Was this mega-talented beauty Errol’s first girlfriend in LA LA Land? This is who he was often seen with during his early bachelor days in the U.S. Both he and Jack Warner say so in their autobiographies. Who was she and do you think there was any romance or hanky panky between the two?
— Tim
Dear fellow Flynn fans,
I came across a rather curious item of Flynn memorabilia.
A bronze of Errol`s head is to be auctioned off at INVALUABLE:
www.invaluable.com…
It is however a very accurate replica of the facial features of the golden bad boy of Hollywood.
Makes me wonder if Flynn had it commissioned himself or if Sam Peckinpah was behind all this.
Furthermore who took up the assignment?
Heads up,
— shangheinz
Just ending it successful run at the New York Musicic Festival was the musical offering Errol & Fidel from writer producers Boyd Anderson & Guy Anderson; Music by Peter Kaldor, John Kaldor and Doug Oberhamer; Lyrics by Boyd Anderson, directed by Michael Bello … Our own Karl Holmberg, Gentleman Tim, and Donna Juan attended the show and write to us from the theatre stage! I will let them comment on the show itself but here are some wonderful images, and a look at a novelty item soon available to everybody who follows our blog. More about that in another posting …
Some photos:
One adventure, two heroes. Something’s gotta give.
Cuba, 1958: Revolution is in the air! In his final year Errol Flynn has one last adventure. The dashing star of so many Hollywood blockbusters yearns to be a real hero, and Fidel Castro fits the bill. What Fidel craves is fame, and who better than Errol to show him how? At the height of the revolution an explosive encounter beckons – fueled by envy, lust, and vanity – with a mysterious woman calling the tune. Or could the CIA really be pulling the strings? Who knew revolution could be so much fun?
Recommended for ages 13+
Running time: 2 hours
GENRE: Comedy, Drama, History, Politics, Romance
— David DeWitt
Magnificent, Flynn! Magnificent!
What other non-singing, non-dancing star but Errol could have pulled off anything as clever and fun as this? It’s no wonder he was so phenomenally popular.
— Tim
I’ve just seen a truly great and very clever documentary film directed by Josh Greenbaum ‘Becoming Bond’ about another Australian devil-may-care actor, George Lazenby. Infamous for being the forgotten 007 of a single Bond film, 1969’s ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Lazenby’s attitude, charm and charisma to that of fellow Aussie Errol Flynn. They both lived life their way, not pandering to Hollywood. After completing OHMSS Lazenby turned down a 6 picture deal and a $1 million bonus from the producers to continue playing Bond. For one he thought in the era of Make Love Not War the Bond franchise wouldn’t last (wrong!), secondly the ridiculously restrictive contract would have been a straight-jacket for him (good call!). He walked away, bought a yacht and sailed the Mediterranean thinking he’d get easy money doing Italian movies. That didn’t really turnout as he planned, but a rich and ultimately lucrative life followed never the less – 2 marriages, kids, B movies, TV movies and guest spots and amassing a fortune in real estate.
Not that Errol would have been a Bond, like Lazenby he was far too independent for that, and why would he need to act as Bond when in many ways he was already living the life.
Lazenby’s here in Perth as part of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival promoting the film. Becoming Bond has had a couple screenings accompanied by a Q&A with George, and he’ll again make an appearance today following a screening of OHMSS. Highly recommended.
Trailer:www.youtube.com…
Here’s a run down – it’s streaming on Hulu:
decider.com…
— Philip
“Spotlight on Errol Flynn”, Movie-Radio Guide, June 1940
“Unfortunate for Flynn fans, Proud Papa Errol has set his foot down on having photos taken of the infant.”
— Tim
We received a great Mail Bag item from Shel Weisbach about Errol’s Mulholland Farm Architects:
Dave,
A permit at the LA Department of Building & Safety, 1941LA16356, dated July 8, 1941, lists William A Lundberg and J. Cecil Strawn as architects. The document was signed by an Angus Ralston,(but, honestly, of this I am a tad unsure as his penmanship and I are at odds), contractor, on behalf of Flynn. The document lists the architects’ license as C343 which was Strawn’s license. No license is noted for Lundberg.
Strawn, earlier in his career, was employed by the legendary starchitect, or star architect, Paul R. Williams. The Flynn ranch house bears some similarities to Oakridge, the Northridge estate of Barbara Stanwyck and, later, Jack Oakie, and the Talton R. Craig Ranch, West Hills. Oakridge was designed by either Williams or Robert Finkelhor, the architect of Bob Hope’s Toluca Lake mansion.
Williams and Finkelhor were part of a small corps of society architects who occasionally traded commissions and at other times collaborated on them. I have found less information on Lundberg – save that he partnered with his son, Harry L., in the design and construction of a number of homes in the well-to-do Hancock Park community. My guess, stress guess, is that Strawn associated with the Lundbergs for the Flynn commission.
California law allows for a single or two-story home to be designed by a non-architect or a non-engineer.
Elite architects employed elite and proven contractors as their clients were demanding and involved. The Lundbergs were craftsmen of a higher order.
The Flynn home was constructed with superior care and materials but may have appeared on the sedate side to an outside observer — a trademark of the Great Depression — those who were blessed tended to control flaunting it amid the poverty of the time. The home is two-story; but, a pitched, or angled, roof and dormers give it a humbler profile. Horizontal boards on the facade is in keeping with a degree of humility. The husky chimneys emit auras of ranch life and, yes, prosperity. I suspect, like Oakridge, there were carryovers of Victorian class distinctions, such as lower ceilings or door knobs vs. levers, to distinguish family rooms from house staff rooms.
If you have a chance, you may enjoy checking out my work, Pathways of the San Fernando Valley, on Amazon books. Thoughts/opinions would be appreciated. If I can again assist I will glad to offer a hand. If I find more info on the home and/or architects, I will share it with you.
Sincerely,
Thanks Shel, much appreciated!
— David DeWitt
February 10, 1936
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – Harrison Carroll
The Warner Bros fan mail dept is swamped by requests for pictures of Errol Flynn.
More than 15,000 were sent out in the month of January.
February 14, 1936
Los Angeles Examiner – Hollywood Parade – Lloyd Pantages
Since Errol Flynn zoomed into the star horizon as Captain Blood, his fan mail has
increased to such a degree that Warners added two more mail clerks to their department.
— Tim
