The Errol Flynn Blog

Peter (Valenti) and I last night had our first conversation to what I hope will be many to come in the near future. I found him to be very open and an inviting gentleman. It felt as if I’ve known Peter (as he wanted me to call him to that of Mr. Valenti – which I generally address someone I respect) directly for a very long time, although I, as thousands of others, would know him indirectly through his book, Errol Flynn: A Bio-bibliography (1984).

I hope I have also encourage him to become a participator/author on this web site as some of us are, by contributing what he knows about Flynn and there about.
As I know in doing a book of the caliber in which he wrote, much research has to take place; his data bank is vast as I found out quickly in our conversation. Though he mentioned many more facts have been found since publishing his book which could have been great tools in finding more info, but as we both said and agreed, there are some many more findings yet to be had, as our man Flynn was a wondering adventurer which lived the lifes of ten men in such a short time; there are many more stones to over turned in finding gold.

Also we both agreed as with many here do too, Flynn was a much better actor than that ever given credit for and as time moves on, this is being recognized little at a time – the snobs of old Hollywood’s motion pictures die off and with this the findingsthem finally give kudos to that of what they called, “Hollywood’s Bad Boy” , thus pushing him aside – his due will be, one day, and I hope I am around to see him get posthumously his Lifetime Achievement Award (keep fighting for it Rory we stand strong behind you)…

Well Peter if you happen to read this, I hope you share with us more Flynn adventures in the very near future. Looking forward to our soon meeting over drinks and talking about one of our favorite subjects; Errol Flynn!

— Sergio

“King’s Rhapsody” was the second and last film that Errol Flynn had co-starred in with British Movie Queen Anna Neagle, the follow-up to their successful “Lilacs In The Spring” earlier that year in 1955. Neagle’s movie mogul husband Herbert Wilcox produced and directed this lavish production shot in the expensive CinemaScope process and filmed in beautiful EastmanColor with a cast of thousands. Unfortunately “King’s Rhapsody” is a misfire and an outright dud. Worst of all it’s boring.  Based on the beloved Ivor Novello West end musical about a fictional Balkan kingdom, Laurentia and it’s playboy Crown Prince and later King Ricki (Errol Flynn) who loves his mistress Marta (Anna Neagle) but is forced to marry the Princess Cristiane of Norseland (Flynn’s wife Patrice Wymore). In spite of the gorgeous Barcelona, Spain scenery capture by Wilcox’s cameras, movie audiences have to sit through one endless song after another including a boring six-minute ballet danced by Wymore, who has the best-looking legs in films with the possible exception of Cyd Charisse. When Errol Flynn is allowed to act, he delivers a powerful, dramatic performance as the star-crossed monarch destined to lose both his crown, his kingdom, and his son.  However Flynn is used as a handsome smiling prop as both Anna Neagle and Patrice Wymore constantly sing and dance around his character.  After the first few songs, Errol Flynn looks downright embarrassed which probably explains his bad behavior during the making of the film as reported by Anna Neagle herself in a TV interview. Unlike the charming, under-rated “Lilacs In The Spring”, “King’s Rhapsody” was a box office stinker in both Great Britain and the USA. Neagle’s cinema career was also mortally wounded by the film as she made only four more films before retiring. On a positive note, the “King’s Rhapsody” DVD sold on Amazon is a beautiful, pristine widescreen version of the film.  Ralph Schiller

— rswilltell