The Errol Flynn Blog

Dear fellow Flynn fans,

Cap Depp has been showing signs of fondness for our Hollywood hero at the film festival of Venice. Not only was he wearing Errol of ol` style shoes on the red carpet while promoting his newest film “Black Mass”, but his antics at the press conference reminded of Flynn as well. When bored at public gatherings Errol would resort to his flask and immerse himself in a high proof cup of tea. See: www.theerrolflynnblog.com…

Johnny upped the ante and drank straight from a bottle claiming it to be a non alcoholic beverage. The role of real life Irish gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, who collaborated with the FBI against the Italian Mob, while building a criminal empire of his own, could net him an Oscar nomination. He probably drank to that.

Here is what he had to say about the controversial character he playes: “You have to approach him as a human. No one wakes up in the morning and says, as they are brushing their teeth, I am going to do something evil today…I found the evil in myself a long time ago, I accepted it- we are old friends…when ordered by authorities to remove my dogs from Australian soil, I killed them and ate them, for these were the direct orders of a sweaty, big gutted man (reference to the minister of agriculture, who said that Depp`s two Yorkshire Terriers should “bugger” back to the United States).

When asked about the inspirations for his transformations on screen he mentioned John Barrymore, Marlon Brando and Lon Chaney Sr. as rolemodels. Errol Flynn looms large in Johnny`s private life again, since his new wife, Amber Heard, is 23 years younger than the 52 year old actor.

For he`s a Jolly Roger good fellow, Captain Sparrow will set sails for a fifth installment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean”- franchise scheduled for 2017. Don`t expect non alcoholic beverages at that one. Enjoy,

— shangheinz

[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaXtCIEy2wc[/embedyt]

Dear fellow Flynn fans,

here is a nice little vid showing a trip into La-La Hollywoodland.

One can see how Errol was living off his looks and wit and loving every minute of it.

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

Dear fellow Flynn fans,

The last of Robin Hood finally reached the shores of the old continent and I had a chance to watch this biopic-indy flic on DVD. The casting of course is top notch and the real scoop here. Academy Award winner Kevin Kline has been linked to Errol ever since he starred on Broadway as Pirate King in “The pirates of Penzance”. Despite striking physical similarities, Kline dismissed any eventual parallel with a quick sidestep: “I consider myself rather an actor than a movie star.” Actually that is a very accurate account of Flynn`s dilemma with Warner Bros. Errol was considered rather a movie star than an actor and put in mediocre films many times with the notion, they would make money nonetheless.

Kline`s impersonation of the private Errol is what really brings Flynn to life. I guess method acting was not an option, since it would have hurt Kevin`s de-liver-y. He may be weary to walk in Flynn`s footsteps, but has been donning the pants of famous personalities like Douglas Fairbanks in “Chaplin” and Cole Porter in “De-lovely” before. He has done a ton of movie classics like “Sophie`s Choice”, “The Ice Storm” and “Cry Freedom” and is a rare hybrid actor that feels comfortable both in drama and comedy. The script of TLORH though rarely calls for an indebt characterization, so Kline narrows his acting down to hamming up the Hollywood hero. The dialogue seems like a best of Errol`s quick quips. Despite his disputable actions, Flynn is coming across very favourably.

Since this isn`t your average boy meets girl story, but the story of an aging matinee idol and his last conquest of an underage singer-dancer under the favorable eye of her manager- mother, the studio obviously decided to go easy on everybody. Especially Susan Sarandon, who as always does a fine acting job, has not to answer for the catering of her daughter to a funny old filmstar. Dakota Fanning is credible in her role of timid teenager turned into intoxicating inamorata. The film as a whole has a Sixties feel to it, which I found out of place (and time!). Clearly chosen for its scandalous topic, it doesn`t dare to bare all surrounding sordid details. Errol`s doing drugs comes across like another of his eccentrics for example.

All in all this light comedy comes and goes like a breeze leaving little impression, not even a bitter after taste. Still it is fine for a movie night in like Flynn.

Enjoy,

— shangheinz