Special Thanks to Karl Holmberg …
— David DeWitt
Stuntmen, stand-ins and stooges VII
02
Mar
Dear fellow Flynn fans,
the most gentlemanly stuntman of Errol was Patrick “Paddy” Crean. He doubled him in “The Master of Ballantrae” and “Against all flags”. An accomplished actor in his own right later in life with roles in “War and Peace” alongside Henry Fonda and Audrey Hepburn and in “The naked Maya” with Ava Gardner, he is mostly remembered for his superb swordmanship. Until today a flagship workshop called “the Paddy Crean” is held in his honour in Canada. He reminisced about about Flynn fondly in his hard to find autobiography “More Champagne Darling” and gives quite an insight into the ill fated adventure (film) “The Story of William Tell”, where he was to appear as partisan pesant. The song in the end of the clip is most pleasant for this class act choreographer naming both our Hollywood hero as well as this class act irish paesano.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
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
Leap Day 1940 – Part 2
01
Mar
February 29, 1940
Sidney Skolsky
Watching Them Make Pictures
If you wait long enough on a Michael Curtiz set, you’re bound to hear a Curtizism. The other afternoon on the set of The Sea Hawk I had a long wait. In fact for the first time I thought reliable Mike was going to fail me. Director Curtiz had Errol play a scene over and over. And everytime he gave an order I expected him to pull a gem. But he didn’t.
Finally, Errol did the scene the way Curtiz and reliable Mike came through. He said: “Errol, you worked hard. But it’s alright. You can’t get anything for nothing unless you pay for it.”
— Tim
Leap Day 1940 – Part 1
29
Feb
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
— Tim
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.)
Here’s looking at you, Bess:
— Tim
The Life Story of Errol Flynn – According to Flynn: 1936
26
Feb
February 26, 1936
Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express
The Errol Flynns (Lili Damita) are back from Palm Springs, where he completed the final version of his life story.
— Tim
Magical Mystery Quiz
25
Feb
One of The Beatles once dressed a la Errol in one of his swashbuckler films. Which Beatle was it, what was the occasion, and why is today an appropriate day for this quiz?
— Tim
Mon Film – Robin de Bois: February 25, 1948
25
Feb
Mon Film was the leading “film photonovel” publication in France in the decades before and after World War II. (It was “on hiatus” during the war.) This issue was published on February 25, 1948, seventy-two years ago today.
Thank you to our great EFB Flynnmate and Author Tina (aka Baribel), for originally publishing this cover and information regarding it, nine years ago today. Danke, Tina!
— Tim
