Spinning off of “The Next Errol Flynn” thread, I thought it would be great to explore with all of you how you think Errol would be as the NEXT superhero? Of course, we all know he’s the only guy that can really get away with wearing tights while saving and romancing the Damsel in Distress, but I got to looking at a couple of other, more reserved performances of his, confirming, for example, he would also be great as a Clark Kent-type alter-ego. Indeed, looking at the biggest comic book superhero of all, I got to thinking who could possibly be a better Superman than Errol? . Flynn would be the best superhero, I’m sure. In fact, wasn’t/isn’t he ALREADY, as Robin Hood – that greatest Cinematic Superhero ever?!
This gif, for example, shows Errol how he might look as Clark Kent:
gph.is/GD5uv2… [Errol As Clark Kent]
We all know what super-dash, glamor and humor, he could bring to the part of Superman. His swinging in to welcome Olivia to Sherwood Forest comes to mind!
[“Welcome to Sherwood” on YouTube] www.youtube.com…
And, I might add, Olivia would be the best Lois Lane ever, IMHO!!
So I did a quick search a few minutes ago, and guess who pops up but Stan Lee, saying Errol was the hero and inspiration for his masterful superhero creations – Spiderman & Ironman, et al!!! For a real EF Fan treat, watch from 3:33 – 4:30!!!!
[Stan Lee Interview!]
So what do you all think? Which Superhero(s) would Errol be great as? And, for all the tech-savvy people out there, how could technology actually make it possible for Errol to be in a future Superhero film!? I think that day may be coming rather rapidly!
In a different computer-animated manner, Errol was in some ways already copied/interpreted for the big screen – when he was the inspiration for Flynn Rider. (No matter how many official denials or evasions of that there may be!
[Flynn Rider]
LINKS & IMAGES POSTED TWO REPLIES BELOW:
(not sure why url’s are not coming in right – probably me, or a temporary glitch) —–just fixed the urls!
— Tim
zacal
October 7, 2013 at 6:23 am
Stan Lee was very clear that Tony Stark (Iron Man) was based on Errol. Also, the great Alex Raymond was inspired by Errol to create the character Captain Sudin in Flash Gordon.(Flash’s colorful adventures in the forest kingdom of Arboria during 1937clearly influenced “The Adventures of Robin Hood” in 1938.) Here’s one of the drawings of Captain Sudin alongside Errol:
[img]http://www.jimkeefe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sudin.jpg[/img]
Tim
October 7, 2013 at 1:18 pm
By my beard, this is GREAT, Zacal!
(On the tarmac, headed to Hot Springs, or I’write more.)
Thank you!
zacal
October 7, 2013 at 6:37 am
Here’s the original Iron Man comic with Errol as Tony Stark.[img]https://dcomixologyssl.sslcs.cdngc.net/i/4343/1776/2b92f580aca338c57ab6b7e63fc609be.jpg?h=827a622451462dd41d92c18efe0deb5c[/img]
Tim
October 7, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Absolutely Awrsome, Zacal!!!
Oh, come on, Flynn, that just can’t be possible! Perfect!!
zacal
October 7, 2013 at 6:42 am
And, of course, the great Alex Toth used Errol as his model for Zorro![img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKCWq0mTESQ/UVGlEIgF3OI/AAAAAAAAH-I/9GJC5Lg8l28/s320/alex+Toth+Zorro+Panel.jpg[/img]
Tim
October 8, 2013 at 3:38 am
So it looks like this was a job for Errol!
This is great info, Zacal! Great!
Tim
October 7, 2013 at 6:43 am
Incredibly – without using the name Flynn in my search whatsoever – the very first link I found looking for what has been done before in using computer-generated faces was for the character FLYNN! in the movie Tron: Legacy!!! I’ll take that as a amazingly good omen!
Here’s the story and video:
bigthink.com…
Young Computer-Generated “FLYNN”!
[img]http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content10/tron-digital-bridges.jpg[/img]
Tim
October 7, 2013 at 6:47 am
Since the url’s are coming up no problem in my ‘replies’, but not in my initial (main) post, here are the url’s that were in the initial post:
gph.is/GD5uv2… – [ERROL AS CLARK KENT]
www.youtube.com… – [WELCOME TO SHERWOOD]
bit.ly/Uvcbp5… – [STAN LEE INTERVIEW]
FLYNN RIDER
[img]http://i500.listal.com/image/4729596/500full.jpg[/img]
Lollie
October 7, 2013 at 10:57 am
Ooh yes I vote for Errol as Clark Kent / Superman.
I think he would have been great as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow too.A millionaire playboy type who fights crime with a bow & arrow.Perfect casting! :D
Wow looking at this pic of actor Justin Hartley who played Green Arrow in the tv series Smallville,I think he would be another good choice to play Errol too!
www.com…
Tim
October 8, 2013 at 3:40 am
Perfect casting, Lollie!!
Tim
October 8, 2013 at 6:01 am
The Green Arrow! Sounds like such a perfect name and character for Errol, Lollie!
I don’t recalll having ever seen Justin Hartley before. From your photo, it looks like he could play Prince William, too!
Rachel
October 8, 2013 at 1:45 am
Thanks, Tim, for posting all this — it’s great!
Yes, Errol’s Robin Hood (and the character of RH in general) has at least partly inspired comic book heroes like Green Arrow, and Fandral the Dashing of the Warriors Three (from the Marvel THOR comics). And yes, Flynn Rider/Eugene Fitzherbert from Disney’s “Tangled” was inspired, in part, by Errol. Also, in connection with the 1980s cartoon series “She-Ra”, there were two Errol Flynn-inspired characters created for the show: a hero archer named Bow, and a hero pirate named Seahawk. I don’t know if I could picture Errol as Clark Kent/Superman, but I do agree that Olivia would’ve been a great Lois Lane. :-)
Tim
October 8, 2013 at 6:07 am
My pleasure, Rachel. Thanks to all of you reading & responding. I am learning so much! I had no idea Errol inspired so much and many in the world of comic books. Not surprised, but didn’t know! SO cool!
ILIKEFLYNN
October 8, 2013 at 2:46 am
I think you guys are missing the boat! Errol Flynn isn’t the next superhero, he is the first superhero! You guys have already shown how many heroes he is the inspiration for. I would like to add another hero he was also the inspiration for; namely “Flash Gordon’s” Prince Baron. At least the way he appeared in the comic pages and the 1980s feature film as portrayed by Timothy Dalton!–A. R.
Tim
October 8, 2013 at 6:12 am
Just as long as Dalton didn’t go all Rocketeering on us!
First & Future Superhero, Errol Flynn!!!
Prince Baron! Perfect name for Errol!!
zacal
October 22, 2013 at 5:56 am
Errol is the best but not the first. According to Bob Kane, Douglas Fairbanks directly inspired the character of Batman. And in “Robin Hood”, Fairbanks wore a lightning bolt symbol on his chest, which was later “borrowed” by Captain Marvel. The very first Superhero(even before Superman) was the Phantom, whose creator (Lee Falk) credited Fairbanks’ Robin Hood as the inspiration for the Phantom’s skintight costume, which ALL superheroes henceforth adopted. And, of course, Fairbanks films inspired Errol’s swashbucklers, most notably “The Adventures of Robin Hood”.
Tim
October 22, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Good stuff, zacal. What in the name of Thor was Fairbanks doing with a lightning bolt on his chest? A bit shocking in Sherwood, I imagine – even though, as can almost be seen below, that’s appears to be a pretty low-voltage bolt running down Robin’s chest.
Also looks like Alan Hale may have been the influence behind Captain Kangaroo.
[img]http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/58/5835/VPGSG00Z/posters/alan-hale-and-douglas-fairbanks-robin-hood-1922.jpg[/img]
zacal
October 8, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Don’t forget Alex Toth’s character Jesse Bravo in “Bravo For Adventure”!
zacal
October 8, 2013 at 9:27 pm
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0PjXXRx-Oek/S8N1Juz7O_I/AAAAAAAAAS0/wkGjK-jtOmw/s1600/bravo.JPG[/img]
Tim
October 8, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Bravo for Zacal!!!
shangheinz
October 14, 2013 at 11:20 am
Here`s Flynn on wheels: images3.wikia.nocookie.net…
Tim
October 14, 2013 at 12:36 pm
An Errolmobile! Flynn with fins! Very cool, shangheinz!!
zacal
October 15, 2013 at 4:17 am
Captain Sudin appeared in Flash Gordon immediately after “The Adventures of Robin Hood”. But the year before Robin Hood, Flash Gordon had a Robin Hood-like adventure(Robin Hood costumes, bow and arrow, oversized forest) in full color that likely contributed to Warner Bros. decision to film Robin Hood in the new process of three-strip Technicolor.
Inga
October 15, 2013 at 5:13 pm
I think it wouldbe interesting to compile a list of all the roles that Errol was actually announced to play but which never materialised in the end.
Robzak
October 15, 2013 at 7:03 pm
The most curious part he was up for would have to have been in the title role of “Auntie Mame,” but it went to his old landlord instead.
Tim
October 16, 2013 at 1:22 am
Nothing a close shave, Orry-Kelly, and a touch of method acting couldn’t make happen!
And Errol might have gotten an Oscar for this scene alone – one surely written for him:
[img]http://www.benitomovieposter.com/catalog/images/movieposter/errol-flynn-olivia-de-havilland-rosalind-russell-img-122248.jpg[/img]
shangheinz
October 18, 2013 at 9:25 am
Great idea Inga! You lead, we will follow.
zacal
October 18, 2013 at 6:31 pm
The two that come to mind are Robin Hood in a sequel (“Robin of Sherwood”, I believe was the working title) and “Captain Horatio Hornblower”. But the one that KILLS me is “King Solomon’s Mines”. Errol was offered the role of Allan Quatermain and turned it down to do “Kim” instead. KSM went on to become a HUGE hit and made Stewart Granger a star.(According to Granger, he and Flynn joked about it.) The reason it irks me is that Granger went on to make more big-budget swashbucklers for MGM: “The Prisoner of Zenda” and “Scaramouche”. Those roles might very well have gone to a revitalized Errol!!!
Tim
October 18, 2013 at 7:37 pm
And, if Bette hadn’t been so petty, she and Flynn could have both been in Gone with the Wind. But, like other Thespians jealous of Errol’s superative talents & success, refused, until decades later, to publicly and properly acknowledge his unparalleled abilities & appeal. Petty Betty, green with envy, blew the role of Scarlet.
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAoyoHwC5IQ/TD4LVaD9Q1I/AAAAAAAAIuU/j6idvHTyXQE/s1600/Private+Lives+of+Elizabeth+and+Essex+(1939)+5.jpg[/img]
Lollie
October 20, 2013 at 10:22 am
^
*sigh* I just LOVE Errol in that movie.He is just so unbelievably handsome.
Ooh that awful old Bette Davis slapping him (for real) the way she did.How could she slap that beautiful face like that? What was her problem?
Tim
October 20, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Bette was a Bitch. And, IMO (the former statement is a fact), she was particularly jealous of Errol’s personal and theatrical appeal. The great actress was not in Errol’s league. Plus, Errol was clearly not attracted to her, as he was to so many women, which had to greatly anger and even humiliate her. … She was exceptionally good at playing bitchy and evil roles, though. And she bore a striking resemblance to Quing Elizabeth.
Being the gallant gentleman he was, Errol never retaliated – even tried to discuss and resolve it with her before subsequent scenes, but, being the bitch she was, she was arrogantly dismissive and unyielding to his diplomacy. Good thing for her Errol didn’t return her slap.
Check out the expression on Vincent Price. He looks more horrified than he was in any of his horror films:
I think you and I agree on this, Lollie. That makes two official votes against her, making the present tally:
Bette Davis Ayes: 0 0
Bette Davis Nays: 2
Only Bette Davis could make one root for Joan Crawford:
[img]http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/images/whatever_happened_to_baby_jane_remake.jpg[/img]
Lollie
October 21, 2013 at 3:00 am
Yes I sure do agree that she seemed to be a capital B.I remember reading that Marilyn Monroe said so too after she worked with her.I think you are definitely right Tim that the major part of her jealousy with Errol was that he was not attracted to her.I wonder if she was mean to him off camera when they made The Sisters together too? Like you said,Errol was far too much a gentleman be be as petty as she was,in the end she is the one who missed out I think.Errol seemed to be such an easy going & extremely likeable man,it just goes to show what an awful person she really must have been. I remember Olivia De Havilland saying that years later she & Bette Davis watched the movie (E&E)together and she (BD) said something like how wonderful Errol was and that she had been wrong about him,and ODH was saying how great that was.I think it was more like far too little too late from BD.boo!
Tim
October 21, 2013 at 9:11 am
Two videos tending to support that Petty Bette was bitterly angry at and jealous of Errol’s attraction to and love of other women – leaving her “Dancing on Her Own”:
_____
Bette Davis Ayes: 0 0
Bette Davis Nays: 4
Had to kill Bitter Betty that Errol loved Olivia:
[img]http://31.media.tumblr.com/b3e968aac6ab2b7d677bc6643f0de637/tumblr_mn2c7y0KT71snx77eo3_250.gif[/img]
[img]http://31.media.tumblr.com/f689b6761272bf8d6051a7d11be36531/tumblr_mnhopqKbkG1rpdgzdo2_250.gif[/img]
shangheinz
October 19, 2013 at 6:14 pm
Kim instead of King was no solomonian choice by Errol. In fact it can rather be seen as a U- turn career- wise. Subsequently Hollywood had its sword and dagger firmly placed in the hands of Granger, an equally (by sickness and selfdoubt) tormented actor from the old continent, but highly successful by Hollywood standards then. Errol was to don the khakis only years later in “The roots of Heaven”, by then we all know what life had been like for our Hollywood hero of old.
Tim
October 20, 2013 at 12:07 am
Abandoning King Solomon’s Mines may have not been The Baron’s best professional or Solomonic decision, but choosing Kim did not entirely give him the shaft, either. Errol not only got to portray a great Kipling character, but he got to do it in an exotic locale he most wanted to explore. And explore he did – in exceptional style – given (quite literally) a Royal tour of India, meeting the Maharaja and even staying at his palace – sharing in great feasts, of all kinds – including the rare visual feast of seeing – up close and personal – India’s magnificent wildlife – some of it, while riding upon a Royal elephant.
Perhaps most rewarding for Errol, however, was his visit to the Taj Majal, which he described as his ~ “most emotional experience ever”.
So, forsaking Hollywood for the world of early Bollywood certainly wasn’t all bad. Not surprisingly, Errol was quite the hit in India, and, from what I can tell, greatly enjoyed exploring there. Despite his celebrity and popularity among all the various varna, however, even Errol (famously) never got to kiss the sensuously lovely hand of Nimmi – but not for lack of trying!
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg[/img]
Tim
October 20, 2013 at 12:30 am
And – especially with this being football season in the USA – let us not forget that the swashbuckling logo of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was based on the visage and verve of Errol (with hat & earring also inspired by idealized depictions of D’Artagan and La Fitte – neither of whom (in real life) looked nearly as exciting or appealing like Flynn.)
[img]http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/7/176/full/lj6z3s9ynfaqdy7oh6ip9yiem.gif[/img]
zacal
October 20, 2013 at 5:43 pm
You’re probably aware but Errol actually DID play D’Artagnan, albeit in a radio program. (Some say it was 1947, others have it as 1949) That’s one of the things that makes CGI so interesting. Errol could come back to life in new performances! Imagine using his voice from the radio program in an animated adaptation.[img]http://virginvinylrecords.com/store/images/4000/r4976.jpg[/img]
zacal
October 20, 2013 at 5:57 pm
[img]http://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/1129473.jpg[/img]
Tim
October 20, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Spectaculaire, zacal, spectaculaire!!!
Though, apparently in a twist, the below link states otherwise, it’s Errol’s opening narration for The Three Musketeers you identify. And how right you are: this would indeed be great to rework with CGI technology! … Though this is a brief clip, Errol seems to get some humorous autobiographical edge into his self-introduction.
Here’s a more complete selection of Errol’s radio programs that could be redone with new cinematic technology. Again, Oliver Twist is actually The Three Musketeers, and vice versa. … With Errol, there’s always a twist!
www.tradebit.com…