Sorry to report but the great Doris Day has left us at age 97. In her own autobiography Miss Day wrote how much she enjoyed kissing the great swashbuckler Errol Flynn at the end of the hilarious comedy “It’s A Great Feeling” (1949). Doris Day was a hit singer who sold millions of recordings, had a hit TV series that ran for five years, and starred in 39 motion pictures including one for Alfred Hitchcock. We salute this great lady who save the lives of many animals.
— rswilltell
I was always an admirer and fan of the ever-beautiful Rita Hayworth. After seeing all of her movie classics I tracked down her later films. Beyond the shadow of a doubt the worst film (of 61) in her long career was a soft-core pornographic film ‘The Naked Zoo’ (1970)! It was written, directed, and produced by William Grefe. The film was shot in Florida as cheaply as possible with grainy 16MM film. Not only is the picture slightly out of focus, the soundtrack is horrible. Rita’s co-star was Stephen Oliver who starred on the popular, prime-time series ‘Peyton Place’ (1966-1968) plus look for Fay Spain and Joe E. Ross of ‘Car 54″ in smaller roles. After the film was shot, Grefe decided to pad-out the film’s length with several LSD, Party-Orgy sequences and turned to one-time Errol Flynn director and associate Barry Mahon to shoot the extra scenes. Thankfully Rita Hayworth does not appear in these scenes and acquits herself well as an actress. In fact in the original footage she is still lovely to look at. After this wretched, degrading film, which only played at ‘nudie house’ theatres in the US, Rita Hayworth went over to MGM to shoot “The Wrath Of God” (1972) with Robert Mitchum. Sadly Miss Hayworth’s dementia was taking hold. The director Ralph Nelson gave her only a few lines and kept her in shot so that she could get paid. Afterword she went to England to make a horror film directed by Freddie Francis. After a few days of filming, Rita fled Britain in fear and never acted again anywhere. She was replaced by Kim Novak in the film “Tales That Witness Madness” (1973) which was excellent. Rita Hayworth died in 1987 from Alzheimer’s disease. Barry Mahon continued to write, produce, and direct cheap pornographic films for the rest of his career. Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
‘Gene Wilder with sidekick Marty Feldman is ready to take on all opponents!’
Movie comedian Gene Wilder died yesterday at age 83. He left behind a legacy of 26 films including two swashbucklers. The first is the forgotten comedy classic ‘Start The Revolution Without Me” (1970) where he delightfully co-starred with Donald Sutherland as two pairs of mixed-up, identical twins in the French Revolution of 1789. One pair the wealthy, arrogant Aristocrats the Corsican Brothers, and the other, two cowardly Paris paupers. This beautifully shot costume, period film even has Orson Welles as an on-camera narrator. The second is the hilarious “The Adventure Of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother” (1974) with Wilder as the great detective’s jealous and insecure kid brother, Sigerson. This forgotten Holmes case has climatic duels with one between rapidly traveling coaches in the London fog, and a climatic rooftop swordfight to the death between Sigi Holmes and his brother’s arch-enemy Professor Moriarty played by Leo McKern. Thanks Mr. Wilder and God bless you. Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
“King’s Rhapsody” was the second and last film that Errol Flynn had co-starred in with British Movie Queen Anna Neagle, the follow-up to their successful “Lilacs In The Spring” earlier that year in 1955. Neagle’s movie mogul husband Herbert Wilcox produced and directed this lavish production shot in the expensive CinemaScope process and filmed in beautiful EastmanColor with a cast of thousands. Unfortunately “King’s Rhapsody” is a misfire and an outright dud. Worst of all it’s boring. Based on the beloved Ivor Novello West end musical about a fictional Balkan kingdom, Laurentia and it’s playboy Crown Prince and later King Ricki (Errol Flynn) who loves his mistress Marta (Anna Neagle) but is forced to marry the Princess Cristiane of Norseland (Flynn’s wife Patrice Wymore). In spite of the gorgeous Barcelona, Spain scenery capture by Wilcox’s cameras, movie audiences have to sit through one endless song after another including a boring six-minute ballet danced by Wymore, who has the best-looking legs in films with the possible exception of Cyd Charisse. When Errol Flynn is allowed to act, he delivers a powerful, dramatic performance as the star-crossed monarch destined to lose both his crown, his kingdom, and his son. However Flynn is used as a handsome smiling prop as both Anna Neagle and Patrice Wymore constantly sing and dance around his character. After the first few songs, Errol Flynn looks downright embarrassed which probably explains his bad behavior during the making of the film as reported by Anna Neagle herself in a TV interview. Unlike the charming, under-rated “Lilacs In The Spring”, “King’s Rhapsody” was a box office stinker in both Great Britain and the USA. Neagle’s cinema career was also mortally wounded by the film as she made only four more films before retiring. On a positive note, the “King’s Rhapsody” DVD sold on Amazon is a beautiful, pristine widescreen version of the film. Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
After the disaster of ‘The Story Of William Tell’, Errol Flynn accepted the offer of British movie/mogul/producer director Herbert Wilcox to co-star in films with his wife, then and now the one true Queen of the British cinema, Anna Neagle. The first was a film version of the London West End musical ‘The Glorious years’, entitled ‘Lilacs In The Spring’ (1954). Wilcox directed his beloved Neagle where she sang, danced, and acted in Trucolor opposite both Errol Flynn and British leading man David Farrar. It is a story spanning several generations of fascinating flashbacks with Anna Neagle playing both mother and daughter. Neagle also recreates two of her famous film roles in dream sequences, Queen Victoria, and Nell Gwynn. Errol Flynn is the British music hall star John Beaumont (loosely based on John Barrymore) whose career suffers after returning from combat in World War One. He goes to Hollywood and becomes a major swashbuckling star in such adventure epics like ‘Captain Fearless”! Ten years after they divorce, Flynn’s character reunites happily with his wife and daughter only to lose Neagle’s Lillian in a tragic plane crash. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Errol Flynn gives one of his greatest dramatic performances in a film that has been little seen by his most loyal fans. Flynn also carries a charming tune ‘Lily Laguna’ in a show-stopping song-and-dance number! Anna Neagle said that while making ‘Lilacs In The Spring’ Errol Flynn was on his very best behavior. When they made a second film together, Flynn was up to his old tricks after he realized how the film was turning out. After all the trouble Errol Flynn had in Britain with his magnificent World War Two film ‘Objective Burma’ (1945) which portrayed no British combatants, there are two funny references to it in this movie. In one scene David Farrar tells beloved British character actress Kathleen Harrison that he and his ENSA troupe (the British version of the American USO) will entertain the troops in Burma and she shouts “And be sure to say hello for me to Errol Flynn if you see him in Burma!” Later Neagle, as her own daughter, tells her father at the London airport that she won’t elope with Farrar and get on the plane to Burma. She insists that she hasn’t packed and has nothing to wear, not even pajamas! Errol Flynn protests “Pajamas in Burma? It’s too hot! After all I should know!” Anna Neagle kisses her father Flynn good-bye and elopes with Farrar to the Burma ENSA tour!!!! On top of in ‘Lilacs In The Spring’ Errol Flynn is as handsome as ever. The wonderful, heart-tugging ‘Lilacs In The Spring’ is available on DVD through Amazon.com… from Wham!USA video. Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
A dear, sweet friend of mine located this rare photo from the charity benefit, the Friar Frolics in 1950 with our heroes clowning around. Errol Flynn is on the left, with Broderick Crawford in drag right after winning an Oscar, Van Johnson on the right and Harpo Marx up front! Sorry I missed it for the book, Thank you Inga! Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
Kino Lorber in cooperation with Republic Pictures has released a beautiful-looking DVD of one of Errol Flynn’s most forgotten and obscure films ‘The Adventures Of Captain Fabian’ (1951). There is not a single flaw in the 35MM negative and the film itself holds up splendid. Mind you the real stars of the film are Micheline Presle and Vincent Price who give top-notch performances in this dark, Gothic tale. Errol Flynn and the always wonderful Agnes Moorehead are clearly in support. Flynn, with top billing, is ideally cast as the dashing, heroic Captain Fabian who single-handily brings down 1860’s New Orleans most corrupt and power hungry dynasty. The woman in question is no good but Fabian fights for her honor and love to no avail. The film ends with a rousing attack on police headquarters by a mob led by Vincent Price to lynch Captain Fabian. The intrepid Captain is rescued by his crew in time to battle the sneering villain to the death. The woman dies tragically and a broken-hearted Captain Fabian gently carries her body down the long New Orleans dock. Errol Flynn looks fit as a fiddle and sports impressive biceps which make his fight scenes with the equally tall Price realistic. Enjoy this forgotten gem! Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
Olive Films has released for pre-order one of Errol Flynn’s most obscure and under-rated films ‘The Adventures Of Captain Fabian’ (1951). The film was expensively produced by Republic Pictures and shot overseas in Paris, France. Frankly it’s a dark, gothic story starring Vincent Price and Micheline Presle (the director William Marshal’s wife) as an evil couple in grand old New Orleans. Errol Flynn has thee title role and is in support along with the great Agnes Moorehead until the very end when Captain Fabian and his crew swashbuckle against a lynch mob. The film’s ending is heartbreaking and surprisingly Errol Flynn gives one of his finest dramatic performances ever. Olive Films has been releasing many Paramount and Republic films in beautiful pristine, DVD films so ‘The Adventures Of Captain Fabian’ will never look better! Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
We had spoken here at the blog about the big-budget film production ‘Princess Grace’ starring Nicole Kidman in the title role. It was shot at least two years ago but the producers decided against releasing it to theatres. It is scheduled to be telecast May 25, 2015 on the LIFETIME Channel, with many repeats. The rumors in Hollywood were that this extremely lavish film was a beautiful-looking bore. Now we may jusge for ourselves! See you at the movies Ralph Schiller
— rswilltell
Richard Glatzer, who did superb work co-writing and co-directing ‘The Last Of Robin Hood’ died Tuesday March 10, 2015 from advance complications of ALS (“Lou Gehrig’s Disease”). Together with Wash Westmoreland, they wrote and directed five films, including most notably last year’s acclaimed motion picture ‘Still Alice’ which won a Best Actress Oscar for Julianne Moore’s performance. Sadly these two artists were finally in the big time.
— rswilltell
