Rory Flynn:
— David DeWitt
Search results for ‘fights’
From Ventura Sala, a wonderful Flynn docu!
20
Jan
Ventura Sala appears in a wonderful docu about Errol Flynn in Majorca, Spain, with some very rare footage and stills I'd never seen before. The docu is 25.44 in length and you can view it by following this link: Ventura Sala Docu
There are shots of Flynn aboard the Zaca, clips of Zaca under sail, Errol at the local Bullfights, and scenes of Majorca. Also, seen is a film being made by other Hollywood stars, and clips of noted visitors such Charles Chaplin, Ava Gardner, and Rita Hayworth. But most of the recollections and stills are about Errol Flynn. The docu is all in Spanish but for those of us who don't speak Spanish it is still a worthy and fascinating docu to watch…
— David DeWitt
Hello Everyone
07
Dec
Dear fellow Errol enthusiasts, I want to say I'm honored to be one of your authors. I have traveled to Jamaica off and on since 1978 and like Errol, My favorite place is the stunningly beautiful Port Antonio area. In my two dozen or so trips, I have accumulated a fair amount of knowledge and insight on both Errol and the area by way of first hand experience and interviews with surviving friends and acquaintances of Errol. On my last trip, I was fortunate enough to attend Errol's 100th centennial, and have a good long chat with Patrice Wymore Flynn. I was at once struck by her approachability and charm. I must say that her mind is sharp as a tack and seemingly untouched by her 83 years.
I was introduced to Patrice by Robert Golding, the son of Jamaica's Prime Minister and a close friend of Patrice. The conversation at the table started on the subject of whether or no Errol had ever built a house on Navy Island. Pat said that as long as she and Errol owned the property, there was only a caretaker's shack that was crudely knocked together. I asked about the probability of commercial development on Navy Island, and she replied that due to a large depression in the middle of the Island, she was advised that developers would have a difficult time building a large structure there. We also talked about the ZACA, which was lovingly restored and currently resides in the Monaco marina basin. “Damn, Errol loved that boat and we would get into some of the worst fights over it” she said. “Every time the shipwrights wanted to replace a board, Errol wanted to double the size of it for 'safety's sake', as he put it”. I had a number of old enlarged photos of her and Errol, and one was of her, Errol and Sean. In that photo she had glasses on and Robert remarked about it. “I was born with glasses on”. she laughed.
The party itself was a virtual “Who's Who” of the Jamaican upper crust with a majority of guests driving over from Kingston, but the local regulars were in attendance also. Margeurite Guarone was a feature and I estimate that there were well over 500 guests. The heads of Jamaica's Government were there in force also. In fact, I shared a table with the head of Transportation Ministry and his family. Everyone was pleasant and friendly. I also notice a large number of thinly disguised bodyguards roaming about, although there were no incidents I could see.
After 30 minutes or so, Pat, Robert, and some other ladies took there place at their table in the front of the dance floor and Pat gave a short speech and lead the first dance. The band was fabulous and belted out those old classic songs like they invented them. When not dancing, Pat kept company at her table while enjoying a rum and coke, and a cigarette or two. I only got to dance with her once but she proved to be the better dancer, although I did not step on her feet. She was dressed in a red long sleeve blouse, black pants and high-heels. I was surprised at how tall she was. I am 6'1″ and she could almost look me in the eye when dancing. One other thing. Pat has the most beautiful, liquid blue eyes I've ever seen. Even though the lighting was very low at the party, Her eyes were the first thing I noticed about her. Errol sure knew how to pick em!
I stayed on for about 3 hr.s and had a great time. The weather was warm and humid and I was surprised at how most of the guests, while dressed to the nines in suit and tie could dance away in never seem to break a sweat, while I, in my “tropical whites”, was trying remain un-soggy. Acclimatization will tell I guess. The next morning, I ventured down to the Marina beach again for my morning swim and as I passed the pier, nothing remained but a few wind blown scraps of paper and my memories of a once in a lifetime experience for this old Errol fan. Jon
— john
the rat race
31
Oct
Linc and David, this one's especially for you.– but for you other guys too.
When I was writing Googie's I left out a few things re my time at EF's house. Mainly because they weren't that exciting, I felt, or particulary savory or enhancing of EF's image — which I refuse to soil. Also, the book was growing longer and longer…
But for a reason I will explain later, here is a piece I will now describe. One Sunday afternoon at the house some people we know were drinking around the pool. Flynn, Cabot, me, my then-wife Gloria, Hedda Hopper, Bob Stack, Steve Cochran (Barbara Payton may have been there, can't remember), Raoul Walsh, I want to say that Grougho Marks was there but I'm not certain, some starlets from Warners and UI, and others. We were playing a game of: Why is it called the X. One example: The Rat Race. Errol, in his cups, said because human beings were always running around crazy, biting each other, humping (my word) each other, stealing from each other, back-biting, etc, etc. Nothing else did it like rats so that's why life was called the Rat Race. Stack disagreed. Said cockroaches were far worse at it, and what's more had been around millions of years longer than rats. He, who was pretty sauced by then, said from now on he was calling life the Roach Race. That became a challenge for EF who promptly said let's prove it. Let's get some rats and cockroaches and race 'em and see who's right. So, off we went down to the stables to find rats and roaches. Couldn't find any of the latter but there were plenty of field rats (smaller than those huge barge rats from the Continent that came over on theMayflower!!). Errol and Cabot set up a track on the floor of the stable where they held cockfights. Marked lanes (think they used boards at first which didn't work and ended up using string to keep rats in line). Well, people started betting on the races and because of drinking things weren't as controlled as they should be. Suddenly Hedda screamed and said she'd been bitten. She ran out screaming and everyone waited until she was out of earshot (then howled). They were afraid of her, and Louella, as you know,because of their columns and power to hurt careers. Gloria finally ran after her and drove her to the emergency hospital. After that, rat racing lost its luster, EF got bored (I swear he had attention deficit problems, not called that then). and took one or two of the starlets into the house — ho ho ho — and most of us returned to the pool. (Another problem at end, one of the dogs got loose from Marge at the house and came down and chased the rats — which now really went fast). That was that.
Now, why am I shedding light on this? Because the other day I picked up a book called Hollywood Revisited by Sheilah Graham, the other gossip columnist who lived with Scott Fitzgerald. I disliked her, she was just as vicious as Hedda and Lolly Parsons but pretend to be peaches and cream — but as I thumbed thru the book I saw some Flynn stuff. None of it new, but to her credit some bad, some good, pretty fair assessments — and then lo and behold, she described “my” afternoon at the rat races! It was then I had a flashback and realized it hadn't been Hedda Hopper but Sheilah at the house that day. My memory had failed me. So, since the book had been marked down to nine bucks I bought it. The few lines are on P. 258. (There is also that photo of EF boxing with Mushy Callahan) So I got to thinking, maybe I should share it with you guys and anyone else interested in EF. So, there you are. Not a Day At the Races by any means, but certainly an example of The Rat Race. Maybe it was not Groucho but Mickey Rooney. Who was no stranger.
I wrote this yestrday but forgot to save it and it didn't post. So here it is again. Sir Ivanhoe.
— ivan6gold
The Sword Fights of Errol Flynn
11
Oct
To kick off the new Blog Video section I created this compilation of some of the greatest sword fights of Errol Flynn's screen career. This includes the duels in Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk, The Adventures of Don Juan and Against All Flags.
The Sword Fights of Errol Flynn from Russ McClay on Vimeo.
“I'm not a fencer. I'm a thespian. But I know how to make it look good.”
- Errol Flynn, My Wicked Wicked Ways
Russ
— Russ McClay
'Errol Flynn always yielded to ladies'
10
Feb
from THE PROVINCE Newspaper – Friday, October 16, 1959By LOUELLA PARSONS, Special to The Province
A world of living was crowded into the 50 years allotted to handsome, tumultuous, devel-may-care, exciting and adventurous Errol Flynn.
The last time I spoke with Errol was when his lawyers and the lawyers of his present wife, Patrice Wymore, were battling for a settlement.
He told me then, “I want a divorce, but she wants a separation and I always yield to the ladies.”
That remark was characteristic of Errol's thinking.
My acquaintance with Errol dates back to the days when he made “Captain Blood” and was the handsomest and most charming actor I think I have ever seen.
He used to come out to Marson's farm, our ranch in the San Fernando valley.
He was as delighted as any happy new father when he telephoned to tell me that Lili Damita, the beautiful French actress who was his first wife, had presented him with a son, Errol Sean Flynn, who is the image of his father and is now seventeen.
WHAT CHARM
What charm Errol had in those days, a charm he never really lost even though he had abused his youth and his health—still, women couldn't resist him.
I know I used to get annoyed with him when he got into the fighting scrapes and court battles, but let me meet him and I was like all the rest, I couldn't help liking him and making excuses for him.
Errol's friendships among men were strong and lasting, no matter what sort of trouble he got into they stood solidly back of him and were as staunch in their devotion as were all the women in his life.
ALL LOVED HIM
Although the legal battles with his ex-wives about alimony were numerous, all of them admitted loving the handsome, attractive, dashing, swashbuckling Flynn.
Errol was actually a replica of all the characters he played on the screen—Don Juan, Robin Hood and other legendary heroes.
With all of this he did not take his career lightly.
DELIGHTFUL HOST
There was a phase in Errol's life when he was married to Nora Eddington, when he fancied himself a country gentleman.
He built a beautiful home on top of Mulholland drive surrounded by acres of land.
I remember going there to a party and what a thoughtful, delightful host he was.
It was all done in good taste and there were no fights nor unseemly conduct.
He showed his real breeding and what he might have been that night.
Errol was well-born.
TAUGHT AT QUEEN'S
I had met his father, Prof. Thompson Flynn, who taught at Queen's University in Belfast, and he was a scholarly gentleman who worried over his errant son's escapades.
After 30 odd years in Hollywood, I think I can safely say that there will never be another Errol Flynn, who secretly loved the reputation of “My Wicked, Wicked Life” the title of his book which is coming out and which he sought to shock his readers.
Newspaper company logos and mastheads are under copyright. Article text published without a copyright symbol is within the Public Domain.
— David DeWitt
