The Flim Flam Man (1967)
Grade: 65
"The Flim Flam Man" is a reasonably good comedy, with many good scenes, but ultimately loses credibility as a drama. George C. Scott gives an effective performance, and the script gives him several good lines.
"The Flim Flam Man" stars Scott as an aging con man. He recruits young Michael Sarrazin, also wanted by the law, as a shill. The pair commit various amusing cons, and soon the local sheriff (Harry Morgan) is after them. Meanwhile, Sarrazin gets a love interest in Sue Lyon (you may recognize her from "Lolita").
The film's humor comes from the marks, typically greedy, foolish yokels. The dumbest of them all is Slim Pickens, who gives a great cameo performance. There is also a wild car chase that wrecks a beautiful sports car.
The drama works less well. It is impossible to see why Lyon would fall in love with Sarrazin, who stole and wrecked her car. It is even more silly that Sarrazin would want to turn himself in, having just committed a slew of serious felonies, and then commit more to get Scott out of jail. The stereotype of rural Southerners, especially Sheriffs and moonshiners, as dumb and easily-manipulated yokels wears thin after a while as well. Sarrazin also becomes an expert con artist the same day that he meets Scott.
Trivia: Scott was much younger than his character, and had to wear much makeup to look older. "The Flim Flam Man" was Sarrazin's first theatrical film.
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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