Our Man Flint (1966), directed by Daniel Mann, granite-faced James Coburn stars as superspy Derek Flint. Equipped with the standard issue suave mannerisms and harem of girls, plus one particular accessory that James Bond would have throttled Q for: a tiny cigarette lighter with 82 functions - '83 if you wish to light a cigar!'
Super-cool spy Flint, ex-agent of Z.O.W.I.E. (Zonal Organization World Intelligence Espionage ), is lured out of retirement to deal with the threat of Galaxy (a parody of SPECTRE), a world-wide organization led by a trio of Utopian mad scientists. Despairing of the world's governments ever getting their acts together, they demand that the governments all capitulate to Galaxy. To enforce their demands, they initiate earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, and other natural disasters with their climate-control apparatus.
Flint is motivated to take them on, not by the pleas of his former boss Lloyd Cramden (wonderfully played by Lee J. Cobb), but due to a preëmptive assassination attempt by Galaxy's section head Gila while Flint is dining with his four live-in 'playmates'.
Supported by Jerry Goldmsith's way groovy musical score, Flint does it all while keeping his tux spotless, his demeanor cool, and his women satisfied.
A sequel, 'In Like Flint', followed two years later, and in 1976, the character was revived for a TV movie, Our Man Flint: Dead on Target, with Ray Danton taking over the role of Derek Flint.
Tags: James-Coburn Gila-Golan Lee-J-Cobb Edward-Mulhare James-Bond spy-adventure
