Derek Flint - Films

Films

The first movie, Our Man Flint, involves the evil Galaxy organization threatening the world with their weather-manipulating machine. ZOWIE (led by Lee J. Cobb) has no choice but to call on Derek Flint, the world renowned private secret agent (James Coburn). Flint follows Galaxy from New York to Marseille, Rome, and then to Galaxy Island, where he causes the destruction of the Galaxy organization and saves the planet from certain doom.

In 1965, 20th Century Fox presented its own version of a master spy to take on United Artist's popular James Bond franchise. The first three James Bond movies had already made considerable money for that studio so Fox decided to try for itself. Their hero was wholly a celluloid creation, however, not a transfer from a book series.

Derek Flint was the creation of Hal Fimberg, whose writing credentials, though sparse, did go back quite a few years. Whether it was in keeping with a growing trend to try to 'out-Bond Bond' or, more likely, to spoof the very macho Double-0 agent, Flint was the best at whatever he did and he did a lot. The abilities and achievements of Derek Flint are far too numerous to list here. Just a few include a black belt in Judo, Olympic medals in at least 5 different events, degrees from 17 different universities, creation of highly prized paintings, and the ability to speak fluently in 45 various languages and dialects.

Flint was also, according to his 'boss', Lloyd C. Cramden, the most undisciplined, insubordinate man he had ever had to deal with. During WWII, Cramden was Flint's senior officer and as such had the unfortunate task of trying to lead the versatile man. Now many years later, when a crisis arises that demands someone of Flint's abilities, Cramden has to mend fences and get Derek help to save the world.

The first movie, which came out in 1965, did quite well and turned star James Coburn into a leading man. From gruff, simmering ruffian-style characters he had played before, Coburn portrayed an extremely suave, sophisticated man-of-the-world and he did so with the same ease that he had played the coarser roles. This proved successfully that Coburn was a highly skilled actor.

The success of any movie naturally breeds the desire for a sequel and two years later Coburn returned in In Like Flint. The second movie is a 1967 film directed by Gordon Douglas. It posits an international feminist conspiracy to depose the ruling American patriarchy with a feminist matriarchy. To achieve and establish it, they kidnap and replace the U.S. President, discredit the head of the Z.O.W.I.E. intelligence agency, and commandeer a nuclear-armed space platform, all directed from Fabulous Face, a women's spa in the Virgin Islands. This movie did not perform as well and the franchise stopped at two.