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The (Not So?) Great Escape Me Never?

09 Aug

‘Escaper Me Never’ Warner Bros. Archive Release panned in today’s news.

What do you think?

www.dvdtalk.com…

Poster - Escape Me Never (1947)_10-1

Many positive reviews, particulary regarding Errol’s performance, at this IMDb link:

m.imdb.com…

— Tim

 
16 Comments

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  1. David DeWitt

    August 9, 2014 at 11:36 pm

    The movie didn’t do well, no doubt. Reviews were not kind. I wish Errol had picked better roles, or fought against bad ones. Ida Lupino was a great actress, and even better director. I wish Errol had done more episodic television. He would have shown his range to a large audience. I often wonder if he would have had a hit tv show playing a detective in Havana, or had starred in Sea Hunt, for ecxample.

     

    • Gentleman Tim

      August 11, 2014 at 12:26 am

      What a Great observation & concept that is, David!! I’m sure you’re right. Heck, only (In)Fidel could have sunk such a Cuban series! And Sea Hunt. or the like: Perfect!

      [img]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/94/27/31/942731925919b0ec8ec40e25b90637ec.jpg[/img]

      [img]http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2009/06/19/1225737/536826-errol-flynn-turns-100.jpg[/img]

       

  2. Lollie

    August 10, 2014 at 11:07 am

    I like Escape Me Never very much,Errol & Ida are so good together in it,and I like how Errol’s character is a jerk that comes good.I wish those two had co starred more.

     

    • Gentleman Tim

      August 11, 2014 at 12:16 am

      I Love Errol & Ida together very much, too, Lollie!! I strongly believe she was one of the true friends he refers to in Wicked Ways.

      [img]http://static.cinemarx.ro/poze/cupluri/er/i/errol-flynn-ida-lupino-9930.jpg[/img]

       

      • Lollie

        August 11, 2014 at 11:06 am

        I think you’re right Tim.It sounded like they were wonderful friends,didn’t Errol say she was like a sister to him? She looked to be a sweet lady.I’m glad Errol had such a true friend like Ida.

        [img]http://i61.tinypic.com/2gy92ki.jpg[/img]

         

  3. Maria

    August 11, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Sea Hunt – now that brings back memories! Yes I agree – he would have been great. I still feel strongly that (after seeing the Big Boodle) Errol would have fit quite well into the roll of a secret agent of sorts- there were so many shows of this type in the sixties. I like the idea of a character in Havana too-Oh well – what might have been eh? Years ago I watched an interview on TCM between Robert Osborne and Ernest Borgnine (Oh to be that mentally sharp at his age!) who commented how he could not understand the move to TV by some of the big stars until a kid knocked on his door looking for directions to a move star’s house who was now on a TV program (sorry I can’t remember the names) – he realized that appearing on TV would expose him to an entire new generation – so he signed up for McHale’s Navy! How right he was too.

    I also realize that Errol’s personality -which always jumped out at you in any role he played- may have made it difficult for him top establish a TV presence -even though we watched the Errol Flynn Theatre (Thanks to my mother for that!) as kids it was still – well- ERROL FLYNN. We had a hearty respect for Errol at our house.

     

    • David DeWitt

      August 11, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      Here is Flynn as a sort of radio show detective. It was made and set in Jamaica, and was supposed to be a full series. This is the only one we’ve been able to find, and I don’t know if there are any others. It’s scratch at the beginning but improves. I made a better quality recording of it, but can’t find that one.

      Marble Arms – The Modern Adventures of Casanova The Modern Adventures of Casanova (Aka: The Missing Arm of Venus de Milo). May 22,1952. Mutual net. Commercials deleted. The descendant of the famous Italian diplomat is secretly an agent for Interpol, an international crime fighting organization. Christopher Casanova is sent to Jamaica to recover the priceless arm from a statue stolen from the Caribbean Museum in Kingston. It was one of the missing arms of the Venus de Milo! Starring: Errol Flynn, Walter Schumann (composer, conductor), Ben Wright, William N. Robson (director), Peter Dixon (writer), Nan Boardman, Peg La Centra, Ramsay Hill, Ed Begley, Walter King.

      “Marble Arms – The Modern Adventures of Casanova”

       

      • Lollie

        August 12, 2014 at 11:45 am

        The link unfortunately doesn’t seem to be working David? There is just the timer running along but no picture?

         

        • David DeWitt

          August 12, 2014 at 4:57 pm

          I’m sorry, it is a radio show series. There are no images. It is all audio :-) click the play button to listen to it!

           

          • Lollie

            August 13, 2014 at 11:28 am

            oops sorry,I didn’t realise.I had the speakers turned off.DOH! :)

             

  4. rswilltell

    August 11, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    ‘Escape Me Never’ has been unfairly savaged by movie critics and some Flynn fans. It contains brilliant acting performances by the entire cast, Ida Lupino, Gig Young, and Eleanor Parker plus an extraordinary dramatic performance by Errol Flynn. It was expensively-produced by Warner Bros (the studio dug canals on the back lot and flooded them for the Venice sequnces) and has one of Ernst Wolfgang Korngold’s finest film scores ever. Legend has it wrong, ‘Escape Me Never’ was a money-maker at the box office but just not the blockbuster hit they wanted. On Ernest Borgnine, it was Halloween and he had just told his agent to tell Universal Pictures to jump in the Black Lagoon over a TV series. A little girl came to the door for candy and was so excited about meeting Maverick across the street, Borgnine’s neighbor James Garner. Ernie asked the girl if she recognized him and she did not. He gave her the candy and then called his agent and told him to say yes to ‘McHale’s Navy’! Ralph

     

    • Inga

      August 11, 2014 at 4:28 pm

      Thank you, Ralph and David, for your positive opinion on that film which I share very much, especially considering how many things Errol and Sebastian had in common.

       

  5. Maria

    August 11, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    Yes – Now I remember! Thanks so much. I have seen Escape Me Never and was quite touched by it. But I guess the public just never wanted Errol to change. With respect to Ida – I think Errol admired and respected her for her brains. We watched her TV show as well! I never knew that she became a successful director in her own right until much later. Thanks again,
    Maria

     

    • Lollie

      August 12, 2014 at 11:44 am

      Yes I never knew she was a director either until a while ago,and she directed one of my favourite (non Errol) movies – The Trouble With Angels. :)

       

  6. Maria

    August 12, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    Oh yes! Rosalind Russell was the Mother Superior – and another Errol connection as he and David Niven rented her home. She also was the fabulous “Auntie Mame” with Patric Knowles – yet another Errol connection. It is a small world indeed.

     

    • Lollie

      August 12, 2014 at 1:00 pm

      YES! Isn’t she great as Mother Superior.

      Also she and Errol co starred (with Patric Knowles too) together (and are very funny together)in one of my all time favourite Errol Flynn movies Four’s a Crowd. :D

      [img]http://i58.tinypic.com/fn8w8k.jpg[/img]