Errol Flynn – The Great White Hope of Hollywood

July 3, 1938

Errol Flynn: White Hope of Color Writers

Errol Flynn may be a bit of a problem child to Warner Brothers, but he’s the white hope of the “color” writes for magazines and newspapers, who’ll take their movie heroes with a dash of excitement every time.

The same reasons that turn the hair on Errol’s bosses gray are the very ones that make him the pet of the scribes. No one ever seems to know where the dashing Flynn is going to be at any given time.

Hollywood used to be filled with gay adventuresome blades like Flynn in the “good old days.” Remember when John Gilbert and Great Garbo used to stage an “elopement” almost every weekend – and there was also the memorable occasion when John walked into the Beverly Hills police station and told the amazed captain he wanted to stay there for the night!

Wally Reid used to make Hollywood Boulevard sizzle as he tore by in his bright blue sportster with the top down, his blaring automoble horn heard for miles.

Rudy Valentino used to overwhelm lovely strange ladies by inviting them to tangle with him. After the dance was over, he would bow politely, escort them to their tables, and they might never see him again except on the screen! But what an adventure to write home about!

The present-day movie star has changed. Careers have been put above the excitement of being devil-may-care personalities playing for the crowds. Dignity has set in, in large doses.

Only Errol Flynn remains, a last remaining adventurer in a colony of actors who seldom do the unexpected anymore.

— Tim