Hi, DRD! It's been quite some time since we last crossed paths.

I remember seeing this on network t.v. months after the theatrical release (decades back, movies would have their t.v. debuts on one of the networks usually within a couple or so months of the film finishing in the theatres), and recall it was considered very "mod" at the time. I was just a little kid, so don't actually remember anything specific about the movie, other than how James Coburn looked in it. I do think it was obliquely going for a James Bond sort of vibe, but not actually striving to be a knockoff, instead wanting to be its own different sort of thing.

When I think about it, I suspect it's probable that when I remember seeing this was, more than likely, 2-3 years, or so, after the movie's release, rather than during its first go round or two on network t.v. Otherwise I seriously doubt that I'd have had recollections of seeing it, as I think I'd have been too little in 1966 to have had the attention span or interest to sit through a grown-ups movie.

@genplant29 said:

Hi, DRD! It's been quite some time since we last crossed paths.

I remember seeing this on network t.v. months after the theatrical release (decades back, movies would have their t.v. debuts on one of the networks usually within a couple or so months of the film finishing in the theatres), and recall it was considered very "mod" at the time. I was just a little kid, so don't actually remember anything specific about the movie, other than how James Coburn looked in it. I do think it was obliquely going for a James Bond sort of vibe, but not actually striving to be a knockoff, instead wanting to be its own different sort of thing.

When I think about it, I suspect it's probable that when I remember seeing this was, more than likely, 2-3 years, or so, after the movie's release, rather than during its first go round or two on network t.v. Otherwise I seriously doubt that I'd have had recollections of seeing it, as I think I'd have been too little in 1966 to have had the attention span or interest to sit through a grown-ups movie.

Hey mate, good to interact with you!

You are special, in that your frame of reference goes back a lot further than most on this board (I was born in 1970, so I have no first-hand recollection of seeing so many classic movies within the socio-historical /political milieu of the times).

When I first watched the Austin Powers franchise, I had not yet actually watched all the Bond movies, so it prompted me to go back and watch them, starting with Dr. No. It became evident the degree to which Austin Powers was satirizing Bond. But, I had no idea about the Flint franchise. I just stumbled on Our Man Flint the other night, and decided to watch it as a lark...and I immediately recognized quite a few aspects that Austin Powers also picked up.

So, I was curious how the Flint franchise is seen vs. Bond, and whether there are fans of Flint over Bond, or if Flint is just a poor-man's Bond (or, the crass, boorish, American knock off of the sophisticated, worldly Euro/UK Bond).

At any rate, Austin Powers was a fun romp that did a great job spoofing both these 60s franchises!

I was born in 1960, so grew up in the generation when t.v. was still a very different way than it eventually became starting from the early or mid 1980s onward. Back during my growing up years, old movies of from the beginning of the 1930s through the '40s or early '50s are what rampantly aired as "filler" during after-school hours, and on weeknight evenings (although normally in pre-primetime, like from 6-8p.m.), ditto during morning and/or afternoon hours on weekends. Also, for that matter, in late-night, until the channels would sign off for the night (which seems like they all typically did by something like 1 or 2a.m.). Old movies were default "comfort food" viewing for those of my era.

Question for you: Do I recall correctly that this movie has a hot-air balloon scene in it at some point? For some reason that's something that I associate with this movie, though I may be mistaken about that. I remember this movie as, indeed, having an Austin Powers sort of vibe to it. And I remember that, at the time I watched it, I thought James Coburn seemed old. (I just now checked, and see he wasn't even yet 40!) lol. My big brother ([nearly three years my senior] who I watched this with) was a big fan of him.

@genplant29 said:

I was born in 1960, so grew up in the generation when t.v. was still a very different way than it eventually became starting from the early or mid 1980s onward. Back during my growing up years, old movies of from the beginning of the 1930s through the '40s or early '50s are what rampantly aired as "filler" during after-school hours, and on weeknight evenings (although normally in pre-primetime, like from 6-8p.m.), ditto during morning and/or afternoon hours on weekends. Also, for that matter, in late-night, until the channels would sign off for the night (which seems like they all typically did by something like 1 or 2a.m.). Old movies were default "comfort food" viewing for those of my era.

Yep, tv has changed. Each decade has a distinct culture to it, as well as how it reflected/influenced society.

Question for you: Do I recall correctly that this movie has a hot-air balloon scene in it at some point?

I must admit, I nodded off a few times while watching. We started it late and I was tired. I'll likely watch it again, although I found the pacing quite slow.

And I remember that, at the time I watched it, I thought James Coburn seemed old. (I just now checked, and see he wasn't even yet 40!) lol.

Back then, 40 was old! And he did indeed seem wooden, not smooth, in his movements and mannerisms.

I saw the Flint movies in the early 1980s. They were more a tongue in cheek version of the Bond films.

It was devised as a 'lighthearted' parody of the Bond films, there was also the Matt Helm movies (four total) starring Dean Martin. There were 27 books by Donald Hamilton from which the Helm movies were derived. I was born in the early 50's so remember all of these films. I wasn't a Bond fan until Dalton took over (hated the Brosnan films) and then became a firm fan when Craig took over the role. Loved the Helm movies, not a big fan of the Flint movies (not a Coburn fan).

@genplant29 said:

Question for you: Do I recall correctly that this movie has a hot-air balloon scene in it at some point? For some reason that's something that I associate with this movie, though I may be mistaken about that.

There's a private jet and a submarine, but I don't recall a hot air balloon.

In Bond's "Octopussy (1983)" there was one with Bond and Q in it.

Also in " The World Is Not Enough (1999)", where he's in a speedboat chasing an assassin, who in the end tries to escape in a hot air balloon.

Thanks, Wonder. Since when I posted on this thread in 2017, I no longer know why I, back then, "remembered" a hot-air balloon, as I no longer do.