Sorry it's me again… I just received some interesting information from Britain.
In 2009, I visited Leeds Castle in Kent and was astonished to read that Errol had been a guest there once. No further information was supplied. Now I contacted the castle directly, and here is what they wrote:
“All we know for certain is that Errol Flynn signed the castle's guest book on 17th April 1937; sadly we are not in possession of all the guest books so we do not know if this was a one-off visit, or one of several made to the castle to stay with Sir Adrian and Lady Baillie. We have heard that he took a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy from a litter of Lady Baillie's back to America with him, which was the first of the breed in America. But I am afraid that is about all that is known.”
Does anybody know why Errol was in England at that time? Any connection to Spain? Robert, our date expert? You might even supply the castle with information, I think they would be interested in finding out about their famous guest themselves…
Take care!
Inga
P.S. Here's the link of the castle: www.leeds-castle.com
— Inga
Anonymous
September 27, 2010 at 4:38 pm
According to my ongoing complete chronology, Flynn left Madrid on April 4, was in London with Lili having dinner at the 400 Club there on the 9th, and left on the Queen Mary for the U.S. on the 12th. So he certainly could have visited Leeds sometime between those dates, but April 17th seems suspect. He did, it also appears, bring the dogs back with him. As I discover more I'll report back.
Robert
Anonymous
September 28, 2010 at 6:02 am
Thank you very much! Maybe we are on the verge of discovering a new big secret…
Anonymous
September 29, 2010 at 2:13 am
Robert – didn't realize you were compiling a chronology. You know I'm doing this poem of Flynn's life, and now I'm up to World War II. A question: When exactly did Flynn have his fistfight with John Huston? Nothing that I've read has Flynn commenting on it, and Huston himself seems confused as to the exact date. Jeffrey Meyers puts it at 29 April 1945, but it's not entirely clear where he got this date. Any help would be much appreciated. Kevin
Anonymous
September 29, 2010 at 3:52 am
Hello, Kevin
My chronology (already 600 pages, illustrated, and only about 1/3 complete) has the fight listed on that date also. It took place at a party at David O. Selznick's house.
I also have in the works “The Making Of The Adventures Of Robin Hood” and, as you probably know, “Movie Locations-Then & Now”.
Robert
Anonymous
September 29, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hi Robert!
WOW — your chronology is 600 pages so far?! That's amazing!
And I'd love to read your work on the making of the Adventures of Robin Hood, since that's one of my fave Flynn-deHavilland films.
Anonymous
September 29, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Great, Robert, thanks. Would you also happen to have a record of your source for the date? Was it a newspaper article or something? I'm just trying to be as accurate as humanly possible. This chronology you're doing is sorely needed – I've wasted a lot of time trying to get Flynn's chronology straightened out – particularly in the New Guinea years. And one last question, if I may. (And it's not rated “G,” so for those of you with delicate sensibilities, please look away:) On what date, if ever, did Errol and Olivia finally “do it,” to quote Mr. Porter. Ms. De Havilland seems to have been rather coy – or discreet – in addressing this question over the years, and the only author that I've read who takes a definitive position on it is Jeffrey Meyers. But I find it to be an important one. Kevin
Anonymous
September 29, 2010 at 7:10 pm
I will get you my source on that; my guess is it's the same as yours.
As for Olivia, I don't believe the story at all. Experience shows that an event like that doesn't stay secret for very long. Either she or Flynn would have inevitably leaked it ages ago; it seems to smack of latter day exaggeration on her part with an eye towards raising eyebrows. After all, she's also roundly denied it. It all just doesn't seem to wash.
Robert
Anonymous
September 30, 2010 at 3:36 am
Thanks again. I'm with you – I can't quite believe that Olivia ever took the plunge with Flynn. The question is of particular moment now (in my poem) with Flynn and Huston coming to blows – but over what precisely? Flynn seems not to have made any published statements on the matter, and Huston plays it close to the vest – saying Flynn said something awful about someone he still cared deeply for. In my view that certain someone was Olivia, who had an affair with Huston. If Flynn never slept with her, then that could only have heightened the animosity between the two and the jealous venom of whatever remark he made. I like it that Flynn's jealousy was the trigger, and you can almost infer from the fight itself that he never slept with Olivia since it was so vicious. Kevin
Anonymous
October 1, 2010 at 12:21 am
I was in Leeds Castle in 2007, and heard the same information: that Errol Flynn was one of many guests there.
Anonymous
October 1, 2010 at 12:26 am
That would probably be correct, near the end of the war.
I remember seeing a copy of a certain newspaper from that time; details of Mussolini's death on the front page, and at the top: “Flynn in fight”. (something like that!)
Anonymous
August 23, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Hi Kevin;
I think that the John Huston's fight with Errol Flynn did take place on Sunday, April 29, 1945 as this is also the date of Mussolini's execution. Los Angeles Examiner reports on Monday, April 30, 1945
on the front page “Errol Flynn in fist fight” and “Mussolini Executed”
Trust our Errol to make the Front Page over the grave political calamities in Europe! Thumbs up!
Now as to the reason: I found this notation which maybe makes a little sense.
John Huston Biography:
1945. Gets into a fistfight with matinee idol Errol Flynn at Hollywood mogul David O. Selznick's house, possibly over Huston dating Flynn's estranged wife Nora Eddington. Flynn wins, Huston gets over it and casts the faded star years later in The Roots of Heaven.
Now – reasons of provocative words escalating into the fistfight:
1. Huston dating Olivia at one time or another is a definite jealous action and a scorn in Errol's eye.
2. Now Huston moving in on Nora too that would take the cake in Errol's eye.
3. Errol make his sarcastic remark and Huston gets his share of being black and blue!
I hope Kevin that makes some sense to you as it does to me, putting two and two together and I think we are not far of the truth.
Take care,
Tina
Anonymous
August 26, 2011 at 10:06 pm
4/29/45 is correct