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Cuban Rebel Girls

01 Apr

— David DeWitt

 
15 Comments

Posted in Blog Videos

 

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  1. Inga

    April 1, 2012 at 11:00 am

    Thanks for posting, David! In fact, I think the beginning is not soooooo bad, but as the story develops, well… a little naive, our sweet Beverly…

     

    • David DeWitt

      April 1, 2012 at 11:14 am

      It’s rare that the whole movie is posted to YouTube – and it gives us a glimpse of a period in time that is rather fascinating – if you combine this film with Cuban Story, the Victor Pahlen documentary, you get a very vivid impression of the Revolution and its aftermath, and another view of Flynn at one of his low points – I watch them both with sad eyes but at the same time each gives us an important glimpse into the life of Errol Flynn in his last days. Always a fighter, and always seeking adventure, he manages to help display images that otherwise would not have been seen by the general public were it not for his involvement in these films. Great entertainment, they are not – but each is very telling about the times they were made in and we can thank Errol for that –

       

  2. timerider

    April 1, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    It would seem that Errol in the days of revolutions was of course an idealist. He loved adventure and in his alter ego “Blows Against The Empire” comes to mind  LOL! I think some naivety can be ascribed to Errol! When revolutions occur in dictatorial countries where the people are fed up and embrace anything even if it’s communism to their detriment. History after Errol proves Cuba is no better. One extream to another.
    Anyway great documentary type film David!
    Les
    PS…..I finally signed up! 

     

    • Inga

      April 3, 2012 at 6:02 am

      If I didn’t know we are not to have political discussions here, I would wonder about your expression “even if it’s communism”… but I don’t.

       

      • timerider

        April 22, 2012 at 10:52 pm

        I just popped in to reply that it was a very political film, at least in the documentary type format that Errol seemed to be trying out. Of course not a Hollywood production to make any $$ at all. Bev was just a baby then and Errol was very supportive. As for political ideologies, none seem to attract me in any way these days. Maybe Martian politics would work better ,LOL!

         

  3. Robzak

    April 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm

    My favorite of all Flynn films. Truly underrated.
     

     

    • Inga

      April 3, 2012 at 6:01 am

      I certainly look forward to your analysis of its underrated aspects, Robert!

       

  4. Lynn S.

    April 3, 2012 at 12:16 am

    Thanks to you, David, for posting this film.  It seems as if it was originally released under a name different than “Cuban Rebel Girls?”  I found the film confusing at first – sort of like watching footage of Errol leading up to the film only to find that the early footage was part of the film.  Watching the film was like watching a low budget movie with low budget actors except for Errol.  Extremely interesting anyway- especially observing the interaction between Errol and Beverly Aadland.  Lynn

     

  5. ILIKEFLYNN

    April 3, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    The film was released under the title “Cuban Rebel Girls” as well as “Assault of the Rebel Girls” (the title on a DVD copy of the film I bought from a vender a few years back and according to “Errol Flynn: The Movie Posters” the UK release title.) According to the IMDB it was also released as “Attack of the Rebel Girls” a reissue title.
    I agree with Robzak’s assertion that the film is underrated. Who knows? Maybe some time in the future it will be reassessed as Flynn’s final artistic endeavor and will be rediscovered as “high art” in the same vein as “Plan 9 from Outer Space”!–A.R.

     

  6. themainflynnman

    April 4, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Watching the film, and particulary Aadland, makes me wonder about Errol’s state of mind at the time. Didn’t he write that Aadland was ‘better than Harlow’?

     

    • David DeWitt

      April 4, 2012 at 7:18 pm

      Yes, Errol wrote this in a note among other jottings on  a yellow legal pad, I think. I have a copy somewhere. Woodsie had a hell-of-a-personality, as proved in later years! It may have been her potential Errol was thinking about rather than what was possible to show in this low-budget flick. I wonder what Harlow would look like in a first effort on film in this material!

       

  7. themainflynnman

    April 5, 2012 at 1:36 pm

    We certainly can’t blame Beverley for the shocking material but from what I can see, David,  there is just nothing there to work with; the camera just doesn’t like the girl!

     

  8. David DeWitt

    April 6, 2012 at 12:18 am

    We received a request from Kyra Pahlen posted to our About page (I think so that more people will see it) and I thought I would also ask it for her on this page, as well! She writes:

    Would the copyright owner of CUBAN REBEL GIRLS please get in touch with me? Thank you. Kyra Pahlen   zina11111111 (at) hotmail.com…

    If anyone knows who is the current copyright owner of Cuban Rebel Girls please contact her!

    Thanks!

     

  9. Mary Ann

    April 6, 2012 at 2:22 am

    I have seen this film on Youtube and it is a very good film of Errol’s with Beverly in it.