The Flim-Flam Man (1967)

Directed by Irvin Kershner. Starring George C. Scott, Michael Sarrazin, Sue Lyon, Harry Morgan, Alice Ghostley, Jack Albertson, Slim Pickens, Albert Salmi, Strother Martin, George Mitchell.

Conman drifter Scott takes young Sarrazin under his wing for a series of money-making scams while traversing the Kentucky heartland, but the young pup is too much of a decent kid for the teacher’s sense of duplicitous greed to rub off on him. Not bad, especially in the first hour, carried by Scott’s wily, croaky charisma, but runs out of steam around the point when the protracted final act kicks in. Authentic small-town location shooting gives it rural atmosphere, and there’s a chase scene in here that’s better fun than the out-of-control mayhem found in the “big” comedies from the same decade (It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Great Race, etc.). Newcomer Sarrazin only managed eighth-billing onscreen despite being, at bare minimum, a co-lead with Scott.

65/100