A new AFL stadium in Tasmania? – Maybe an “Errol Flynn Stadium”?
Will fans travel the yellow tint road?
— Tim
Eighty Years Ago – 4/6/1937 – “Urban”/Livvie
07
Apr
“Urban”/Livvie at its finest.
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – Harrison Carroll – April 6, 1937
At the time of the Madrid incident–when a machine gun bullet creased his
forehead–Errol Flynn is supposed to have been accompanied by Dr. Harmine
F. Urban (sic), expert in tropical diseases. If so, it was not the first time
the two had been in a tight spot together. They were once ambushed by natives
on the Sepia (sic) River in New Guinea and it was motion pictures taken of Flynn
in this fight that won him his first screen test and role in the British picture,
In the Wake of the Bounty.
Olivia De Havilland, who was Flynn’s screen sweetheart in Captain Blood and The Charge
of the Light Brigade was driving down Hollywood Boulevard when she saw headlines about
his being shot.
She told me yesterday: “I nearly ran into a street car.”
— Tim
Eighty Years Ago – 4/5/1937 – Errol
05
Apr
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – April 5, 1937
FLYNN, WITH FACE CREASED BY BULLET, ON WAY TO VALENCIA
It was a close shave, but Errol Flynn today survived his first taste of off-the-screen warfare
with his swoon-provoking features enhanced, if possible, by the crease of a machine-gun bullet.
The Captain of Captain Blood and the leader of the Charge of the Light Brigade was wounded
on the left side of his face while on a tour of the University City front in Northwestern Madrid, the
only point where the rebels have a foothold within the capital.
Friends say the bullet passed dangerously close to Flynn’s left eye. He was given first aid at the
hospital, and left for Valencia yesterday morning.
ACTOR WARNING TO KEEP OUT OF SPAIN RECALLED BY STUDIO
Officials at Warner Brothers Studios hated to say “I told you so” – but they recalled today a stern warning
given to adventurous Errol Flynn before he left here Feb 22 last.
The 27-year-old actor was warned not to go into revolt-torn Spain, studio executives said. Furthermore, they
said, when they heard he was bound for Spain, they cabled him in Paris to return here at once and start work
on a picture.
Today the studio received with consternation reports that the young favorite had been wounded while watching
a battle near Madrid.
— Tim
Eighty Years Ago – 4/5/1937 – Lili
05
Apr
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – April 5, 1937
LILI DAMITA MAY FLY TO WOUNDED ERROL FLYNN
All Lili Damita is sure of today is that she must get post-haste to the side
of her wounded husband, Errol Flynn — by airplane if possible.
After a night of frantic worry over the fate of the handsome actor-adventurer
as the result of an alarmist telephone call from a London friend saying Flynn
had been killed near Madrid, Miss Damita planned to ask the foreign office for
a special permit to fly to Spain.
The actress poured out her thanks in a torrent of emotional words when she was
informed that latest information said that Flynn had been only slightly wounded
and had left Madrid for Valencia.
(Madrid advisers said Flynn was grazed on the head by a machine gun bullet
when he was visiting the University City front.)
In the meantime Miss Damita made frantic efforts to get in touch with Flynn,
planning to defer her departure until she gets direct word from her husband.
Her only worry as she prepared from Leeds Castle in Kent to the foreign office
here was whether the reported injury to Flynn’s handsome Irish face will mar his
film career.
— Tim
Excusez Mon Français
05
Apr
Le retour du Zaca, le célèbre bateau d’Errol Flynn, à Villefranche
www.darse.fr/index.php/souvenirs-du-20eme-siecle/42-le-zaca-ombres-et-lumieres…
— Tim
Jack Marino’s Forgotten Heroes Homage to Flynn!
03
Apr
I was on Facebook the other day and noticed that Jack Marino’s old friend, actor William Smith, had turned 84. Bill Smith is retired now but among his many film credits you already know him for are such films as Any Which Way You Can with Clint Eastwood, Darker than Amber with Rod Taylor, and Twilight’s Last Gleaming with Burt Lancaster. TV audiences remember him from his role on Rich Man, Poor Man as the evil Falconetti. But he also appeared in literally hundreds of top classic tv shows like “Kung Fu,” “The Bearcats,” “Columbo,” “Mission Impossible,” “Ironside,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Police Woman,” “The Rockford Files,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Kolchak, The Night Stalker,” “SWAT,” “Police Story,” “Logan’s Run,” “Vegas,” “Fantasy Island,” “The Dukes of Hazard” and “The A Team.” And as Conan the Barbarian’s father! And there is another film performance that links him to Errol Flynn. Jack Marino cast him in the role of General Gregori Zelenkov in the 1990 film directed by our own Jack Marino, FORGOTTEN HEROES. Jack even plays a small role in the film himself. See him in the Trailer below chomping on a cigar!
The war in Viet Nam War was deeply unpopular. And if you were in uniform during that war as in all wars you did your duty as well and as bravely as any other soldier in any war throughout history. But when you got home from this war, the welcome was not the same as it was for the heroes of other wars. It was not until years later that any sort of respect for the veterans of the Viet Nam War was recognized. Jack’s film FORGOTTEN HEROES was made to address the overdue respect these veterans deserved and to be a great adventure story as well, and as I was reading more about the film on Facebook (I had seen the DVD release and had a chance to meet William Smith at Jack and Louise’s now legendary 100th birthday centennial for Errol Flynn in Hollywood in 2009, and had Smith sign my copy of the DVD) I noticed a review of the film written by filmmaker Steve Latshaw who was at the party that lasted over five days! Steve had written the review in 2008. It was on Facebook the other day, too. Jack had posted this:
Hollywood is a tough and unforgiving business and when a fellow artist, filmmaker, writer admires your work and puts it in writing, it makes all this struggle worth it.
Jack
“I am watching FORGOTTEN HEROES tonight and am reminded of what a beautiful, heartfelt film it is. You’ve seen it so many times it’s impact may be lost on you. It’s truly a great film, beautifully shot. And I loved the nods to Errol, particularly the incredible scene where the surfer has been tortured and asks the Greek to kill him. It reminded me of the great scene in Objective Burma – but you took it further and the emotional impact was profound.
I have made over 35 movies in my career. I have always wanted to make a film that would affect people lives in a profound and positive way. I haven’t yet done so. I’ve often said I’d give up my career if I could make one film like that. You did it right out of the gate.
I am and continue to be in awe of your passion and envious of your talent.
Bung Ho!
Steve
Steve Latshaw – Filmmaker
April 13, 2008
And that is not the only nod to Flynn. Jack, always a Flynn fan, and a friend of the Flynn family, adds a few Flynn touches like dueling shadows, some western style gunplay and even a bit of swordplay! You can’t miss these references if you love dear old Errol and never do these moments get in the way of the exciting story. They just make you smile and appreciate them.
That takes a lot of skill on Jack’s part.
And to help bring a bit of recognition to the veterans of the Viet Nam War Jack decided to donate a portion of every DVD ordered from his Forgotten Heroes the Movie website to benefit veterans.
If you know a veteran, please consider sending them a copy of this extraordinary movie. And share Forgotton Heroes the Movie homepage on a few Social Media for others to see …
Great job, Jack!
— David DeWitt
Mail Bag! Cecil Jones Hollywood Collection Errol Flynn Calling Card Plate!
02
Apr
From our Mail Bag come this from Cecil Jones:
David,
Some years ago I obtained a box of Errol Flynn’s personal papers from storage and the only item I kept was the copper plate for making his calling card. I toyed with the idea of making the back of my business card to be that of Errol Flynn’s calling card but never did. Possibly you could inform those interested that the printing plate will be offered by Profiles In History at their Hollywood auction in late May to mid-June time frame.
The auction catalogue is not out yet but I have attached the pre-catalogue below for all of my Flynn items (see below) for those interested.
The copper plate is something the true Flynn collector could use as well as enjoy as it was Flynn’s personal property and was used to make his calling card.
The following link is to the Profiles In History website and shows the upcoming Hollywood auction highlighting a few items from my collection. The entire auction should be available within the next month including all of the Flynn items below.
The link to the “Cecil Jones Hollywood Collection“
Thank you,
Cecil Jones
Thanks Cecil, we look forward to this!
— David DeWitt
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!
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
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
