Stars:
James Coburn, Lee J. Cobb, Gila Golan, Edward Mulhare, Jean Hale, and Andrew
Duggan
Writers:
Hal Fimberg and Ben Starr
Based
On A Story By: Hal Fimberg
Directors:
Gordon Douglas and Daniel Mann
Feature
lengths: 108 minutes/ 114 minutes
Extras:
Trailers
Languages:
English and French Monaural
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Amaray Keep Cases
Chapter
Stops: 16/24
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Releases: 1965/1967/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Home
Video Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Twentieth
Century Fox Home Entertainment originally announced the upcoming DVD releases of
“Our Man Flint” and “In Like Flint” to be a double feature DVD release
back when the studio released their first three double feature titles almost two
years ago. Well now they are available though sold separately, but they are on
sale a prices low enough that they might as well be packaged as a double feature
and if you buy one, are you really not going to buy the other? Collectively the
films look great together with mid 1960s style cover artwork within a red Amaray
keep case for “Our Man Flint” and a burnt orange Amaray keep case for “In
Like Flint.”
The
release of these Fox DVD titles is targeted to coincide with the release of New
Line Cinema’s upcoming “Austin Powers: Goldmember.” One can appreciate
these films even more now after Michael Myers created an all out comedy series
inspired by this and a number of other spy franchises, but in many ways the
“Flint” films are better than any comedy based on the genre and is perhaps
the best spy spoof outside of the “Bond” series because James Coburn plays
the character straight, which makes the antics both exciting on an action level
and down right hilarious with “Flint” engaging in sudden outbursts of
martial arts or firing a gun into the air scaring everyone out of a local club.
There are plenty of jabs at the “Bond” films and some scenes that are
outright meant to be more comedic than others, but thankfully the films never go
too far and retain some dignity no doubt from the straight laced approach of
Coburn who anchors both films and keeps them lively and entertaining.
In
“Our Man Flint” Derek Flint (James Coburn) must save the world from the
dreaded “Odyssey” group who are holding the world hostage with a device that
can control the weather and global geomagnetic forces. “In Like Flint” has
our American hero go up against a group of wealthy and powerful female tycoons
who are out to brainwash the fairer sex with beauty salon hairdryers and replace
the President of the United States with a clone in their bid to control the
world!
Both
films have been presented to DVD with brand new anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1)
transfers with Two-Channel English and French Language Monaural Soundtracks and
English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded on
to each disc as options.
I
have been waiting for these films to come out for nearly two years and I think
it was worth the wait. The transfers on these new discs look great. There are no
visible scratches or artifacts whatsoever with nice deep blacks and bright
colors that deliver a great contrast. Overall Fox has done an excellent job on
the picture quality of these transfers. Unfortunately the Two-Channel Monaural
Soundtracks while clear and free of hissing still fall a little flat. Would it
have been impossible to at least try a Stereo Surround mix? Well collectively I
do not think it would be any surprise to anyone when I state that these new
discs are without a doubt the best home video presentations of both film to ever
be released.
There
are not a lot in terms of extra features, except for widescreen (2.35:1)
trailers for “Our Man Flint” and “In Like Flint” and watching them does
give an even greater appreciation for the new transfers on both of these Fox DVD-Videos.
Bonus Fox Flix trailers includes a near (1.33:1) trailer for the Rachel Welch
spoof “Fathom” and a (1.85:1) trailer for the big screen adaptation of
“Modesty Blaise” starring Monica Viti.
The
menus on both discs feature music from the respective film soundtracks and are
standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. Both “Our Man
Flint” and “In Like Flint” are available on DVD-Video now sold separately
and are a must for anyone’s “Spy” film DVD collection.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.