I got my copy of the latest edition of Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide in the mail today and was pleased to find that Errol Flynn in Gentleman Jim made the critic’s list of just 26 “memorable performances” (one for every letter of the alphabet). Maltin writes, “Errol Flynn is an indelible Robin Hood, but there is something special about his evocation of prizefighter James J. Corbett in Gentleman Jim that stands out in my mind.” Many of my faves are on this list as well — for instance, Marion Davies in The Patsy, Una Merkel in 42nd Street, Jean Gabin in Touchez pas au grisbi, and Lon Chaney in The Unknown, so Our Man Flynn is in very good company in my book.
The Classic Movie Guide covers the silent era through 1965 and is crammed with info on more than 10,000 movies, plus it has a decent index of stars’ filmographies. So far I’ve found it more convenient than trying to get IMDB to work on my phone. It goes on sale September 29.
— Paula
The Real Person!
September 24, 2015 at 11:51 pm
Very nice! What a treat to own!
The Real Person!
October 3, 2015 at 5:33 pm
It is. I’ve enjoyed books like this since someone gave me a copy of Halliwell’s Film Guide when I was little :)
Gentleman Tim
September 25, 2015 at 10:09 am
Thank you, Paula. Very cool. Good for Maltin. He has such a great knowledge of and perspective on film history.
Hollywood coud go another thousand rounds and they’d never find any one to top Flynn as Gentleman Jim. Same goes for Peter Blood, Robin Hood & George Custer.
[img]http://images.popmatters.com/film_art/e/errolflynn-ins1.jpg[/img]
The Real Person!
October 3, 2015 at 5:48 pm
My pleasure! I agree, no one could do those roles better –though with Robin Hood, some have attempted it.
The Real Person!
October 3, 2015 at 10:15 pm
Paula you are so right!
Errol had many very memorable films. As you mentioned already Jim Corbett, Peter Blood, Robin Hood and George Custer, then there is Geoffrey Vickers, Robert Devereux, Geoffrey Thorpe, Jean Picard, Captain Nelson, particular great in his later years as Soames Forsyte, Mike Campbell and John Barrymore.
Of course to me every film of his was great!