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Archive for the ‘Behind the Scenes’ Category

Errol Saves England (Again) — Eighty Years Ago

15 May

An EFB Four Score News Report: The Anniversary of The Prince and the Pauper

Louella O. Parsons – Extract from the Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News – May 12, 1937

“Miles Herndon, dashing soldier of fortune, delivers the rightful prince.
Warners are indeed fortunate in having Errol Flynn in the family to play Herndon.
Where I ask you, is there a more suitable actor for a role that calls for
a handsome devil-may-care adventurer? Errol may have had bigger roles, but
never one that suited him better.”

Elizabeth Yeaman – Extract from the Hollywood Citizen News – May 13, 1937

With the coronation in England dominating the headlines for days, nothing
could have been more timely than Warners’ film version of The Prince and
the Pauper, which is climaxed by an elaborate coronation sequence.

Harrison Carrol – Extract from the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – May 13, 1937

If Mark Twain had been alive today and had written The Prince and the Pauper
under Hollywood assignment, he could not have turned out a more perfect screen
story for this coronation year and for two extraordinary child actors, Billy
and Bobby Mauch.

In its spectacular and veracious coronation scenes this is as timely a picture
as could be asked.

It is Errol Flynn, playing a good natured soldier of fortune, who takes the young prince under his wing – not the least believing his story – and finally clears the way for a nick-of-time restoration of the royal youth, just as the unwilling beggar boy is about to be crowned king of England. In the role, Flynn is a dashing figure.

Warners have made the coronation ceremony one of the year’s spectacular screen episodes.

The Prince and the Pauper is an excitingly narrated, handsomely prodeuced, finely acted picture – an artistic achievement for producer Hal B. Wallis and all concerned – and a box-office natural.

Heading the supporting bill is a color short, A Day at Santa Anita.

Flynn saves England!

Just in time for the Coronation!

— Tim

 
3 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Co-Stars, Film Anniversaries, Film Clips, Film Trailers, Gentleman Tim, Main Page, Newspaper & Headlines

 

Flynnster the Prankster

01 Apr

By all accounts, Errol was a consummate, and very prolific prankster. World class, I’m sure. Being that this is April Fools Day, it seems like a perfect time to document and discuss some of Errol’s practical jokes, and alleged practical jokes. Surely there were hundreds, maybe thousands, most now lost forever. There are enough accounts existing, however, for us to get a good flavor of his sensational sense of humor.

My favorite may be one I heard on Hollywood Boulevard from a tour guide a few years back when my son and I attended a TCM Classic Movie Festival. It’s vintage Flynn, something only he could have pulled off with such magnificent flair and humor. … I will post it up later, but, first:

Here’s an untoppable, top tier EFB post by Flynnmaestro King Karl Holmberg. Awesome, Karl. Thanks!

Remembering Linc, Tony, and of course …

PLEASE POST ALL YOUR FAVORITES!

Here’s an alphabetical list of phrases that may help searches and recollections:

A Parrot in Panama

A Rice Bowl for Stockwell

Arno was a Real Pisser

David Invites a Date for Dinner

Hugh Jorgen

Mickey Visits the Farm

Niven Goes Skiing

Olivia’s Panties

Paul’s Passport

Taxi Driver

The World’s First Living Bracelet

Weekend at Errol’s

— Tim

 
No Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Gentleman Tim, Main Page

 

It Was Eighty Years Ago Today — 3/30/37

30 Mar

March 30, 1937

Hollywood Citizen News – Elizabeth Yeaman

The Warner Bros. are sincerely worried over their failure to locate Errol Flynn,
who was hastily summoned back to Hollywood when it was learned that he was
planning to penetrate war-torn Spain. Errol was in Paris, and last Friday he told
his wife, Lili Damita, he was leaving for Spain. He left, while Lili remained in Paris.
He didn’t tell her where he was going in Spain, and apparently Lili didn’t bother to inquire.

Robert Schless, head of the Warner Paris office, has not been able to locate him. Errol,
when he left, was determined to do some war corresponding in Spain. He started to make
arrangements with the United States for some special articles, but the studio jumped in
and soured the deal. Errol threatened that he would make arrangements with an English syndicate.
This he may have done.

Warners cabled him to be back here by April 15, to start the The Perfect Specimen.
I doubt if they actually had a picture ready for him, but hoped to get him back on the plea of urgency.
Miriam Hopkins has been announced for the co-starring spot in The Perfect Specimen, but that
announcement is quite premature, for she has not been signed for the role.

— Tim

 
No Comments

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

 

Dr. Who?

28 Mar

Given the Green Light by shangheinz on “Errorol”:

WHAT PROMINENT ENGLISH DOCTOR HELPED ERROL TREAT HIS SINUSES?

He was a “Harley Street” practitioner.

Early in his career, he pioneered and advocated the use of “truth drugs”.

He famously advocated one such drug in a French murder case.

Mid-career he was involved as an expert witness in a Hong Kong medical malpractice case.

He was later involved in a notorious British abortion/killing-of the-mother case.

He communicated from England to Errol elsewhere in Europe.

He had an indirect connection to the Profumo Affair.

Late in his career, he was quoted in Sports Illustrated concerning the abilities of women drivers.

He looked like this, but usually wore glasses during the years he treated Errol:

— Tim

 
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Posted in Behind the Scenes, Collectibles, Flynn and..., Flynn-related, Gentleman Tim, Main Page, QUIZ PAGE

 

Errol’s Marauders

08 Mar

Versus

Inspired by the U.S. Army’s “Merrill’s Marauders”, Warner Bothers produced Operation Burma! in 1945. It’s an outstanding film and one of Errol’s personal favorites. Nevertheless, it backfired big time for Flynn, with Winston Churchill, Lord Mountbatten, enraged members of the British Army and citizenry, hurling personal attacks at Flynn, falsely accusing him of acting as if “he won the War single-handedly”.

See, for example, this article from just last week again mocks and maligns Errol and the movie (along with some other great films):

www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/772318/Based-true-story-historical-action-films-accuracy…

Despite all these bitter complaints and attacks, however, Operation Burma! had a very strong and obvious connection to actual military operations of Merrill’s Marauders in Burma. As evidence, here is a National Archive video including 1944 news reel film which I believe likely inspired production of Operation Burma! Similarly, the second link is a transcription of a New York Times report further hailing the heroics of Merrill’s Marauders. Clearly, this unique operation in Burma was all very well and widely known and praised prior to the making of Operation Burma!.

archive.org…

www.marauder.org…

Here is a better, more informed and informative criticism of the film:

www.historytoday.com…

I recently visited the outstanding World War II Museum in New Orleans and was very significantly impressed by their extensive exhibit on Merrill’s Marauders (Below are a couple of poorly-taken cell phone photos I took which fail to capture the very high quality of the museum and exhibit.) This exhibit serves to further confirm the profound actual and public relations impact Vinegar Joe Stillwell and Frank Merrill’s operations had against the Japanese in Burma, and on the American public.

____________________________________________________________

SO, based on the unquestionably significant and heroic courage and accomplishments of Merrill’s Marauders, my question for all on both sides of the pond and beyond, is:

Was Errol and Operation Burma! wrongly and/or excessively criticized (or at least not properly or sufficiently credited) for this extraordinary war film?

____________________________________________________________

— Tim

 
20 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Main Page

 

Errol Flynn Laborde

28 Feb

During last night’s Mardi Gras (aka Lundi Gras) ceremonies, I thought I heard various call outs to “Errol” being made. Even once possibly to “Errol Flynn”. Naturally, I found this quite surprising and intriguing!

Having absolutely no clue who this Errol/Errol Flynn might be, I did some Flynnvestigation. As it turns out, Errol Flynn Laborde is a leading Mardi Gras historian, who was up on stage and apparently a key figure in the planning of this year’s events. Amazing coincidence!

Here’s an article and video including references to Monsieur Laborde.

www.mardigrasneworleans.com…

“Then while researching a book for the 125th anniversary of the Rex organization, famous local historian Errol Flynn Laborde discovered the truth behind these colors.”

— Tim

 
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Posted in About, Behind the Scenes, Blog Author's Travels, Flynn-related, Gentleman Tim, Main Page

 

Double Decker

04 Dec

The Astonishing Double Lives and Double Dealings of John Decker

john-decker

head-of-christ

errol-flynn-john-decker-portrait

theartofilm.blogspot.com…

www.richardrushfield.com…

— Tim

 
8 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Collectibles, Flynn and..., Flynn-related, Gentleman Tim, Paintings Owned By Errol Flynn, Portraits

 

Captain Blood

28 Oct

Much harder to find photos for this film that are not already common. I try to put only good quality photos here.

This is a great shot.

I wonder what they were thinking with this one?

Between takes

All extras for this photo while the stars are getting a massage.

— twinarchers

 
3 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Captain Blood Brotherhood, Main Page, Photos

 

Robin Hood Matte Painting and Behind The Scenes.

24 Oct

Film Grab

A Beautiful woman on a narrow stairway.

This was probably during the ransom robbery feast scenes.

Before Curtiz took over.

Are those stand ins for the final shot?

What were they discussing?

Some of these I have never seen before.

— twinarchers

 
13 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Candids, Co-Stars, Main Page, Photos

 

Be-Bop-a-Quiz-Bop

30 Sep

?

— Tim

 
5 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Flynn and..., Flynn-related, Gentleman Tim, QUIZ PAGE

 
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