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Archive for the ‘Behind the Scenes’ Category

Morning After

05 Mar

March 4, 1939

Erskine Johnson
Behind the Makeup
Los Angeles Examiner

Morning after the Academy Awards banquet, Donald Crisp sent a telegram to Errol Flynn, vacationing in the South. “Dear Errol,” it read. “Last night the Academy Awards banquet was held. Your name was not mentioned.”

…

Deplorable that Flynn was not even nominated for his immortal portrayal of Robin Hood.

The nominees were:

Spencer Tracy, for Boys Town

Charles Boyer, for Algiers

James Cagney, for Angels with Dirty Faces

Robert Donat, for The Citadel

Leslie Howard, for Pygmalion

And the winner was:

Spencer Tracy, for Boys Town

www.oscars.org…

Proper Evaluations of Flynn’s Greatness

The model of an action hero in 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, the dashing star made the swordplay and wooing look so effortless that it’s easy to ignore the craft behind his derring-do. – Entertainment Weekly

 

He was the Tom Cruise of the 1930s, a global superstar whose natural charisma and box-office power put him at the tippytop of Hollywood — and he never won an Oscar. Unlike Cruise, Flynn was never even nominated, not for “Captain Blood,” “The Charge of the Light Brigade” or 1938’s still-dazzling “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” – Boston Herald

 

Unfortunately, at the time when Errol enjoyed his greatest success, the adventure film, as a genre, was not sufficiently appreciated and therefore [Errol’s] appearances therein were not as highly regarded as they [are now.] … [He] played his roles with unmatchable verve, conviction, and style. In doing so, he inherited the mantle of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., who was my favorite film star at the age of 9 and whose ‘The Black Pirate’ left an indelible impression on me. No one since Errol has worn that mantle; it is buried with him. – Lady Marian Fitzwater

 

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Gentleman Tim, Newspaper & Headlines, Special Events

 

Uncommonly Quiet

03 Mar

March 2, 1942

Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express

Are Warners trying to keep Errol Flynn under wraps these days? His set is usually closed to newspaper people and the studio publicity department is uncommonly quiet about the star.

…

This article was written during filming of Desperate Journey, at a time which Errol was said to be suffering from tuberculosis, dropping to 165-pounds at one point.

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Gentleman Tim, Main Page, Newspaper & Headlines

 

In a State of Chaos

02 Mar

As quoted in My Wicked, Wicked Ways

March 1, 1949

Sheila Graham
New York Journal-American

Errol Flynn is far from being the happiest man in the world at this point. Not only is his domestic life in a state of chaos, but he has to make a western as his next movie. Errol is tired of shooting it up in the saddle. He doesn’t want to be a rich man’s Roy Rogers.

1949 – In the State of Chaos

1950 – In the State of Montana

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Gentleman Tim, Newspaper & Headlines, Wives

 

Leap Day 1940 – Part 1

29 Feb

The day the Oscar leaped by Olivia: books.google.com…books.google.com…

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Co-Stars, Dates & Girlfriends, Flynn-related, Gentleman Tim, Special Events

 

Gone Fishin’ – On the Sirocco – With Bow & Arrow

27 Feb

February 28, 1939

Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express

It was a hectic weekend the old Pacific dealt out to Hollywood sailors.

Errol Flynn’s yacht, the Sirocco, with Howard Hill, the archer, and two camermen among those aboard, limped into port at Mazatlan with sails and mast torn away by a gal encountered 300 miles at sea.

Flynn’s boat, according to reports reaching Hollywood, was badly crippled and will be in dry dock for some time. The Sirocco has been in Mexican waters for Archer Hill to film a short subject about fishing with bow and arrow. Flynn was not with the party but is expected to join them at Mazatlan.

…

Howard Hill’s Hunting the Hard Way: Marlin Fishing with Errol, Bow, and Arrow

youtu.be/0bcV9sa5lZA…

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Gentleman Tim, Main Page, Newspaper & Headlines, Ships & the Sea, Sirocco

 

The Adventures of Don Flynn: 1939

27 Feb

February 27, 1939

Louella Parsons
Los Angeles Examiner

How would you like to see the dashing Errol Flynn play the equally dashing Don Juan? Academy Award winning producer Hal Wallis is plotting such a story as a follow-up to Robin Hood. He will not use the Lord Byron material, but will base The Adventures of Don Juan on a story by Bess Meredyth wrote when she was a Warner scenarist. Bess, who retired from active work to enjoy her ranch, will do a rewrite job with Roland Leigh. Of course it will be a Michael Curtiz picture.

….

Though rarely remembered today, Bess Meredyth was a brilliant talent, maybe even a greater talent than Michael Curtiz, her husband from 1929 to his death in 1962. She often helped Curtiz on his projects, particularly with writing and rewriting, explaining, I suspect, why a man so infamously challenged by the English language could turn out such masterfully scripted films. Bess was behind the scenes. She was a very accomplished vaudevillian, film actress, musician, comedienne, business women, and screenwriter. Her many friends and colleagues in the industry included Bundy Drive Boys Gene Fowler and John Barrymore. She was reportedly a big help to Barrymore during his Hollywood years. (Notably, she also wrote the screenplay for Barrymore’s Don Juan, released in 1926 and featuring more kisses than any other film in history, 127 at last count.)

Bess Meredyth

Here’s looking at you, Bess:

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Flynn and..., Gentleman Tim, Newspaper & Headlines

 

Late Note with Errol Flynn – A Story with Rory

25 Feb

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Collectibles, Gentleman Tim, Rory Flynn

 

Not Errol!?

23 Feb

In 1945, one of Errol’s favorite leading ladies confided in Dolores Moran that the greatest lovemaker she ever had was not Errol Flynn, but, rather, another Hollywood celebrity.

Who was the leading lady?

Who was the purported superior lovemaker?

What were the circumstances of that hard-to-believe revelation?

…

Clues to Use

It was whispered into Miss Moran’s ear in the leading lady’s studio dressing room (dressing room no. 7) during the filming of a Warner Brothers movie.

There’s a good chance Raoul Walsh was there also, and almost certainly he knew what was whispered, though unlikely he actually heard it.

Errol traveled many thousands of miles with this alleged lovemaking competitor, prior to and subsequent to this dubious disclosure.

h

— Tim

 
10 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Co-Stars, Films, Flynn and..., Gentleman Tim, QUIZ PAGE

 

Sorry Margaret

22 Feb

February 22, 1935

Jimmy Starr
Evening Herald Express

Margaret Lindsay’s heavily bandaged wrist, a badly wrenched shoulder, and several black and blue marks all the cause of an overly-enthusiastic newcomer to the screen, handsome Errol Flynn, Irish actor, brought here from England by Warner Brothers.

When Mr. Flynn was cast in a small role in The Case of the Curious Bride, his first scene was with Miss Lindsay. He was to grab here and fake a terrible struggle. Mr. Flynn, ex-gold miner of New Guinea, pearl-fisher of the South Seas and boxer in the Olympic Games of 1928, suddenly became much too realistic in his handling of the fair heroine.

Director Michael Curtiz, enjoying the excitement of the splendid struggle, was too engrossed in getting action in his pifture to stop the rough treatment of his star. At the finish of the scene, however, Maggie was rushed to the studio hospital, where she was treated for severe bruises and her sprained wrist.

It is needless to say that Mr. Flynn has been warned to curb his “realism” in the future.

…

February 23, 1935

By Peter Pry
Behold Them Minus Hokum
Hollywood Citizens News

Errol Flynn, the he-man Irish actor under contract to Warners who previously was an Olympic Games boxer, does not entirely realize his strength. For a scene in The Case of the Curious Bride he was told to grab Margaret Lindsay by the wrist and throw her across the room. He did as he was told. Margaret landed 12 feet away. Her hand and arm began to swell with alarming speed. First aidcarrived and the swelling members were taped up. But director Michael Cuttiz said it was a wonderful scene.

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Films, Flynn and..., Gentleman Tim, Main Page, Newspaper & Headlines, Sirocco

 

Ahoy All Boys

21 Feb

February 21, 1938

Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express

Here’s a vacation offer to fit any boy’s dream.

Errol Flynn has decided to give two youngsters, between the ages of 15 and 18, a chance to accompany him on his Carribean cruise.

The star originally invited the Mauch twins, but they are going into a western picture at Warners and won’t be able to make the trip.

So Flynn is going to extend the opportunity to two other boys.

Anybody has a chance, but certain qualifications are necessary.

First of all, the consent of the parents. No boy who runs away from home will be given consideration.

Secondly, the star wants boys who have had an elementary training in seamanship and who possess some knowledge of the mathematics of navigation.

The cruise is to be made in the star’s yacht, Sirocco, and the sailing date is about the middle of March. Flynn plans to be gone six weeks. With him on the boat will be the captain, the two lucky boys and a couple of the actor’s men’s friends.

Don’t write this reporter for more information. Address all communications to Flynn at the Warners Brothers studio, in Burbank, California.

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Main Page, Newspaper & Headlines, Ships & the Sea, Sirocco

 
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