The Man Called Flintstone

''The Man Called Flintstone'' is a 1966 American animated musical comedy film produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The second film by Hanna-Barbera following ''Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!'' (1964), it was directed by series creators/studio founders William Hanna and Joseph Barbera from a screenplay by Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen.

A theatrical spin-off of the 1960–66 television series ''The Flintstones'', and a swan song ( series finale), produced immediately following the end of production, the film was released just four months after the series ended. The working title was ''That Man Flintstone'', with the film poster featuring Fred Flintstone in the same pose of the Bob Peak poster for ''Our Man Flint''. The plot is a parody of spy films, primarily those featuring James Bond.

The film marked the first feature voice role for Gerry Johnson (Betty Rubble), and Henry Corden (Fred's singing voice), the latter of whom would go on to fully assume the role of Fred following Alan Reed's death in 1977. Despite numerous musical interludes, including one performed by Louis Prima, the series' iconic theme song is absent.

Plot

In the opening scene, secret agent Rock Slag, who is physically identical to Fred Flintstone, is being chased through Bedrock. His pursuers, Ali and Bobo, think that they have finally killed Slag when they push him off a building. Meanwhile, the Flintstones and Rubbles prepare for a camping vacation which includes trying to drop Dino and Hoppy off at the veterinarian. On the way back, Fred crashes Barney's car, and they make a stop at the hospital where Rock Slag is also recovering. After Ali and Bobo find Rock and put him out of commission, Chief Boulder of the Secret Service enlists Fred to take his place in Paris for a special meeting. His assignment is to meet Tanya, the #1 female lieutenant of master criminal the Green Goose, who has agreed to turn over the Green Goose in return for a chance to meet the irresistible Rock Slag. Rock is not sure that this is such a good idea but the Chief reassures him that he will keep an eye on Fred.

Thinking that the Green Goose is an actual bird, Fred tells his family that their vacation has become an all-expense-paid trip to Eurock. Barney and Fred return all the camping gear and use the money to buy the Rubbles tickets to go along. Meanwhile, Ali and Bobo make several attempts on Fred's life assuming that he is Rock Slag. Once in Paris, the Chief tells Fred that he must now go to Rome instead, with the help of master of disguise Triple X. Fred makes attempts to sneak away from Wilma to meet with Tanya, but ends up spending the night trying to escape all of Rock's female admirers. After missing a date with Wilma, Fred buys her a "genuine imitation diamond necklace" from a street hustler to make it up to her, but finds that she slept soundly through the night without even realizing that he was missing.

Discovering the Chief's secret office, Fred tries to back out of his assignment but after finding out what the Green Goose really is, he has pangs of guilt over Pebbles' future and makes an excuse to get away and meet Tanya at a restaurant. Unfortunately, Wilma and the Rubbles go to the same restaurant and catch them together - thinking that Fred is having an affair. Rock actually shows up to replace Fred, but gets mistakenly pounded by an angry Wilma, Betty and Barney and ends up out of commission again. Tanya then leads Fred to the Green Goose (whose hideout is at an abandoned amusement park), but he is unaware that the Chief has been taken out by Ali and Bobo, so he has no back-up. Barney, meanwhile, has followed Fred to see what this is all about, and they both end up captured by the Green Goose. Barney is tortured in an effort to get Fred, who is believed to be Rock, to give him secret information. Fred refuses to talk, despite Barney's torture.

The Green Goose, who is revealed to be Triple X, makes plans to launch his deadly inter-rockinental missile, which is disguised as the park's space ride. Fred and Barney accidentally lock themselves inside the missile until the Green Goose overhears that Fred has an "expensive" necklace on him. When he offers to release them in exchange for it and opens the door, the boys turn the tables on Triple X and lock him in the missile with Ali, Bobo and Tanya—with the target now reset for outer space, sending them all to an unknown fate.

A huge welcome home ceremony is held in Bedrock for the return of Fred, now considered a hero, but he is just grateful to be back home with his family (after the restaurant mishap is cleared), who head on a secret getaway. Unfortunately, Roberta, one of Rock's admirers whom Fred met in Rome, and her brother Mario have secretly moved into Bedrock, and they chase Fred all over town, much to the confusion of Wilma, Barney, and Betty.

Cast

*Alan Reed and Henry Corden as Fred Flintstone
* Mel Blanc as Barney Rubble, Dino
*Jean Vander Pyl as Wilma Flintstone, Pebbles Flintstone
* Gerry Johnson as Betty Rubble
* Don Messick as Ali
*Janet Waldo as Roberta
*Paul Frees as Triple X, Green Goose, Bobo, Rock Slag, Mario
*Harvey Korman as Chief Boulder
* John Stephenson as George Slate
*June Foray as Tanya

Soundtrack

''The Man Called Flintstone'' soundtrack album was released on vinyl by Hanna-Barbera Records.

Side A:
#"The Man Called Flintstone" (Instrumental)
#"Spy Chief" (Instrumental)
#"Spy Type Guy"
#"Bobo and Ali" (Instrumental)
#"Team Mates"
#"Paris Bound" (Instrumental)

Side B:
#"(Someday) When I Am Grown Up"
#"The Happy Sounds of Pareé"
#"Pensate Amore (Think Love)"
#"Scooter Scootin'" (Instrumental)
#"Tickle Toddle"
#"The Man Called Flintstone"

Reception

''Variety'' gave ''The Man Called Flintstone'' a positive review on August 10, 1966, calling the production "excellent" and noting that the "stone-age scenery and machinery are mildly amusing and sometimes highly inventive". The review judges the plot to be a fast-moving and clever spoof of contemporary spy films.

Home media

In 2005, a North American DVD was released by Warner Home Video. It was re-released on December 2, 2008, along with ''Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!'', which was re-released as a double feature with ''The Man Called Flintstone'' during the 1970s.

In 2010, the film was made available in HD via video on demand outlets, such as the iTunes Store and Amazon Prime Video. Unlike the DVD release (which is 4:3 open matte), the streaming version is presented in a more accurate widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1.

''The Man Called Flintstone'' was included in the DVD collection ''The Flintstones: 2 Movies & 2 Specials'' in August 2020. In this collection, the film is in its widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1.

See also

*List of American films of 1966

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Man Called Flintstone, The
1966 animated films
1960s American animated films
1966 musical comedy films
American spy comedy films
American children's animated comedy films
American children's animated fantasy films
American musical comedy films
The Flintstones films
Films based on television series
Animated films based on animated series
Columbia Pictures animated films
Columbia Pictures films
Hanna-Barbera animated films
1960s spy comedy films
Films directed by Joseph Barbera
Films directed by William Hanna
1966 films
Films scored by Marty Paich
Films produced by William Hanna
Films produced by Joseph Barbera
1960s children's animated films
1960s parody films
1960s English-language films