Dear fellow Flynn fans,
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the general release in the USA of the greenest adventure movie ever. Feel free to post away your favourite shot or memory of Robin Hood & his merry men and maids.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
80th anniversary TAORH
14
May
Gentleman Tim
May 14, 2018 at 7:39 pm
TAORH! TAORH! TAORH! triggerheinz
May 14, 1938 – a day that will live in Flynnfamy.
P.S. TCM must not have gotten the memo, as they’re featuring Captain Blood today.
shangheinz
May 15, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Captain Blood on Robin Hood Day!? That is like a hammerfist to the head, Little Tim. TCM can always make good on Hood, the have all 2018 to celebrate his flynntastic Film.
Karl
May 15, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Thank you, Heralding Heinz, for the reminder of this MONUMENTAL milestone (even though there were none at Bidwell Park- BIG stones that is)!
And thanks to the WB Arts Department for overcoming this “minor” obstacle to create not only a platform for Robin to swing on to, but as well, an appropriate “back” drop to a couple in need of seat.
www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
shangheinz
May 16, 2018 at 6:41 am
Dear King Kong Karl, as if swinging from oak to oak like his good friend Tarzan Johnny Weissmüller wasn’t strenous enough, having Tiger Lil’ breathing down his neck made Errol call for a timeout here.
Gentleman Tim
May 16, 2018 at 10:03 am
Good morning, viennaheinz, and thank you to you and to all of Austria for making The Adventures of Robin Hood a reality. For if not for Leopold V the Virtuous providing his Lionhearted Crusadermate bed and breakfast at Durnstein on the Danube, Errol would have never made his Technicolor tour de flynn.
As the Town Crier put it in TAORH:
“News has come from Vienna: “Leopold of Austria has seized King Richard on his return from the Crusades. Our king is being held prisoner. Nothing further is known. His Highness Prince John will make further public pronouncement tomorrow.”
Karl
May 16, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Hi GT, it’s Leopold! Richard will now be released, and with it, a whole ‘NOTHER perspective…
This is something that has been on my mind for awhile, and I’ve wanted to put it out here- waiting for the appropriate moment in our ever ongoing discussion and so, here it is.
Life is a funny old dog.
I can’t help but be struck by the thought of… only, what if~
IMhO, Flynn had promise as an actor of CONSIDERABLE greatness- as is evidenced in both his radio and screen appearances punctuated with moments of POWER AND BRILLIANCE.
BUT~ before you might attempt to take issue with this statement, let me explain further.
Everyone knows how Flynn WORSHIPPED John Barrymore, longed for that kind of artistic recognition, and even sought roles he previously played. GETTING THERE would be another matter.
And therein lies an important point… Barrymore was no LESS different.
These two were, in many ways, KINDRED SPIRITS.
JUST imagine… what if director William Keighley (a soft spoken, sensitive, and highly artistic man) remained on director for the AORH and their association continued, as reportedly, got along VERY well. Add to this scenario, further circumstances of serendipity, such as… WHAT IF rather than fighting a Huston (John) he was somehow, instead, introduced to and seriously WORKED with another one.
And finally, that Flynn’s career path went in reverse of Barrymore’s- going from film to theater. (MORE than a few film stars had actually done this back in that day, BTW.)
Now, take the above names and substitute them in the highlights of the story below [where Keighley is Sheldon, and Huston is Carrington (sister to John’s father Walter)].
“(His stage) work introduced him to playwright Edward Sheldon, who would “reshape … [Barrymore’s] entire career”… “Sheldon urging him to turn towards more dramatic parts…” which led to such reviews as: “the audience saw Barrymore play as he had never played before” and “There is probably not another actor on our stage who has a temperament so fine and spiritual, an art so flexible and sure.” And finally, stepping towards theatrical immortality: “After planning for over a year – largely in secret – Barrymore played his first Shakespeare part, the title role in Richard III. Conscious of the criticism of his vocal range, he underwent training with Margaret Carrington, the voice and diction trainer, to ensure he sounded right for the part, and the pair worked together daily for up to six hours a day for six weeks.”
I now rest this hypothetical case.
twinarchers
May 18, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Wow 80 years. Fantastic.
Gentleman Tim
May 18, 2018 at 10:20 pm
It took me time to beef up on barrymore sufficiently enough to grasp the accuracy and insight of your post, Karl. You sure know your stuff! They were Kindred Spirits indeed!
Two decades later …
www.google.com…
P.S. I wonder who Young Errol more enjoyed watching on the silver screen,, Fairbanks or Barrymore?
Karl
May 19, 2018 at 1:48 am
Tim-
I am HONORED that you took the time to consider this post.
In the photo that first comes up in your link, it almost suggests the reverse situation between sons: where John Drew Barrymore is (seemingly) worshipful of Sean.
As to your question, without a doubt, BARRYMORE!
A GREAT book on Barrymore is House of Barrymore by Margot Peters… it’s about all 3 but they are highlighted individually.
Also, Anthony Quinn has wonderful remembrances of him in his 2 autobios. A memorable Barrymore bit of advice to young Quinn went something like: “You know, kid… anyone can make shit out of beauty, but it takes courage to make beauty out of shit.”
(It was addressing the general subject of saving face in an all but hopeless situation.)
Garson Kanin’s Hollywood has an outstanding chapter about him and the filming of The Great Man Votes.
Orson Welles shares some offbeat stories:
it starts at 10:18 -14:35