The Errol Flynn Blog

Yes, Errol is in that one – his first American speaking part. The star, of course, is Warren William – one of the great actors of the thirties – a true movie star in every sense of the word. Few other actors have ever come close to William's mix of suave charm, a great speaking voice, and extraordinary range as an actor. If you've never seen him, check him out in The Case of the Curious Bride, Satan Met a Lady, The Match King (with Lili Damita), Skyscraper Souls, and The Mouthpiece. Or The Wolf Man, for that matter. I've collected over thirty films now starring William, and it still amazes me that someone of this greatness has now been totally forgotten by filmgoers. Ah, how fleeting is fame . . .
Arno

Weasely is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. I thought he was a great leading man in the films mentioned, among others. Don't recall that many films in which he was a character actor.
A

David, I discovered William about fifteen years ago, and began collecting his films furiously. There was something aristocratic about him, yet without being aloof. He was at his best in comedy, I think, and “Case of the Curious Bride,” a Perry Mason mystery, is a great example. It's a hilarious movie – check out the scene where he and Allen Jenkins are crying together – and it's so fast-paced you can hardly keep up with it. And of course it has that cameo of Errol at the end when he gets the shard of broken mirror in the back – not exactly an auspicious start to his career. I've often felt bad about the evident short schrift I gave William (regarding his role in the film “Satan Met a Lady”) in that documentary I did for Warner Home Video a few years ago (“The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird).” I think I referred to him as “that now forgotten actor, Warren William.” In fact I said some things AFTER that which were very complimentary, but sadly they were left on the proverbial cutting room floor . . . I said, for instance, how unjust that is, insofar as he was one of the great stars, and most attractive personalities, of the 30s. Ah well, that's Hollywood, as they say. Thanks for posting this great clip, Chum!
Arno

David,
I totally agree, “Curious Bride” is a crackling great 30s film – one of my personal favorites, with Warner's top-notch talents presaging the great films to come. I haven't watched it in about five years, and seeing the “Don't Bet on Blondes” clip may start me off on a new, private Warren William festival in the Arno house!
William, I thought, was as good as Gable – he had that wonderfully infectious smile, among so many other things. And, like Erin, I'm partial to films shot in San Francisco – not only because it's so close to where I am, but also because of the special ambiance the city has in the history of film. “Fog over Frisco” is another great favorite of mine (early Bette Davis). And then, of course, there's the more recent films, such as Peter Yates' Bullett and the first two Dirty Harry films – they're among the ones I like the best (probably because of those pulsating Lalo Shiffrin scores, which I always somehow associate with “the City,” as SF is often called by the inhabitants here).
Thanks again for posting the clip ~ great idea!
Arno

HA! Good one Sir Knight !!!
Arno

A good vintage poster, David, but let's face it, that's not a very accurate image of him – he does look a bit weasely there, doesn't he?
You can see from the clip that he was much better looking than that. ~
A.

Me me me me me! Even though this beholder's faulty set of eyes still sees the lead as a mite weasely, as the poster seems to support.
R

When I hear that someone is a true gentleman and devoted to his spouse, my estimation of him increases. Warren William is far less weasely to me now!
Thanks,
R

A gentleman and a scholar you are, my dear sir!
R

Arno! Thanks for the Greenbrian Picture Shows link! I am headed there now! And I agree the poster doesn't do William justice. It seems to be a nudge toward Barrymore (“The Great Profile”) in style but I suppose it could be argued that William had a passing similarity in that regard to John Barrymore. Thanks for the detail on William. I recall that Alan Hale was an inventor, as well – with a few patents, including the movie seat that flips up when you stand in every movie theatre in America!