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Author Archive

Leap Day 1940 – Part 2

01 Mar

February 29, 1940

Sidney Skolsky
Watching Them Make Pictures

If you wait long enough on a Michael Curtiz set, you’re bound to hear a Curtizism. The other afternoon on the set of The Sea Hawk I had a long wait. In fact for the first time I thought reliable Mike was going to fail me. Director Curtiz had Errol play a scene over and over. And everytime he gave an order I expected him to pull a gem. But he didn’t.

Finally, Errol did the scene the way Curtiz and reliable Mike came through. He said: “Errol, you worked hard. But it’s alright. You can’t get anything for nothing unless you pay for it.”

— Tim

 

Leap Day 1940 – Part 1

29 Feb

The day the Oscar leaped by Olivia: books.google.com…books.google.com…

— Tim

 

Gone Fishin’ – On the Sirocco – With Bow & Arrow

27 Feb

February 28, 1939

Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express

It was a hectic weekend the old Pacific dealt out to Hollywood sailors.

Errol Flynn’s yacht, the Sirocco, with Howard Hill, the archer, and two camermen among those aboard, limped into port at Mazatlan with sails and mast torn away by a gal encountered 300 miles at sea.

Flynn’s boat, according to reports reaching Hollywood, was badly crippled and will be in dry dock for some time. The Sirocco has been in Mexican waters for Archer Hill to film a short subject about fishing with bow and arrow. Flynn was not with the party but is expected to join them at Mazatlan.

Howard Hill’s Hunting the Hard Way: Marlin Fishing with Errol, Bow, and Arrow

youtu.be/0bcV9sa5lZA…

— Tim

 

The Adventures of Don Flynn: 1939

27 Feb

February 27, 1939

Louella Parsons
Los Angeles Examiner

How would you like to see the dashing Errol Flynn play the equally dashing Don Juan? Academy Award winning producer Hal Wallis is plotting such a story as a follow-up to Robin Hood. He will not use the Lord Byron material, but will base The Adventures of Don Juan on a story by Bess Meredyth wrote when she was a Warner scenarist. Bess, who retired from active work to enjoy her ranch, will do a rewrite job with Roland Leigh. Of course it will be a Michael Curtiz picture.

….

Though rarely remembered today, Bess Meredyth was a brilliant talent, maybe even a greater talent than Michael Curtiz, her husband from 1929 to his death in 1962. She often helped Curtiz on his projects, particularly with writing and rewriting, explaining, I suspect, why a man so infamously challenged by the English language could turn out such masterfully scripted films. Bess was behind the scenes. She was a very accomplished vaudevillian, film actress, musician, comedienne, business women, and screenwriter. Her many friends and colleagues in the industry included Bundy Drive Boys Gene Fowler and John Barrymore. She was reportedly a big help to Barrymore during his Hollywood years. (Notably, she also wrote the screenplay for Barrymore’s Don Juan, released in 1926 and featuring more kisses than any other film in history, 127 at last count.)

Bess Meredyth

Here’s looking at you, Bess:

— Tim

 

The Life Story of Errol Flynn – According to Flynn: 1936

26 Feb

February 26, 1936

Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express

The Errol Flynns (Lili Damita) are back from Palm Springs, where he completed the final version of his life story.

— Tim

 

Magical Mystery Quiz

25 Feb

One of The Beatles once dressed a la Errol in one of his swashbuckler films. Which Beatle was it, what was the occasion, and why is today an appropriate day for this quiz?

— Tim

 

Mon Film – Robin de Bois: February 25, 1948

25 Feb

Mon Film was the leading “film photonovel” publication in France in the decades before and after World War II. (It was “on hiatus” during the war.) This issue was published on February 25, 1948, seventy-two years ago today.

Thank you to our great EFB Flynnmate and Author Tina (aka Baribel), for originally publishing this cover and information regarding it, nine years ago today. Danke, Tina!

— Tim

 

Late Note with Errol Flynn – A Story with Rory

25 Feb

— Tim

 

Not Errol!?

23 Feb

In 1945, one of Errol’s favorite leading ladies confided in Dolores Moran that the greatest lovemaker she ever had was not Errol Flynn, but, rather, another Hollywood celebrity.

Who was the leading lady?

Who was the purported superior lovemaker?

What were the circumstances of that hard-to-believe revelation?

Clues to Use

It was whispered into Miss Moran’s ear in the leading lady’s studio dressing room (dressing room no. 7) during the filming of a Warner Brothers movie.

There’s a good chance Raoul Walsh was there also, and almost certainly he knew what was whispered, though unlikely he actually heard it.

Errol traveled many thousands of miles with this alleged lovemaking competitor, prior to and subsequent to this dubious disclosure.

h

— Tim

 

Sorry Margaret

22 Feb

February 22, 1935

Jimmy Starr
Evening Herald Express

Margaret Lindsay’s heavily bandaged wrist, a badly wrenched shoulder, and several black and blue marks all the cause of an overly-enthusiastic newcomer to the screen, handsome Errol Flynn, Irish actor, brought here from England by Warner Brothers.

When Mr. Flynn was cast in a small role in The Case of the Curious Bride, his first scene was with Miss Lindsay. He was to grab here and fake a terrible struggle. Mr. Flynn, ex-gold miner of New Guinea, pearl-fisher of the South Seas and boxer in the Olympic Games of 1928, suddenly became much too realistic in his handling of the fair heroine.

Director Michael Curtiz, enjoying the excitement of the splendid struggle, was too engrossed in getting action in his pifture to stop the rough treatment of his star. At the finish of the scene, however, Maggie was rushed to the studio hospital, where she was treated for severe bruises and her sprained wrist.

It is needless to say that Mr. Flynn has been warned to curb his “realism” in the future.

February 23, 1935

By Peter Pry
Behold Them Minus Hokum
Hollywood Citizens News

Errol Flynn, the he-man Irish actor under contract to Warners who previously was an Olympic Games boxer, does not entirely realize his strength. For a scene in The Case of the Curious Bride he was told to grab Margaret Lindsay by the wrist and throw her across the room. He did as he was told. Margaret landed 12 feet away. Her hand and arm began to swell with alarming speed. First aidcarrived and the swelling members were taped up. But director Michael Cuttiz said it was a wonderful scene.

— Tim