We have a nice new feature on The Errol Flynn Blog! It is a list of our postings in chronological order on a brand new sitemap so that readers can view the blog as if it were chapters in a book … see the sidebar for the The EFB Chapters and enjoy the blog in an entirely new way!
— David DeWitt
Dear Flynnmates,
the old saying that life resembles a solitary beach has never been truer than today.
Last fall I had the opportunity to roam the desert sands of Lido isle in Venice almost all by myself
The Excelsior Hotel, well known from the Thomas Mann novel “Death in Venice” emerged as a ghost castle right before me.
It was there in September of 1953, where Errol´s “The Story of William Tell” movie came to a full stop.
At the Biennale film festival, prankster Flynn faked a back injury while dancing the Bogalloo in the presence of John Huston and King Farouk.
He wanted to cash in his insurance policy and finish “the greatest film ever” in Italy.
But instead of taking Lloyd`s for a gondola ride, Will Tell sailed into the sunset.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
Dear Flynnmates,
here is another accurate account about Errol Flynn`s best man Suicide Freddie McEvoy.
When together, they could meow the birds from the trees.
But his panache got the playboy literally in deep waters.
The circumstances of his drowning a few meters off the coast of Morocco are as murky as his past.
He supposedly died trying to save his newly wed wife from going under.
The truth may not be as romantic as the legend.
Three crew members survived the shipwreck.
One was Manfred Lentner, a convicted murderer from Austria.
He gave three different versions of what happened that night.
Errol immediately wanted to salvage Freddie Mac`s yacht with his own money.
Why, you ask me!?
I believe the motif to be buried within the EF Enterprises script “Deep Waters”, which was supposed to be filmed in South France.
Barry Mahon was to produce and cute Corinne Calvet was to star.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
In 1950 a car pulls up to an historical marker in the desert on the California-Nevada border. The marker reads:
ROCKY MOUNTAIN, also known as Ghost Mountain
On March 26, 1865, a detachment of Confederate cavalry
crossed the state line into California under secret orders
from Gen. Robert E. Lee to rendezvous at Ghost Mountain
with one Cole Smith, with instructions to place the flag
atop the mountain, and though their mission failed, the
heroism displayed by these gallant men honored the cause
for which they fought so valiantly.
…
“In 1865, eight horsemen trek across the California desert, arriving at Ghost Mountain. Led by Captain Lafe Barstow (Errol Flynn) of the Mississippi Mountain Rifles. The eight soldiers encounter a man who calls himself California Beal (Howard Petrie). As a last desperate effort to turn the tide of the war, Barstow’s mission is to persuade Cole Smith and his 500 men to raid California on behalf of the Confederacy.”
— Tim
Dear Flynnmates,
always on the outlook for Flynn material, I bought me a(n old) man`s magazine. No, not for the interview. It features an article about Errol`s best man Freddie McEvoy`s untimely demise. The adress where I got it from struck me to some extent. Can it be it came from the estate of the man of River deep-mountain high fame and Second-degree murder infame?
Spector or spectator- who with a NY connection knows if we got the real Phil here?
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
Dear Flynnmates,
I want to share with you an (at least to me) unknown image of Laddie Errol and Lady Livvie.
Both visibly enjoy each others company, our Hollywood hero even gives it a two arrows up.
The pic must have been taken at the early stages of filming The Adventures of Robin Hood, since Flynn wears the knight outfit for the later on cancelled jousting tournament scene.
The idea originated from the grand opening in the original ROHO- movie: (163) Robin Hood (Klassiker von und mit Douglas Fairbanks [ABENTEUER 1922] Stummfilm, ganzer Film Deutsch) – YouTube
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
Errol was once a guest at a giant St. Patrick’s Day Party. Where was it and who was the host?
– It may have been the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration ever thrown by a private person.
– Many dozens of Hollywood celebrities attended.
– The millionaire host wore sunglasses the day of the party, reportedly because he had a black eye he earned in a fistfight while greeting or preparing to greet celebrities.
— Tim
From time to time we like to promo the works of members who support The Errol Flynn Blog over the years and today photographer Philip Gostelow reaches out to us about his new website gallery:
“As a photographer I had the great opportunity to photograph a number of celebrities while based in Tokyo in the 90s.“I’ve just launched a new web gallery on my web site offering for the first time limited edition prints. The first of these are portraits of Quentin Tarantino … please refer Facebook posting as following:Purchasing Instructions –“Would EFB be interested to post this offer, together with attached sample?”Philip
Thanks, Philip!
— David DeWitt
Long before the United States of Mexico Ports of Entry to the United states of America were making big news, as they are these days, Errol was crossing through many of them. Here is one of his notable ones, his attempt to travel incognito through the border gate at Brownsville to Mazatlan (with Senora Damita believe it or not!)
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March 9, 1939
Evening Herald Express
FLYNN IN TEXAS ON NEW FILM RUNOUT
Errol Flynn, dashing screen star who is supplying Warner Brothers publicists with a headache, was reported proceeding to Mazatlan, Mexico, today and running out on his film studio’s stunt for a picture.
Traveling incognito so far as it was possible – and it was pretty difficult after Warner’s offered a $500 reward for his capture. – Flynn and his wife Lili Damita, would only comment at the Brownsville airport today that they were “making a little trip.”
Then the couple took a plane to Mexico City. It waa understood Flynn’s plans included a hunting trip to Mazatlan. Warners wanted its playboy to go to Dodge City, KS, for the premiere of a picture by that name.
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March 10, 1939
Harrison Carroll
Evening Herald Express
Warners wished they hadn’t offered $500 reward for information on the whereabouts of Errol Flynn. Within a few hours after the story hit the wires, the studio had received 143 telegrams from all parts of the country. Some of them were gags, but a large number brought actual information…and now the studio is faced with the headache of trying to figure out who deserves the reward.
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Did tightwad J.W. pay up??? Doubtful!
— Tim
