Our own Karl Holmberg sends this delightful interview from 1978 with Olivia de Havilland …
Thanks, Karl…
— David DeWitt
Archive for the ‘Flynn and…’ Category
A Trophy for Travilla
04
May
Western Union – May 4, 1948
“[Billie] “Travilla” arrived in Hollywood in 1941 and won an Academy Award for his designs in Adventures of Don Juan starring Errol Flynn. He is credited as the costume designer of over 90 films and television productions — nine of which starred Marilyn Monroe. He may be best known for creating Monroe’s iconic Seven Year Itch white halter dress which was forever associated with both of them. (See below)”
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The scene that the not thrill Joe DiMaggio. Dress by Travilla.
— Tim
Never Say Die, The Beatles, and Errol Flynn
02
May
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Errol at the 1954 Epsom Derby
“[This book] relates the story of original Beatles drummer Pete Best’s mother Mona pawning her jewelry to bet on the longshot Never Say Die to win the 1954 Epsom Derby. She cashed in her winnings to put a down payment on a house in Liverpool where she converted the basement into the Casbah Coffee Club with the opening, and soon to be regular, band, The Quarrymen (later renamed The Beatles), in residence.”
Per former Beatle Pete Best’s account, if Never Say Die had not won the Epsom Derby, there very likely would have never been a Casbah Coffee Club, nor therefore The Beatles. So, without his ever knowing so, Errol was at one of the most pivotal events in entertainment and cultural history.
— Tim
Night and Site of the Fight
30
Apr
April 29, 1945
Olivia in 1946 (WOW!) – Over whom Errol and Huston fought.
Site of the Fight! David O. Selznick’s “breathtaking” home and gardens Summit Drive in Beverly Hills. The fight took place in both the the famous gardens and the then gravel driveway.
— Tim
Mail Bag! Nice Bio of Eric Wolfgang Korngold …
26
Apr
Our pal Jan van der Vliet sends this nice link to a detailed bio of Erich Wolfgang Korngold related to a DVD recording of The Adventures of Robin Hood:
tinyurl.com… – Thanks, Jan!
— David DeWitt
Road to Mulholland
24
Apr
On Sunday, February 13, 1949, Flynn Flung a Party Up at the Farm on Mulholland.
See, Flynn Flings a Party on the EFB
On the list of luminaries invited to that A-list soiree was the fum and gorgeous Dorothy Lamour. Here she is that party, just her and Errol.
It’s been said that Errol and Dorothy dated. They certainly appear to have enjoyed each other’s company very much and could have been an extremely attractive couple. Circa their being together in ’49, Dorothy recorded ‘Moonlight Becomes You’, a sensational song that became an instant classic when Bing Crosby sang it to her years earlier in Road to Morocco.
Seen in a different light, the title ‘Moonlight Becomes You’ could also be interpreted as ironically applying to the rape trial turning point in Errol’s life, though I’m sure Dorothy never had that in mind. …Here she is singing the song that (rightfully) helped make her famous. (I know I’ve had a major crush on her since the day I first her in that Hope-Crosby classic.) Background vocals by the great Crew Chiefs, known mostly for singing during the War with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
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CONNECTIONS
Errol was going through a very difficult time in his marriage with Nora, one that sadly resulted in divorce. Nora was a beautiful and desirable woman, so much so that Dick Hames and John Ireland were both trying to win her affections in 1949. So much so that one of the world’s greatest songwriters – Jimmy Van Heusen – also fell in love with her, making his feelings known for all time in the ‘But Beautiful’ – a now-standard jazz gem which Bing also sang to Dorothy in a Road picture – the Road to Rio! – And which was also sung at Nora’s funeral ❤.
Here’s the beautiful ‘But Beautiful’, written for Nora, sang here to Dorothy Lamour:
— Tim
Errol Meets Erben — April 14, 1933
15
Apr
On April 14, 1933, in Salamaua, New Guinea, Errol met Hermann Erben for the first time. It was a momentous event in Errol’s life.
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— Tim
