I happy to announce New Author Kathleen to the Errol Flynn Blog! Kathleen, we look forward to your thoughts and contributions! Welcome aboard…
— David DeWitt
Archive for April, 2009
Errol Flynn on Radio!
30
Apr
Film-maker Cardiff dies aged 94
22
Apr
Thanks to Bob Peckinpaugh for notifying us…
Cinematographer and director Jack Cardiff, who actress Marilyn Monroe once described as “the best in the world”, has died aged 94.
He was best known for his work on movies such as The African Queen and Sons and Lovers, and was awarded an Oscar for Black Narcissus in 1948.
The filmmaker was also presented with an Honorary Oscar in 2001.
Born to two music hall artists, he grew up in the theatre, resulting in a showbusiness career spanning 90 years.
He moved into film as a runner on the 1928 drama The Informer, then progressed to work as a camera operator and, eventually, cinematographer.
In an article for The National Gallery in 2007, Cardiff described his early film set experiences.
“I suppose I was much less than an apprentice when I first went behind the camera,” he wrote.
“I was a runner, whose main job was to supply the German director with Vichy water because he had a problem with flatulence.”.
He also described how, as a child, he used to watch art directors work in theatres, painting the backdrops and setting up the lights.
“I was fascinated by two men up in the wings, one on each side of the stage, following the actors with a spotlight,” he wrote.
“I spent a lot of time with them and a stirring was born in me which I later recognised as an urge to create. Light and colour became my world.”
In 1937 he shot Wings of the Morning, the first film in Britain to be shot in Technicolor.
He also worked with cinema greats Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe in the 1957 movie The Prince and the Showgirl.
He was made an OBE in 2000.
Inspiration
In 2001, he took part in an interview with readers of the BBC news website, in which he revealed he would have been a painter if he had not worked in film.
In fact much of his work was inspired by impressionist painters – he said the lighting and colour palette of Black Narcissus “was inspired by Vermeer”.
Cardiff was admired by many in the film industry, including Martin Scorsese.
The director once described the 18-minute dance sequence in 1948's The Red Shoes as “a moving painting”.
Scorsese added the cinematographer could “paint with the camera”.
When asked which films he was most proud of, Cardiff said the “successful” ones had really made their mark.
“Naturally, I am proud of successful films that I have enjoyed working on like The Red Shoes and the Black Narcissus and I have had a certain satisfaction from that.
“But the films that I am most proud of – the film for instance that I made under great difficulty, Sons and Lovers, I wanted to make it into a good film because the book is marvelous and I didn't want to let the author down.”
— David DeWitt
It's no secret!
22
Apr
I like to plug what our Authors on the Errol Flynn Blog are doing!
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From Lulu.com…
— David DeWitt
We are pleased to Welcome New Author Lee Thielker!
21
Apr
Welcome Lee! We are happy to have you aboard and look forward to your comments and thoughts…
— David DeWitt
Robert Florczak has posted a new Then And Now Photo!
20
Apr
Robert Florczak has an uncanny eye for creating Then and Now photos of locations where Flynn films were made or the man himself appeared in life: check out his gallery…
Robert Florczak's Then and Now Gallery
Robert's latest video on Utube: Gothic
— David DeWitt
Flynn Book Signing Event Success at DeMille Barn in LA
19
Apr
A multi-Flynn book signing event was held in LA recently at the DeMille Barn (Where in 1913 DeMille shot Squaw Man) says Steve Hayes, author of Googies – Coffee Shop to the Stars, which featured Mike Mazzone and Robert Matzen authors of Errol Flynn Slept Here…
Jack Marino and Robert Florczak also spoke after a slide show put on by the DeMille Barn folks. In the audience was Rory Flynn…
— David DeWitt
Stephen Youngkin Interview at Imdb for The Lost One…
19
Apr
Our friend and fellow Flynnatic Stephen Youngkin has a wonderful interview on Imbd about his excellent bio of Peter Lorre, The Lost One… done for Cinema Retro by Herbert Shadrak.
Peter Lorre The Lost One is Found
Visit the official The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre website at www.peterlorrebook.com…
— David DeWitt
