A Place In My Heart

Like most of the people reviewing The Flim Flam Man I feel like I personally connected with this movie. Its about a time, place and people that no longer exist and even back in 1967 I'm sure it was just dismissed as rural humor not up to the standards of urban folks. But as a young man growing up in Iowa I very much related to the male lead whose name I believe is Curly. He is a young man unable to fit into the world around him and is lead further astray by an old con man who despite his many crimes is a very sympathetic character. He needs Curly in order to survive but begins treating him like a son. Curly is torn between his affection for the old man and his desire to be a normal law-abiding human. Curly's saving grace is the young beautiful daughter of a man whose car is stolen by the flim flaming duo. She leads Curley back to the straight and narrow along with the forgiving nature of small town America in which a man can still redeem himself - couldn't happen in todays world. It doesn't surprise or bother me that very few care about this forgotten little gem. I just hope that when I die I can walk onto the set of The Flim Flam Man and never return.

Where is the DVD?

THE FLIM FLAM MAN, one of my favorite films for many, many years, deserves a proper DVD release from 20th Century Fox! It's a wonderful comedy from George C. Scott and Michael Sarrazin (his first film) with a great Americana score from the late Jerry Goldsmith. A wealth of fine character actors grace this rollicking yet heartfelt Irvin Kershner film, so watch for Harry Morgan, Sue Lyon, Jack Albertson, Albert Salmi, Alice Ghostley, Slim Pickens, Strother Martin and Woodrow Parfrey. A joy from start to finish. The movie was out on a DVD from a small company a few years ago, but is now out of print. The only way you can get it on DVD right now is through less than legitimate sellers. I'll hold out for a proper Fox release. They have been combing the vaults and releasing quite a lot of their lesser known films over the past couple of years, so drop them a line and ask for THE FLIM FLAM MAN.

A Hidden Jewel

I don't own this movie but I have seen it a number of times and it is great! I highly recommend it. Better yet, I have a small personal connection to the film. At the very beginning of the film you will see a train entering a small town. That town is my hometown of Midway, KY which is near Lexington. Beautiful country. While the beginning of the movie was being filmed I was in my mid teens in and I was on location for the filming. I never forgot that event and I always make sure that I see the very beginning of the film to re-live that event. Great film.