A Wonderful Story
— Tim
Celebrating Olivia’s 100th Year (Congratulations Livvie!)
At the Historic Stanford Theater, Palo Alto, California
ERROLIVIA FILMS & DATES
The Adventure of Robin Hood: May 6-8
Captain Blood: May 13-15
Charge of the Light Brigade: May 20-22
They Died with Their Boots On: June 3-5
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex: June 10-12
Four’s a Crowd: June 17-19
— Tim
Attributed to Olivia, 1978, in a discussion about the most legendary drinkers in film history:
“During filming of “The Swarm”, 1978, a disaster film about killer bees, starring Michael Caine, Henry Fonda, Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens and Fred MacMurray, definitely some guys who knew something about putting them down. One day they were joined for lunch at the Warner Brothers commissary by the quiet Olivia de Havilland. There were complaints that no booze was being served. “That’s because of Errol Flynn”, said de Havilland. “He used to get so drunk he couldn’t work, so Mr. Warner said no more booze.”
The men wanted to hear more about the famous swashbuckler. “Oh my God, that Errol Flynn was something. Do you know he once got so drunk he wagered a film crew $500 that he’d have his way with me.” The men could see she was a lady and the incident must have been embarrassing for her. Olivia grinned mischievously “Oh it was, it was. And you see that tree on the hill out the window. That’s where he won his bet!”
— Tim
Sweet and gorgeous Sherry Jackson is back again, with tales of Errol, almost performing as the young Olivia character in The Snake Pit, crying for Mean Mr. Michael, and being dead on the beach in Hello God!
Welcome back, Sherry!
— Tim
Both Warner Bros contract stars and good friends Errol Flynn and Alexis Smith were loaned out to MGM to star in different films in 1949: Flynn in, ”THAT FORSYTE WOMAN” and Alexis in, ”ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY”. While there they would meet in the commissary, They found few people would talk or say hello to them. They were surprised how cold and unfriendly MGM was VS. WB. They were glad when they had the opportunity to see each other while both were making a film there. Here is a candid photo of Flynn as Soames and Alexis as
Lon Kyng. The photo speaks for itself.
— Kevin Wedman
In 1943 Errol Flynn was accused of statutory rape and made the front pages of not only the gossip columns but all news papers. He would be acquitted of all charges. His star status actually increased from the publicity. All 4 of his films in 1942-43 were highly successful earning over 2 million dollars per film. But, for the first time in his career his reputation became the bad boy of Hollywood and became the ‘butt of jokes’. Which was something new to him. Instead of resisting, he played along with the womanizing comments. During the filming ”NORTHERN PURSUIT”, he played a Canadian Mountie and ended the film by assuring his bride Julie Bishop that he has known many girls, but she is the only one he ever loved. Then, turning and confiding with the audience, he blurts out: ”What am I saying?” Everyone loved it.
— Kevin Wedman
Doris Day plays a waitress in the Warner Bros. Commissary wanting to be an actress in movies but decides to give it all up and returns home to Goerkes Corner, Wisconsin to marry long-time sweetheart Jeffrey Bushdinkle who turns out to be Errol Flynn. A highly entertaining and funny film in Technicolor.
— Kevin Wedman