— Tina
Since Wednesday I am deep in bed with
influenza and last night, awakening
from a sort of marathon sleep, switching on the TV and with in seconds I
was Bright Eyes and what scene do you think is right in front of my
very eyes at this very minute?
The very scene John describes in
his Titchfield article, Errol going accidentally into the ladies'
bathroom I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears – I was stunt and
again I laughed my head off! They actually used Errol's incident in a
movie. There you see, the poor man couldn't even go to bathroom without
a movie being made of it! Ha – ha – ha!
Maybe this is old news
to some of you, sorry, but maybe not to all of you, it
is news to me! Let's Enjoy!
At the time I saw the movie TCM's
schedule was different “The Ruling Class” also with Peter O'Toole, but
as per my research the movie playing was “My Favorite Year” 1982 starring Peter O'Toole in a divine
comedy and parody of Errol Flynn. My research about this movie took me
to You Tube, I thought due to missing the beginning I could maybe see
it there, but what I found instead is an actual presentation of the
passage. What would the British say that? I say, I say old
chap on you tube, you don't say?
It
is a most delightful movie “A Must Watch It” for an Errol fan, in
addition containing a very profound precious scene when Benjy
Stone is mad at Allan Swann (Errol) for having fears and being in
self-denial. Priceless!
Alan Swann:
Stone… I'm afraid. I'm afraid. That's why I couldn't get out of the
car to see my Tess, my child.
Benjy Stone:
Alan Swann, afraid? The Defender of the Crown? Captain from Tortuga? The
Last Knight of the Round Table?
Alan Swann:
Those are movies, damn you! Look at me! I'm flesh and blood, life-size,
no larger! I'm not that silly God-damned hero! I never was!
Benjy Stone:
To *me* you were! Whoever you were in
those movies, those silly goddamn
heroes meant a lot to *me*! What does it matter if it was an illusion?
It worked! So don't tell me this is you life-size. I can't use you
life-size. I need Alan Swanns as big as I can get them! And let me tell
you something: you couldn't have convinced me the way you did unless
somewhere in you you *had* that courage! Nobody's that good an actor!
You *are* that silly goddamn hero!
I think this is a very beautiful passage, extremely
fitting and to the point!
Movie Review – A Perfect Film
Comedy!
Have you ever watched a film and wished it wouldn't end?
Where you loved
all
the characters, adored each scene, and laughed at every joke, even after
you'd seen the film so many times that you could quote the dialog? MY
FAVORITE YEAR is that kind of movie!
Directed with gusto by
Richard Benjamin, the film is both a loving tribute
to Sid Caesar's 'Your Show of Show', and the remarkable talents that
brought
it together each week, and a sincere homage to Errol Flynn, whose antics
and
larger-than-life persona, in the waning years of his life, still had a
kind
of magic that could enthrall a shy young fan, or make a woman
swoon.
Three dynamic performances dominate the film. Mark
Linn-Baker, as Benjy
Stone, based on the young Mel Brooks, is a shy kid who hides his
insecurities behind a rapid-fire wit. The dazzling young star in a staff
of
comedy 'pros', Stone suffers from an unrequited love from fellow staffer
K.
C. Downing (Jessica Harper), and has an inspiration, inviting legendary
swashbuckler Alan Swann (Peter O'Toole) to appear on the show. As King
Kaiser, star of the hit series, Joseph Bologna captures much of Sid
Caesar's
legendary physical 'presence' and irreverence to authority. When
threatened
by gangsters over a 'too close to home' series of parodies about crime
boss
Karl Rojeck (portrayed with brute menace by veteran actor Cameron
Mitchell),
Kaiser 'thumbs his nose' at them, mimicking the gangster mercilessly.
“I'll
KEEP doing it!” he taunts. “Why? Because it's FUNNY!”
Then there
is Peter O'Toole's 'Alan Swann'. With his own career a roller
coaster ride of alcoholism, resulting in the near destruction of his
health,
no actor could have 'channeled' Errol Flynn better. Just as Flynn, by
the
1950s, O'Toole was a nearly burned-out roué, his classic good looks long
gone,
O'Toole's matinee-idol appearance, after years of self-abuse, had aged
into
a gaunt mask, making Benji Stone's film montage of 'classic' clips more
poignant. What Flynn still had, in abundance, were charm and a ready
wit,
and O'Toole's 'Swann' is so enchanting a personality that you can't help
but
love him, and root for him to succeed.
From the opening nostalgic
strains of Nat King Cole's rendition of
'Stardust', through Benjy's futile effort to attempt to keep Swann sober
(Red Skelton loved to tell how he kept Flynn sober on his program…he
emptied all of the actor's bottles of vodka, replacing it with
water…and
Flynn couldn't tell the difference!), to a riotous Swann dinner with
Benjy's
family, to the near-disastrous broadcast, with Swann developing stage
fright, and Kaiser brawling with mob enforcers…MY FAVORITE YEAR has
one
glorious scene after another, each unforgettable!
One of the
AFI's '100 Greatest Film Comedies', MY FAVORITE YEAR will bring a
tear to your eye, even as you laugh. It was a time of legends, and
heroes
who would live up to boyhood dreams.
Film comedy doesn't get any
better than this!
— Tina
This is a wonderful song by Amanda McBroom the daughter of Hollywood actor David Bruce! It is very moving and touching – very worthwhile to listen too. A quite different tribute to Errol, but a very nice tribute! Enjoy!
Attached is David Bruce's picture for you to recall him as Errol's friend and in his movies!
Addendum:
I contacted Amanda McBroom through her website to ask her if she composed the song and if she had some memorabilia to add to the blog:
Amanda's Reply:
Dear Tina:
Thank you for your lovely e-mail.
I wrote the song, called ERROL FLYNN, with a man named Gordon Hunt,
father of actress Helen Hunt, as a tribute to my father, David Bruce.
They did several movies together in the 30's and 40's and were very
close friends. I don't remember ever meeting him. I was quite young when
Errol died, but I know my father was very fond of him. The song is directly connected to “Santa Fe Trail”. that was the movie poster
Gordon and I both had hanging on our walls which inspired us to write
the song.
I am glad you enjoy it.
Cheers,
Amanda
David Bruce (left) in “Santa Fe Trail”!
Now my dear Blog readers one thing is very interesting in Amanda's reply – it is Gordon Hunt her co-composer, father of Helen Hunt. A-ha – was it Helen Hunt who purchased Errol's Mulholland Farm? Did she ordered the removal of Errol's house? Did she build her house on the very spot Errol's house stood? Did she sold it then to Justin Timberlake who owns it now. Anybody have the correct answers???
— Tina
This unique picture comes to us from our member Elayna, not yet an author, who asked me to publish this picture for your enjoyment!
The rareness is in the hairstyle and dress as Errol doesn't wear them in the movie as pictured in this “Gentleman Jim” photograph! Great find Elayna!
— Tina
Today I was on Amazon and found this French titled book advertised, as the title is unknown to me I went to Google and found the story of a movie (1959) of a boy extremely similar to Errol's life as a youth titled “Les 400 Coups” = The 400 Blows. Please go to Google and read it I could hardly believe it. There is somewhere a connection – I think?
Errol's title is “Mes 400 Coups” = My 400 Blows and he supposedly is the author???
If it has anything to do with MWWW why the parallel to the movie “Les 400 Coups”
Any insides to this – Errolists???
Good looking French kid too!
Wonderful picture of Errol!
This artist's rendering accentuates by giving great emphasis to his chevron eyebrows representing him with that lovely devilish look.
— Tina
After finding
last year a slanderous paragraph about Errol on the Hermann
Erben Wikipedia page about Errol being anti-Semitic and various other nasty things and that a letter exists to proof this
allegation!
I went to work and requested this paragraph to be removed! I had to repeat my entries several
times as Wikipedia removed my entries consistently and I re-entered it just as
consistently.
Below is now the confirmation of
deletion of that paragraph – small success, but one less slanderous entry about
Errol.
My words below are in an edited format by
Wikipedia. PROOF is the word to use! Also, read it carefully you will
notice that it is not slander when a person is dead. How
convenient for all those slanderous ink slingers.
Talk:Hermann Erben from Wikipedia
Nothing but slanderous talk about Errol Flynn! It says about the
letter “if genuine”! If genuine indeed – is the key word! Is
there such letter? If so, it MUST be produced, where is it? Why even
speak about something that cannot be substantiated? Therefore it is only
hearsay and only slanderous talk about Errol Flynn, who never was
“ANTI” to any race, creed or color!
To the editor of this page! It says in your rules and
regulations that what is printed in Wikipedia must be verifiable. Your
statement of Errol Flynn's letter is not verifiable! Where is the
letter? If you are unable to produce this “letter” you should remove
this paragraph as it is not verifiable and only malicious slander! —Preceding comment added by Bariebel (talk • contribs) 23:25, 31 January
2010 (UTC)
— Tina
His looks are as if playing Shakespeare!
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start.
The game's afoot: follow your spirit; and, upon this charge cry
'God for Harry! England and Saint George!'
Re: Errol
reciting
“Henry V” in “Too much too soon”!
— Tina
In answer to David's comment! Re: Can Any Of Us Guys Here Question Errol's Taste?!!
Oh yes, David you are right – long legs – curved narrow hips, no more than 7″ between waste line and legs, long slender upper body with ski slope breasts, small and firm, a superb décolleté leading into a beautiful swan like neck to place his diamond and sapphire necklaces'!
No doubt Errol had taste in choosing his ladies, they where all great looking, but in the selections of his prominent leading ladies he was true to form and consistent to choose always ladies who either had a physical or mentality resemblance to his mother!
What are your opinions?
The similarity in Looks:
The similarity User and Abuser: To impress mother – the user princess:
Subconsciously he is consistent in his preferences and choices. The typical action and reactions of abused children who in their submerged mind want and have the utter need to please the abuser by trying to find the need for love and acceptance! As sad as this psychological factor is, nevertheless it is a fact that Errol suffered all his life from this childhood traumas and many of his unwise actions are the root of this malady!
As he had no proper childhood at all, therefore the consistent draw towards young people to recapture of their own lost childhood and youth. I do not know much about Michael Jackson, but I think I am not wrong if I draw a parallel to his childhood, he was an abused child too. I concentrate on Errol's psychological facts as it is very important to understand the man and all theidiosyncrasies attached to his so-called enigma.