Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Flim-Flam Man

  • 1967
  • Approved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
Sue Lyon and Michael Sarrazin in The Flim-Flam Man (1967)
CaperSatireActionComedyCrime

A rural con artist and an army deserter cheat the townsfolk and are aided by a rich gal who shields the fleeing duo from the wrath of the pursuing sheriff.A rural con artist and an army deserter cheat the townsfolk and are aided by a rich gal who shields the fleeing duo from the wrath of the pursuing sheriff.A rural con artist and an army deserter cheat the townsfolk and are aided by a rich gal who shields the fleeing duo from the wrath of the pursuing sheriff.

  • Director
    • Irvin Kershner
  • Writers
    • William Rose
    • Guy Owen
  • Stars
    • George C. Scott
    • Sue Lyon
    • Harry Morgan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • William Rose
      • Guy Owen
    • Stars
      • George C. Scott
      • Sue Lyon
      • Harry Morgan
    • 51User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos29

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 21
    View Poster

    Top cast15

    Edit
    George C. Scott
    George C. Scott
    • Mordecai
    Sue Lyon
    Sue Lyon
    • Bonnie Lee Packard
    Harry Morgan
    Harry Morgan
    • Sheriff Slade
    Jack Albertson
    Jack Albertson
    • Mr. Packard
    Alice Ghostley
    Alice Ghostley
    • Mrs. Packard
    Albert Salmi
    Albert Salmi
    • Deputy Meshaw
    Slim Pickens
    Slim Pickens
    • Jarvis Bates
    Michael Sarrazin
    Michael Sarrazin
    • Curley
    Strother Martin
    Strother Martin
    • Lovick
    George Mitchell
    George Mitchell
    • Tetter
    Woodrow Parfrey
    Woodrow Parfrey
    • Super Market Manager
    Jay Ose
    • Second Fertilizer Man
    Raymond Guth
    • First Fertilizer Man
    • (as Ray Guth)
    Jesse Baker
    • Doodle Powell
    • (uncredited)
    Dale Van Sickel
    Dale Van Sickel
    • Deputy-Guard
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • William Rose
      • Guy Owen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews51

    6.82.6K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6shepardjessica-1

    Delightful George C. in Rural Comedy!

    It's nice to see such an intense great actor like Mr. Scott delve into this type of lazy-style comedy. He's simply marvelous in a W.C. fields type role. Michael Sarrazin is decent and Sue Lyon very fetching. Albert Salmi is great as a deputy. Great cinematography. A 6 out of 10.

    1967 was a great year for films and this was not at the top of the heap, but a pure pleasure dramady. Strother Martin shines in a bit role (one of our better characters who died too young). The mediocrity of the rural policeman is a joy to watch. Nicely-paced. George C. Scott should have done a few more like this! The poster is excellent and a fun script. Scott's unkempt dowdiness makes him all the more charming!
    skyboy1999

    The Many Faces of George.C Scott

    Anyone who has seen George.C.Scott in his most widely recognized role as PATTON(1970) should take a look at his wonderful performance in THE FLIM FLAN MAN(1967). It's like looking at two absolutely different actors. I have always admired the actors and actress' who completely disappear into their parts (Alec Guiness, Kate Blanchet, Tom Hanks, to name a few) You forget for a few hours that you are watching an actor, and that makes the characters they play stand out all the more. In this film, Scott plays Mordecai Jones, a legendary con-man who takes up with a young soldier awol from the army. The two stike a chord immediately, and start working together to make a quick buck. Things start to get interesting when the young soldier proves to be a little bit too honset for the Flim Flan Man. The locales, supporting cast, and a top notch car chase make this film top notch entertainment, but it is Scott who steals the picture (as he has done so many times i.e DR STRANGELOVE, THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS) as the wiley and charming Flim Flan Man. Grab a copy of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, and make it a evening. You won't be disappointed you did.
    8yenlo

    Great cast!

    One of those movies that's fun to watch over and over. An all around excellent cast headed up George C. Scott as the traveling con-man . Support by Harry Morgan, Slim Pickens, Strother Martin, Jack Albertson, Michael Sarrazin, Sue Lyon. Woodrow Parfrey and Alice Ghostley make this comedy/light drama film a classic. The con games played on Martin, Pickens and Parfrey are truly great as well as the car and truck chases. You can't help but like this picture.
    valkilmersbrain

    This movie need to be better known!

    I saw this film on AMC a while back and fell in love with its charm and hilarity. The film is about a runaway teenager and a seasoned old "crook". The movie is very funny, with one great scene linked to the next one. Directed by Irvin Kershner (Empire Strikes Back). Here, he shows a flair for staging complex set pieces and good comic timing. George C. Scott, always great, seems to be the perfect choice as the old con-man. As playful as this film is, there are some tender moments between the characters, adding some heart to an already fun movie. I hope this movie becomes more widespread in the future, since I feel so many are missing out on this one!

    This movie was so good, I hunted down the next scheduled airing on TV, and made sure I recorded it. I've enjoyed it on tape ever since. Here's hoping for a future DVD!
    joe.star

    The following is from personal experience as Casting Director on this flic.

    George C. Scott was/is a fine actor, he never had to flim-flam in performance, not even in the title role on this one. Watching the dailies, as the Casting Director I knew for sure we had the right leading man. As himself George could not put up with the flim-flam & hype of showbiz. That led to his refusing the hyped & exploited presentation of the awards the industry gave him. He's a true Actor for eternity now.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    Klondike Annie
    6.4
    Klondike Annie
    Every Day's a Holiday
    6.1
    Every Day's a Holiday
    Go West Young Man
    6.2
    Go West Young Man
    The Fool Killer
    6.8
    The Fool Killer
    Skin Game
    7.0
    Skin Game
    My Little Chickadee
    6.8
    My Little Chickadee
    Sorrowful Jones
    6.8
    Sorrowful Jones
    The Gangster
    6.5
    The Gangster
    Riffraff
    6.8
    Riffraff
    6.7
    The Flim-Flam Man
    Madame X
    7.1
    Madame X
    The Black Room
    6.9
    The Black Room

    Related interests

    Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, and Elliott Gould in Ocean's Eleven (2001)
    Caper
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although Jay Ose is credited only with playing the small part of "2nd Fertilizer Man," the Los Angeles Times reported during filming that he was on set to coach George C. Scott in his role as a con artist. Ose, a professional magician and card dealer, is apparently the man whose hands appear in the close-up shots of Mordecai Jones doing particularly elaborate card tricks.
    • Goofs
      The deflated tires are fully inflated when the truck leaves the railroad tracks.
    • Quotes

      Mordecai Jones: Only cheat the cheaters, boy - you can't cheat an honest man!

    • Connections
      Features Peyton Place (1964)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is The Flim-Flam Man?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 21, 1967 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El amable estafador
    • Filming locations
      • Paynes Depot, Kentucky, USA(Opening sequence and titles filmed here)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,845,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.