Author Archives: Ralph Schiller

The famed Italian film actress and International movie star Gina Lollobrigida has died at age 95.  “Lollo” (nicknamed in her native Italy) starred in 67 films, including co-starring with Errol Flynn in the under-rated, comic swashbuckler, “Crossed Swords” (1954).  Miss Lollobrigida was by far a finer dramatic screen actress then her rival Sophia Loren.  On top of that Gina displayed… (more…)

Obituary for actress Jennifer Hartig By Baylis Greene November 10, 2022 Jennifer Hartig arrived on these shores from her native England to act, having landed a role in a Broadway production of “Jane Eyre.” Going by the stage name Jan Brooks, she found herself opposite none other than Errol Flynn. That was 1958, and the title of Flynn’s autobiography the… (more…)

Allegedly a copy of “Hello God”, Errol Flynn’s missing and unseen film from 1951 was found among evidence files and archived records of a New York courtroom.  The reels of film in cans were in bad condition.    Rumor said that this deteriorating film was shipped to the George Eastman House Film Archives and Preservation Center.      I sent… (more…)

I am reading this remarkable book “Natalie Wood:  The Complete Biography” by Suzanne Finstad about the life and mysterious death of the tragic film star.  It is impossible to put down and Errol Flynn is not mentioned in it at all.   Flynn has always been brutally criticized and attacked for many things, especially his relationship with the teenage Beverly Aadland. … (more…)

Yesterday after burning the midnight oil for three days I finished Robert Florczak’s superb and meticulous book “Errol Flynn: The Illustrated Life Chronology”, reading it from cover to cover as  it was impossible to put down.  At 320 large-size pages, with over  800 rare photographs, this is easily the finest, best written book on Flynn, that captures his heart and… (more…)

In the current issue of the outstanding quarterly magazine Films Of The Golden Age,  issue number 105 Summer 2021, is an extensive article with actor, dancer, choreographer Christopher Riordan, who happily is still with us.   He worked with many of Hollywood’s top stars in films, television, and behind the camera including Barbara Stanwyck, Fred Astaire, Elvis Pressley,  Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery… (more…)

In late 1956 Errol Flynn went to pre-Castro’s Havana, Cuba to film “The Big Boodle” (1957) with Universal studios’ starlet Gia Scala, on loan to United Artists. In the absolutely fascinating but often heart-breaking book “Gia Scala: The First Gia” written by her loving sister Tina Scala, an incident occurred near the end of filming. Gia was a guest on… (more…)

I have just read the outstanding biography “Gia Scala: The First Gia”, as told by her younger sister Tina Scala to author Sterling Saint James. This is a compelling, haunting, page-turning book with many shocking revelations of behind-the-scenes Hollywood, which was already in decadent decline. Gia Scala quickly became a top film star and co-starred in major studio productions opposite… (more…)

Has anyone here at the Errol Flynn blog read the outstanding book “King Of Fools” by John Parker which reveals the true story of King Edward VIII who abdicated his throne for American divorcee Wallis Simpson? Once his brother became King George VI, and Edward was merely the Duke Of Windsor, the former king was under constant surveillance of British… (more…)

The book entitled “Death Valley Superstars” by author Duke Haney has an excellent chapter on the life and death of Sean Flynn. It is also one of the saddest to read in a great book filled with many sad chapters. Has anyone else here read it? Ralph Schiller — Ralph Schiller