The Errol Flynn Blog

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

I was chatting with Jennifer Davis on Facebook Messenger and she mentioned her friendship with Beverly Aadland’s daughter, Aadlanda. They run a page together dedicated to her mother. She also mentioned Ida Carlini Lynn’s Cuban friend who owned a club in NYC Errol frequented and often hung out with Errol in Cuban casino’s as seen in this shot from Cuban Story. That is Ida Carlini far right at the gambling table with Errol & Beverly Aadland.

Idea Carlini far fright.

Ida Carlini.

Ida Carling far right.

Idea Carlini far left with Sammy Davis and friends.

Thanks Jennifer!

Jennifer Davis

— David DeWitt

Jack Marino got ahold of me today to let me know his homage to Errol Flynn’s Mulolland Farm house continues with the addition of a replica of the bookshelf above which hung one of Gaugan’s paintings in Errol’s living-room. Jack had the bookshelf hand made from the same wood as Errol’s and sits in the same position relative to all of the other furniture in the room which is intended to give the visitor the feeling you are in Flynn’s livingroom. He stresses that the room is smaller than Errol’s by ten feet all around but there are enough similarities to create the feeling he is looking for … And he succeeds!

There is more to do, he says, but he’s in no hurry.

Thanks for the update, and sharing your fabulous tribute to the old rascal, Errol Flynn, with the rest of us!

— David DeWitt

John keegan, Founder of PressHarbor, our hosting providers for The Errol Flynn Blog for the last 9 years tells us there is a major upgrade to his platform going on and as a long time user of his services I’d like to take a moment to thank him personally for the excellence of his support team, fast response time, and detailed communication. There have been times when in an effort to improve things I have actually shut down the blog! Talk me off the cliff! I implored. And very soon John had pinpointed the conflict and got us up and running again. To my great relief PressHarbor Support has been consistently able to quickly answer all of my questions and concerns with professionalism but also a personal touch that makes me feel part of the PressHarbor family. I look forward to many more years with John and PressHarbor.

Thanks, John!

— David DeWitt