Dear fellow Flynn fans,
The last of Robin Hood finally reached the shores of the old continent and I had a chance to watch this biopic-indy flic on DVD. The casting of course is top notch and the real scoop here. Academy Award winner Kevin Kline has been linked to Errol ever since he starred on Broadway as Pirate King in “The pirates of Penzance”. Despite striking physical similarities, Kline dismissed any eventual parallel with a quick sidestep: “I consider myself rather an actor than a movie star.” Actually that is a very accurate account of Flynn`s dilemma with Warner Bros. Errol was considered rather a movie star than an actor and put in mediocre films many times with the notion, they would make money nonetheless.
Kline`s impersonation of the private Errol is what really brings Flynn to life. I guess method acting was not an option, since it would have hurt Kevin`s de-liver-y. He may be weary to walk in Flynn`s footsteps, but has been donning the pants of famous personalities like Douglas Fairbanks in “Chaplin” and Cole Porter in “De-lovely” before. He has done a ton of movie classics like “Sophie`s Choice”, “The Ice Storm” and “Cry Freedom” and is a rare hybrid actor that feels comfortable both in drama and comedy. The script of TLORH though rarely calls for an indebt characterization, so Kline narrows his acting down to hamming up the Hollywood hero. The dialogue seems like a best of Errol`s quick quips. Despite his disputable actions, Flynn is coming across very favourably.
Since this isn`t your average boy meets girl story, but the story of an aging matinee idol and his last conquest of an underage singer-dancer under the favorable eye of her manager- mother, the studio obviously decided to go easy on everybody. Especially Susan Sarandon, who as always does a fine acting job, has not to answer for the catering of her daughter to a funny old filmstar. Dakota Fanning is credible in her role of timid teenager turned into intoxicating inamorata. The film as a whole has a Sixties feel to it, which I found out of place (and time!). Clearly chosen for its scandalous topic, it doesn`t dare to bare all surrounding sordid details. Errol`s doing drugs comes across like another of his eccentrics for example.
All in all this light comedy comes and goes like a breeze leaving little impression, not even a bitter after taste. Still it is fine for a movie night in like Flynn.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 12:25 pm
A splendid review for a splendid film. By the way fashion styles in the late 1950’s had changed radically after staying the same for nearly twenty years. This continued into the 1960’s and the Kennedy years. Ralph Schiller
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 8:03 pm
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Elvis-Frank-Sinatra-elvis-presley-26701839-469-669.jpg[/img]
Right Ralph, first Sinatra got rolled over by Elvis.
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 8:06 pm
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And then Elvis had to battle the Beatles.
Gentleman Tim
September 3, 2015 at 5:18 am
And then The Beatles had to battle The Beatles …
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for the review. I feel mostly the same way and hoped it had more teeth but I still enjoyed it. They would have to make it a mini series to get everything we would want in and go to Jamaica etc.
I still find it interesting that they chose her mothers book. Has anyone here read it?
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Thanks Twains for commenting. I hope the big picture of Errol Flynn will be coming our way. Mr. Scorsese, can you hear us?
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 11:56 pm
I’ve read The Big Love, and got a kick out of the narrative voice of the author. It’s been some time since my reading but I enjoyed it. I understand why Beverly Aaudland was unhappy that her mother told her story. In later years she asked my friend Professor Lincoln Hurst to help pen her story to correct the record but that never came to pass …
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Hi Heinz;
Having been at the premier of the movie in Toronto I am concurring with your observations and I feel it is a shame that no major studio did it as they would have had the money to go on locations etc. and could have made it better. I was sorry for the producers and director that they could not get the money needed to make it such. But my hat off to them for producing what they did with the very limited funds they had.
Considering all the circumstances they made a wonderful movie and the cast is superb.
I wonder how much the movie costed and if they are making a profit or at least come out even. It would be great if there would be a profit.
I don’t know if you know but Richard Glatzer died on March 10, 2015 in Los Angeles.
Take care!
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 7:30 pm
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Dear Toronto Tina,
for a low budget film, the makers did a good job. I felt it was a little rushed, more of a superficial spoof than a lovestory with an unhappy ending. What this talented tandem truely was capable of, is shown in the deeply touching film “Still Alice”. RIP Richard Glatzer.
The Real Person!
September 2, 2015 at 8:30 pm
You are so right Heinz!
The Real Person!
September 3, 2015 at 1:04 pm
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Here is the man behind the moustache in his own words: www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/kevin-kline-a-real-smoothie-1536865.html…