Dear Errol fans,
I hope I have not been 'stirring the pot' too much, but I learned long ago that in the case of Errol Flynn, you just cannot trust what the media says. There have been rumors and legends and wild stories that after a time, were just took as truth where they very much were not. Sort of a case of 'if the shoe fits, wear it'. Or in Errol's case, 'If the story is outrageous enough, Errol must be responsible'.
Case in point: Errol's funeral. The L.A. Times said that security was so tight that Jack Oakie, (Errol's friend) was kept out of the funeral due to tight security. Read Tina'a posting of the L.A times piece on Errol's funeral. But here is a picture of Jack being one of the pall bearers!(He's on the left) A neat trick, eh?
This is why I question the fact that Patrice was at the funeral. The lady photographed beside Sean looks like Nora to me. Now I may in fact be 100% wrong, but I also may be 100% right.
This is why I would like verification from those who were actually there. I was not, but Rory and Deidre were. I will bow to their recollection, be I right or wrong.
Thanks, JOHN
— john
Anonymous
February 28, 2010 at 11:33 pm
With the video footage I saw, I think it's Patrice being escorted by Sean. Doesn't look like Nora to me.
:)
Anonymous
February 28, 2010 at 11:57 pm
First of all, it's Jack “Oakie”, well known character actor. Secondly, he points out that he was prevented from making it to the gravesite services AFTER the the funeral, of which he was pall bearer. 100% wrong may well be the case, John.
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 2:03 am
Hi John;
I love it! You are wonderful!
But god in heaven please believe it, it is Patrice! She had no way out of this situation! She was the only one who could not and knew that much, that she would not be able to stay away from the funeral – she was by law at that time his legal wife.
What ever her feelings were at that time towards Errol only she and she alone knows. BUT, there are always situations in life one has to take a bite of the sour apple and yet show grace!
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 4:37 am
Here's a news article that adds to the confusion. This was printed on the day BEFORE the funeral.
news.google.com…
Nora had planned on attending and obviously “things” changed as the girls came without her.
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 4:46 am
Here's another link. This one is interesting because it has a totally different take on the events that lead up to his death in Vancouver. However, it does have an accounting of the funeral which you all should find interesting. This is from Photoplay. tyforum.bravepages.com…
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Sorry for the typo. Jack did not say that he was prevented from being allowed in the funeral, the L.A. times did. The “Mirror” was the one who caught the mistake and published it later. Also, it seems very strange that once Jack had been allowed into the funeral and been a pall-bearer, he would be barred from the gravesite services. Think about it Mr. Robzak, when the coffin is put into the hearse for the short ride to the gravesite, everyone packs into their vehicles and follows along. I don't think Jack would have had any problem being included. After all, he knew most everyone there. John
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Therefore, what? A sinister conspiracy taking place at the vitally important funeral of an aging movie star? C'mon, John; this isn't the JFK assassination.
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 8:14 pm
www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Calm down Mr. Robzak. It is was it is, and nothing more. I just think the person present was Nora, not Pat. And I am pointing out that you cannot trust the news media on this. No need to get your blood pressure elevated. John
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Blood pressure is fine, John. Just wondering when you're going to address the specific from everyone's kind efforts here, rather than simply falling back on “I just don't think it's Nora”.
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Yes Kathleen;
You are right! She maybe intended to go, but what ever happened to her absence only Deidre and Rory will know! The fact remains she was absent!
Anonymous
March 1, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Hi Kathleen,
This is most interesting, quite a different story just prior to his last hours. If that is true, why did they not drive him right away to the hospital at the onset of his attach?
Questions nothing but questions and what does it matter now? He is most likely is laughing his head of at our discussions. I could just see that! Maybe the question mark, which he made into his emblem is a sign – remaining a “question” for ever!
Anonymous
March 2, 2010 at 4:32 am
Absolutely
Anonymous
March 2, 2010 at 4:35 am
Yes, wasn't that an odd accounting of his last moments. So different from the one we are used to reading! It doesn't matter at all, it's just fun, fun and more fun. Could be he's laughing so hard he'll need a drink to calm down!
Anonymous
March 2, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Specifically, Look at Tina's new posting. It is really a close call. In fact, I think it shows that the person who was at the funeral looks more like Nora than Pat. It is close though. Oh well, 'the truth will out', as they say. John
Anonymous
March 4, 2010 at 12:33 am
Maybe it's Nora, John. Or even Pat:
popwatch.ew.com…
Anonymous
March 4, 2010 at 2:10 am
Hi Kathleen;
Did you look at your write up on your visit to his grave?
Anonymous
March 7, 2010 at 9:11 am
Hallo, Chums! This lengthy discussion about Pat Wymore versus Nora attending Errol's funeral is now showing up on Google! I hope that we will all remember that a difference of opinon is fine and even welcomed here on the blog as long as the tone and responses are civil and friendly.
We are a family of Flynn fans and while this might mean we get a bit testy in our own minds over various details of Flynn history we disagree about, we must respect each other and be open to listening to differing views and opinions. The last thing we want to have are arguments and hard feelings over any question put forth, and we do not in any case make personal attacks against each other on this blog. That leads to the sorts of negativity that has never existed here, and is not allowed. Don't make me have to take anybody to the woodshed…
It was Pat Wymore who arranged the funeral, attended as Flynn's legal wife and Lili, Nora, and Beverly Aadland did not attend according to my information. Pat is clearly identified in a clip seen in The Adventures of Errol Flynn which shows Rory and Deirdre walking behind Pat and Sean Flynn at the funeral.
The folks at Top Hat Productions would not mistake Pat for Nora, and seeing the clip in motion (not as a single still from the clip), it is obvious this is Pat Wymore as the narrator identifies her. A few of us here on the blog contributed to this documentary, myself included, thanks to Linc Hurst, and this is a very reputable and thoroughly researched documentary from experienced producers.
It is never wrong to ask questions about something that puzzles you about Flynn or the events in his life. This is what we are here for, to understand the legend and the enigma of Errol Flynn. And it is so easy to wonder if what you are looking at is what it is said to be since so much of what actually is the truth about Flynn is garbled by reporters innacuracies and publicity that was intended to mislead in the first place.
The great thing about these questions is that they engage us and bring our passions out but we must also remember that we are here to have fun and to laugh and smile and cry if we feel like it but never to make another person on this blog feel stupid or embarrassed. That's not what we are about on The Errol Flynn Blog…
Anonymous
March 7, 2010 at 9:53 am
Anonymous
April 5, 2010 at 3:38 am
This Photoplay article is crammed with errors and is NOT an accurate account of Flynn's final hours. There are many contemporaneous accounts that give the real time line, and the coroner who examined Flynn's body wrote a highly detailed account in a hard-to-find book called HOW COME I'M DEAD?
Anonymous
April 5, 2010 at 3:56 am
Hi daveboz;
Thank you for making us aware of this book “HOW COME I'M DEAD”, I never heard of it. If the coroner is the author what is his name? One would need the authors and publishers name, year published and the ISBN number for a successful search. Do you have the book, if so could you give us the details?
Best regards,
Tina
Anonymous
April 5, 2010 at 4:19 am
Hi Tina, I have this book and wrote a little something under books about Flynn.
Anonymous
April 5, 2010 at 4:20 am
Great picture. “Hmmm”
Anonymous
April 5, 2010 at 4:33 am
Hi Kathleen;
Thank you for your reply! I just wanted to reply to daveboz that I went to Abebooks.com…, which I always go first when I want a book and I found it! There are several ones for sale and for $2.50 only. Got a bargain today!
Thanks Kathleen!
Anonymous
April 5, 2010 at 4:37 am
Hi daveboz;
I found the book already, that was easy – I was lucky to get it for $2.50 from Abebooks.com…! Thank you very much for telling us about it!
Best regards.