There is a new movie out called Green Lantern and based on the comic books of the same name. The address for a write up is at middletown-ct.patch.com… There is a quote therein that refers to our good mate Errol as well as his room mate David Niven. This is the said quote “Hollywood Homage: According to Sinestro actor Mark Strong, the character of Hal Jordan was based on Robin Hood actor Errol Flynn while the film’s antagonist was based on legendary screen presence David Niven, Strong told coming soon.net…: “That widow’s peak and thin mustache was for some reason originally based on David Niven, and Hal Jordan was based on Errol Flynn. In the ‘30s and ‘40s, they shared an apartment together in Hollywood when they were making movies and they were great friends. Obviously at the time, whoever was doing the original comics must have looked at them as guys doing very well in the film industry, and based those characters on them. So I would like to do justice to the Sinestro that was conceived for the comic books”.
Steve and Genene
— tassie devil
Anonymous
October 18, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but Mark Strong is wrong in his assumption. I know this because as a long time Green Lantern fan, I have read many books re: the creation of the character. First the Green Lantern was created by Mart Nodell, artist and Bill Finger, writer in 1940. The original Green Lantern was a blonde named Alan Scott. (Originally Mr. Nodell wanted to give the character the secret identity of Alan Ladd, (he got the idea for the power ring from “Aladdin and his magic lamp”) but was shot down. This was before an actor named “Alan Ladd” came to fame in 1942's “This Gun for Hire”.) In 1959 after the character had been out of print for almost 10 years, the team of John Broome, writer; Gil Kane, artisit; and editor Julius Schwartz decided to revive the character and give him the secret identity of test pilot Hal Jordan. Gil Kane the artist responsible for the look of Hal Jordan always maintained he based Hal's face on an actor friend (or acquaintance, I can't rememeber which right now) of his named “Paul Newman”. But I think he did base Sinestro on David Niven.
Anonymous
October 18, 2011 at 11:55 pm
You are correct. I spoke with Julius Schwartz several times at conventions during the swingin 70s and 80s. Paul Newman was Gil Kane's visual inspiration for Hal Jordan. The body fitting uniform of the 60s Green Lantern was Gil Kane's creative brainstorm and set a precedent among costumed superheroes. GLs uniform was unique because of its simplicity. The David Niven connection I believe has been documented in interviews although he never specifically mentioned that to me. The pencil thin mustache was a 30s and 40s era style. It added a sinister suavity to Sinestro. Flynn did make the comic books however. I think I still have that Montana comic book. There was a Robin Hood Comic book and I think a Rocky Mountain and Kim.
Anonymous
October 19, 2011 at 3:27 am
Now that I think of it, I believe there was a comic book character based on Errol Flynn and I believe that character was called “Jon Valor, the Black Pirate!” This was a DC comic book character from the 1940s.–A. R.
Anonymous
October 19, 2011 at 3:31 am
And let's not forget Andy Gump.