If you ever wondered about how the film series like Austin Powers came to be inspired, James Coburn does a memorable performance as Flint, original man of mystery in this film. The film is a spoof and farce from the James Bond spy thrillers. The plot includes the world being overthrown and manipulated by smart beautiful seductive women on a Caribbean Island where their leader is played by Anna Lee (General Hospital's beloved Lila Quartermaine). She is fantastic in her role. The film is a comedy and a statement about women's movement. The ending is now considered to be outdated by today's standards almost camp humor. Still, James Coburn did some of his best acting work here as the hero. The film is colorful and imaginative as well.

With 'Our Man Flint' ( 1966 ), it seemed as though Twentieth Century Fox had themselves a spy franchise to rival James Bond. The late James Coburn possessed magnetism and agility comparable to Sean Connery. However, there was only one sequel. It begins at the 'Fabulous Face' health and beauty resort in the Virgin Islands. A group of beautiful and powerful women - headed by 'Miss Elisabeth' ( Anna Lee ) - watch through telescopes as America puts the world's first space platform into orbit. Unbeknowest to Cramden ( Lee J. Cobb ), head of Z. O. W. I. E., aboard are two Russian cosmonauts. Relaxing with the President ( Andrew Duggan ) over a game of golf, Cramden notices that a swing took over three minutes ( during that time, the President was abducted and replaced by a double ). Baffled, Cramden goes to see Flint. The adventurer agrees to investigate once he has returned from Death Valley. Cramden is then caught in bed with a Skid Row hooker ( Jean Hale ), and loses his job. Flint sets out to clear his friend's name. Something seems to have gone with security at Z. O. W. I. E. And no-one in the organisation can now be trusted as it has been infiltrated by traitors...

Interviewed by 'The T. V. Times' in 1981, Coburn claimed that Fox were so keen to get the picture into cinemas they didn't care if the script was ready or not. Hal Fimberg reversed the premise of the original, the 'baddies' here are women attempting to impose a new world order whereby men are slaves. Which makes it all the more strange why they then have to rely on General Carter ( the late Steve Ihnat ) of Z. O. W. I. E. And actor Sebastian Trent.

Coburn is, as ever, terrific and Cobb generates some laughs. The film looks marvellous ( have you ever seen so many beautiful girls in one film before? Jean Hale is absolutely stunning! Ditto Yvonne Craig.). Why haven't 'Fabulous Face' prepared for the possibility of Carter turning against them? How is he able to take over their operation without so much as a shot being fired? Why does Carter go into space with the bombs when he knows Flint is in the rocket too?

Still, it works well on the whole and there are some funny moments - the ballet sequence and Flint's line "An actor...as President?". The action sequences are up to scratch. Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful music is on a par with John Barry's work on Bond.

Coburn claimed that Gordon Douglas was ill for most of the shoot, hence much of the film was directed by the cinematographer.

The Russian Premier's ( Herb Edelman ) phone call to The President ( named as 'Melvin Muffly' in the novelisation ) looks suspiciously like an attempt to parody 'Dr. Strangelove'.

There was to have been a third movie - called either 'Bride Of Flint' or 'F For Flint' - but it was never made, due to Coburn's concerns over typecasting. In 1976, an attempt was made to transfer the character to television, with 'Our Man Flint Dead On Target' starring Ray Danton. It did not lead to a series. More recently, it was announced that Flint would be returning in comic book form, as 'That Man Flint'.

This follow-up is much goofier and sillier than the original, but still every bit as amusing and entertaining. This time hip, clever, and dashing freelance spy and playboy extraordinaire Derek Flint (James Coburn in splendidly wry and laid-back assured form) must thwart a dastardly plot by a gang of lovely, yet formidable ladies who have developed a method of brainwashing so they can put arrogant and domineering men in their place and thus take over the planet. Director Gordon Douglas, working from a bright and witty script by Hal Fimberg, relates the delightfully wacky narrative at a steady pace, maintains an engagingly blithe and madcap very 60's camp sensibility throughout, and stages the rousing action set pieces with real skill and gusto (Coburn's fancy martial arts moves in particular are quite impressive and exciting). Coburn's amiably breezy'n'easy persona fits the character of Flint like a fine pair of stylish slippers; he talks fluently to dolphins, romances an endless bevy of beautiful babes, dons various disguises, briefly poses as a ballet dancer (!), and beats up numerous baddies without ever loosing a single ounce of his divinely unflappable cool the whole time. The rest of the cast are likewise up to par: Lee G. Cobb returns as Flint's loyal, but disgraced superior Lloyd C. Cramden, the gorgeous Jean Hale excels as classy and crafty head villainess Lisa Norton, Andrew Duggan does spirited work as both the hearty President and the hammy actor impersonating him, and Steve Ihnat hits it out of the ballpark with his excellent portrayal of the sneaky and cunning General Carter. Yvonee "Batgirl" Craig has a small, but nifty part as fetching, yet duplicitous Russian ballerina Natasha. Moreover, this movie in some ways was uncannily ahead of its time: The cabal of angry women Flint opposes neatly foretells the 70's feminist movement while the premise of an actor as President offers a frighteningly accurate prediction of Reagan getting elected into office as Chief Executive a mere decade or so down the line. Jerry Goldsmith's funky swinging score and William H. Daniels' slick widescreen cinematography are both on the money, too. A tremendously fun film.