On 3 May 1965, DV announced that Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. president Richard D. Zanuck had hired Lawrence Turman to produce a screen adaptation of Guy Owen’s 1965 novel, The Ballad of the Flim-Flam Man, for anticipated release in 1966. A few months later, the 5 Aug 1965 DV noted that the title had been shortened to The Flim-Flam Man prior to production, which was delayed until the following year.
       With the casting of George C. Scott and Sue Lyon in the leading roles, the 26 Aug 1966 LAT announced that principal photography was set to begin three days later in Lexington, KY. Various sources indicate that the shooting schedule was split between Lexington and the nearby town of Lawrenceburg. According to the 26 Sep 1966 DV, roughly 500 Lawrenceburg residents served as background actors along with city judge William Nichols, who appeared in an uncredited role. DV reported that due to a prolonged period of inclement weather, Turman rented Lexington’s G. T. Vaughn tobacco processing plant, which would provide 200,000 square feet of makeshift studio space for nine interior sets. The following week, the 13 Oct 1966 LAT stated that George C. Scott had suffered a knee injury, forcing the production to continue shooting only scenes in which he could remain seated. After two months in Kentucky, the 23 Nov 1966 Var announced that the unit had returned to the Twentieth Century-Fox lot in Los Angeles, CA, where the remainder of interior scenes would be completed over the next month.
       According to the 2 Oct 1966 LAT, director Irvin Kershner gave the role of “2nd fertilizer salesman” to magician Jay Ose, who was present on the set to coach Scott for his role as a con artist. A 7 Dec 1966 Var brief also reported that stuntmen Dick Hudkins and Dale Van Sickel “doubled” as actors.
       A 2 Sep 1966 DV news item indicated that Turman approached Bob Dylan to write the film’s title song, to be sung by The Mamas and the Papas; however, neither Dylan nor the band were involved in the final film.
       Items in the 1 Mar 1967 Var and 13 Jun 1967 LAT reported that the world premiere was set to take place in Louisville, KY, on 5 May 1967, followed by a screening as the closing night engagement at the Berlin Film Festival on 4 Jul 1967. A 15 Aug 1967 DV brief listed the Los Angeles benefit premiere on 31 Aug 1967 at the Carthay Circle Theater. However, the 16 Aug 1967 DV suggested that the picture was already in release on the East Coast, having begun its New York City engagement on 22 Aug 1967.
       A year after its debut, the 28 Aug 1968 Var announced that the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) had ordered a television pilot based on the film, which ultimately did not move ahead.