My dear fellow Flynn fans,
in connection to last week’ s (puzzle) piece on the”White Rajah” I summon you to chip in on Errol’s announced, but never realized film projects.
I know of the following, either via newspaper or self promotion of our Hollywood hero himself:
“Goya” after an idea, rather a vision of Salvatore Dali
“Michael Strogoff”, the Jules Verne classic, who saw the movie light later starring Curt Juergens
“Lord Valiant”, a historic fencing flic side by side with Robert Wagner and Joan Collins
“Singapore East” a junk boat pirate spectacle situated in Japan with Italian singer-actor Alberto Rabagliati
And the mother of all sequels “The new adventures of Robin Hood”, which I especially am curious about. Maybe one of our elder statesmanly scolars knows if it ever was really officially announced by Warner Bros. ?
— shangheinz
Hmm..this is tough. The first thing that comes to my mind is “Lolita” but of course he was only asked to play a part (and famously turned it down)- he did not own the rights.
Re: Proposed film projects—Correction—NOT “Lord Valiant”—should read “Lord Vanity”—The project is mentioned in Robert Wagner’s autobiography.
The title is from Samuel Shellabarger’s historical novel.
Thanks to Eric Becker via the EFB Mailbag!
Thank you, Eric & David, for bring to our attention the very highly regarded and successful writer, Samuel Shellabarger. … A Princeton Man, with “the enthusiasm but not verbosity of Alexander Dumas”. Fox Studios produced his “Captain from Castille” & (quite appropriately for Fox) “Prince of Foxes”.
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I love that photo of Errol, Sir Heinz. Looks like it was taken during or soon after A Weekend with Barrymore.
This is a fantastic topic. Thank you. I didn’t know of all these announced but unrealized films. Will you Tell if Will Tell qualifies, too?
Perhaps there was no Lord Valiant, but there should have been! It would have been a terrific title for a Lord Flynn film. Valiant Comics certainly realized this when they made him part of the Valiant Universe. here’s an issue he was featured in, with his alleged friend, Armstrong:
www.com…
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Hi Heinz;
In regards to Lord Valiant I am a little confused. Robert Wagner played “PRINCE VALIANT” but not with Joan Collins it was Janet Leigh.
I am not quite sure what you are looking for in relation to Errol’s White Rajah?
I’m not familiar with “Singapore East”, singaheinz, but I did see “Singapore Mideast” with Errol, filmed nine or so years after the 1947 original with Errol’s old Dive Bomber co-star in the lead:
[img]http://quixotando.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/istanbul-1957-cornell-borchers-errol-flynn.jpg?w=1024[/img]
Good Morning all! I found 2 possible projects – but I am not sure if they were proposed/owned by EF :
EL CID -1948. This seems plausible as one of EF’s projects.
“March or Die” 1955- I found this one noted in a newspaper search as Errol’s TV series debut with CBS.
Does anyone have more information?
What Great work, Maria! Flynntastic!!!
The picture in Heinz’s post is from the movie “The Curious Bride”
Not from A Weekend with Barrymore, Tina?
[img]http://queen.spaceports.com/images/Photo_Lindsay_Curious_bride.jpg[/img]
And, of course, harrisonheinz, we should not forget Errol’s most famous Lost film, when he played archaeologist Professor Henry Jones Jr.
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Great work ya’ all! Of course, Prince Valiant was an actual film starring Robert Wagner having a bad hair day, which by the way hindered him becoming Errol’s heir apparent. Keep the info flow coming, dear fact finding Flynnions. And now what about Rob Hood II.?
Back to the Hood we go, nottingheinz. But, first, I thought I should post this publicity shot of Lord Wagner & Lady Page from Prince Valiant. Had this clip of Wagner’s hair (a Page boy cut?) been more well known back in the Fifties, The Beatles may have never been.
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I read that a sequel to Footsteps In The Dark (to be called Ghosts Don’t Leave Footprints) was being written,but unfortunately was never made.
Hope you had a nice Winter(?) holiday, Lollie! Your Ghost have No Footprints find led me to this fascinating list of Errol’s “Unmade Films” & “Films Made by Other Actors”!! Thank you, Lollie!!
en.m.wikipedia.org…
Would have been wonderful to have seen Flynn
in all these films, right up to Debby Reynolds’ tee-totalling dad. Barrymore set the bar really high in The Sea Beast, but so did Fairbanks in Robin Hood:
www.nytimes.com…
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That list is very interesting isn’t it Tim,thanks for posting. :)
And thank you also,we had a really GREAT winter weekend holiday. :D
Wow – Mrs. Skeffington was on that list. I wonder if Bette used her influence on that one.
Somehow I doubt Errol was not too shaken up over not making that one with Miss Bette, Maria!
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Senor Errol & Clark in SIMON BOLIVAR circa 1940!! Wow, that would been fantastico! Bigga than a Gigahit
in Latin America, no doubt – likely to this very day.
Who would have played Bolivar?? I say Fleen! (Which may have led El Gablo to say no?) (Flynn wins top billing alphabetically, too!)
[img]http://www.militaryheritage.com/images/bolivar2.jpg[/img]
Well, mickeyheinz, it appears that Senor Flynn may have been a intended possibility for a Walt Disney production of El Cid, which Disney apparently discussed with Dali at his home in Spain, if the Disney related link below is accurate, and my interpretation of it correct. Errol’s part was to be “live action”, which describes The Great Flynn’entire life & persona quite well actually.
www.mouseplanet.com…
According to a Dali filmography compiled by Elliot H. King, this El Cid project was being considered circa ’48.
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Another movie I read about was the film Four Daughters ( they ended up making 4 of them starring the four real life Lane sisters & Claude Rains),Errol was signed on to play the Felix character (who all the sisters fall in love with) but he dropped out after the character didn’t have enough of a big part in the film,they say Errol wasn’t happy about that.
I have seen the first movie Four Daughters and could have easily seen Errol in the role of Felix.The movie itself though I found to be pretty boring,but luckily Claude Rains,John Garfield & the old actress who plays Errol’s Grandma in The Perfect Specimen make it worth watching,but I found the Lane sisters to all be very annoying.
I didn’t know that, Lollie. Thanks. Nor do I believe I ever saw the film(s). I suspect, though, Errol was right to avoid it. If he had married just once more, he could have made a similar film with, Lili, Nora, Pat & Lucky No. 4!!!! That would have classic! (I remember Prof. Flynn talking about the party at Mulholland when Errol had Lili, Nora & Pat all there!!! He was something else!)
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lol really Tim?! Please tell the story! :D
I’ll need to search further tonight, Lollie, as I can’t find an account of it now, BUT here’s how I recall the story:
After Errol left for the next world, his dad wrote a wonderful, loving article about him. I believe I read it in an Austalian periodical, perhaps Austalian Women’s Weekly? It’s the one where, among other things, The Prof talks about how so many women were always chasing, harrassing, and using Errol – even sometimes stripping naked in front of him. One even knocked Marelle down or around on Hollywood Boulevard!
The Professor revealed a lot of very cool things about Errol, many rare tidbits. One gem was the time Errol first brought his young new wife to Mulholland and decided to throw a party. Then, to spice and/or stir things up I imagine, Flynn invited both his ex’s – Tiger Lil & Nora. Father Flynn was horrified when Nora sat on Errol’s lap, with young Patrice not knowing what to do. …. Gd only knows what Tiger Lil was up to – probably sizing up the Farm for a lien or three.
We’ve got to find that article, Lollie! It’s a great one, with great pictures.
Thanks Tim that article would be fantastic to read! :D
Tim I think I found the article you mentioned! Is this it? :)
1st page –
trove.nla.gov…
2nd page –
trove.nla.gov…
I believe that’s it, Lollie! Thank you for such great research!!
You are welcome Tim,I am glad I could help a little & I thank you for telling me about this great article in the first place.You are my #1 Errol Flynn ‘go to guy’. :D
Thank you for such a kind compliment, Lollie. Isn’t that a wonderful article by Father Flynn! So good to see him stand up so strongly and proudly for his son. And such great inside info.
You said it Tim! Such a lovely article,and that letter Errol wrote to his family (at the bottom of this page) was beautiful. :)
trove.nla.gov…
Tim,Errol’s Dad made a very interesting comment here about Beverly when he said –
‘But when Beverly Aad
land appeared on the scene
we moved out. It was the
only time we felt apart from
Errol. But let it never be for-
gotten that by this time he was
no longer himself.’
Beverly Aadland was certainly accepted by Rory and Deirdre, and Nora Flynn-Haymes. His parents couldn’t because of her age, I suppoise. But it was a genuine loving relationship, which is not to say it wasn’t controversial. It gave Flynn happiness at a time when his health was failing, and he was nearing the Stygian Gates …
I imagine Professor Flynn thought Errol was sailing way too far up Styx Creek when he saw how deep his son was in with the way-too-young Woodsie She definitely appealed to Errol’s Achilles Heel.
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Hi David;
You are right! I would say Errol knew for quite a while that the time to pass over was very near. Errol ignored it but he knew as he was an intelligent person and most likely felt the symptoms.
I don’t think Errol had in general a happy life or really was a happy man, he portrayed it – yeah – but always an act till his dying moments.
What did he say to all the Media slurs: “A a decent chap never lets his public down”. He took everything like a brave man!
Beverly gave him happiness, which he deserved! He knew it wouldn’t last for long. Fully aware it was his last chance to clutch some happiness before the bell tolled!
Ah, broken is the golden bowl! The spirit flown for ever!
Let the bell toll… a saintly soul floats on the Stygian River!
Pickin’ up the Styx metaphor has certainly raised the poetic spirit of replies, David. What’s a metaphor, if not for such such things? As the Walrus once sang: Man, it’s good to see them picking Edgar Allen Poe. (Or was that the Carpenter?)
I think Errol could have played the Poe old boy!
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Well said, Tina & Tim!
Poor Errol,he looked so very sad around that time.
I am glad he and Beverly made each other happy and that she was with him then,but at the same time though it is a difficult time in Errol’s life to look at.Yes definitely controversial for sure,especially considering now days that he would be jailed as a – you know what.
Looks like the “White Rajah” is bound for the big screen: www.theborneopost.com…