoot-horses-dont-they-1969-jane-fonda-michael-sarrazin-susannah-york-gig-young-classic-movie-review-2052/

http://derekwinnert.com/for-petes-sake-1974-barbra-streisand-michael-sarrazin-estelle-parsons-classic-movie-review-2266/

http://derekwinnert.com/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1967-sidney-poitier-rod-steiger-warren-oates-classic-movie-review-2512/

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3,187

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Michael Sarrazin.