The American Film Institute squandered another opportunity to list one of Errol Flynn’s films on their latest “Greatest Films of All Time” list. I wasn’t surprised to see that such classics as CAPTAIN BLOOD, THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD or THE SEA HAWK (to name a few) are missing because it’s been obvious to me for many years that certain “influences” involved with the AFI harbor anti-Errol Flynn sentiments. This is something the powers-to-be over at the AFI will undoubtedly publicly deny.
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Screw ‘em.
However, the June 22nd cover dated “Entertainment Weekly” magazine features an article by Marc Bernardin titled “the Greatest Action Films of all Time” and Bernardin lists THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD as # 18.
Kudos to Bernardin for including an Errol Flynn film.
In general, I agreed with most of the films on Bernardin’s list, although someone needs to finally tell the world’s critics that while Akira Kurosawa’s THE SEVEN SAMURAI is indeed a good film, it pales in comparison to the film it inspired, a Western called THE MAGNIFICIENT SEVEN. But placing Kurosawa’s name on a list is really chic amongst film critics and film writers, but I always laugh out loud when I see all the print devoted to THE SEVEN SAMURAI. Give it a rest, boys. THE MAGNIFICIENT SEVEN is the one that matters.
Anyway, since Marc Bernardin is one of the few film writers out there in la-la land willing to cite Flynn’s influence (“Errol Flynn is the king, nay, the Pope of derring-do”) that I’m willing to forgive him for jumping on Kurosawa’s over-rated bandwagon.
End of mini-rant.
Coffee courtesy of Dave.
No animals were killed or injured during the composition of this rant although I mangled a VHS copy of THE SEVEN SAMURAI.
— Shamrock
