This Movie Tried to Rival James Bond, But Everyone Forgot It!

When American studios miss out on a hit, they get envious! Witnessing the success of James Bond in the UK and globally, they created their own version of James Bond: Derek Flint. A hero who is now largely forgotten, Flint pushed the envelope even further than 007.

Taking It Further Than James Bond

Flint is not just a charmer; he has a full-fledged harem. He is not just good at what he does; he is the best. A decorated war hero, he “received three commendations in a single month” and computers universally identify him as the best man to save the day.

While the stakes in James Bond films of that era were somewhat believable—disrupting a space program (Dr. No), retrieving a decryption device (From Russia with Love), depleting a gold reserve (Goldfinger), and stealing bombs for ransom (Thunderball)—in Flint’s adventures, the entire world is at risk of destruction!

James Coburn, a lanky actor noticed in The Magnificent Seven in an almost silent role, and who appeared in numerous Western TV series throughout the 1950s and 60s, plays Flint. After supporting roles in Charade and The Great Escape, and a major role in Major Dundee and A High Wind in Jamaica in 1965, Coburn’s career finally took off at the age of 37. Our Man Flint was his first lead role.

Although the pace of the film has aged, director Daniel Mann captures the essence of a good James Bond adventure of the time: exoticism for the Western audience, scantily clad women, a few gadgets, a significant threat, and a hero whose composure seems unshakeable.

A Massive Success

Released in 1966, a year without a James Bond film, audiences flocked to see Our Man Flint, turning it into a major success. The following year, Coburn returned with In Like Flint, which pushed boundaries even further. While inspired on the first film, Daniel Mann stepped aside for Gordon Douglas, a prolific director who applied all his expertise to complete a film that was still being written as it was shot! To the studio’s surprise, the film was a hit.

Coburn later revealed that a third film had been considered “if the script was very good and the best directors were hired” (…). “It didn’t work out”, he concluded, “they didn’t want to make quality anymore.”