Dear fellow Flynn fans,
member no. 1000 came aboard my Flynn FB site LOCK, STOCK and ERROL this week. If you fancy errolarities and flynnanigans, as well as vintage vignettes from this blog, you are on the right spot. To celebrate the shimmering spirit of all eternal Flynnmates worldwide, I posted a german gem of Errol Flynn video material here: m.facebook.com…
Enjoy, rejoice and join,
— shangheinz
Lives of a Bengal Lancer
Presented by Cecil B. DeMille
Starring Errol Flynn, C. Aubrey Smith, Bruce Aherne, and Jackie Cooper
Lux Radio Theater
Air Date: April 10, 1939
“A thrilling story of the Her Majesty’s Lancers who bring peace and order to a far flung corner of India, suggested by the book of Francis Yeats-Brown.”
“The intermission guest is General Hugh Johnson, Member of FDR’s Brain Trust, director of the National Recovery Administration, columnist, and soldier under General Pershing. He spoke from Washington D. C.”
At the broadcast’s conclusion, Errol gives a big thanks to his fans throughout the U.S., with especial gratitude and praise for those who attended the Dodge City World Premier nine days earlier, on April 1, 1939.
Inspired by Lives of the Bengal Lancers with Gary Cooper, the film that inspired Warnet Brothers to produce The Charge of the Light Brigade.
— Tim
If the below image could be described as “The Right Combination”, what ad could be called The Wrong Combination?
Clues:
Errol and
Smokin’ Like Flynn
In an ad published that same year
Involving a film very different than Dodge City
— Tim
April 8, 1943
Evening Herald Express
ERROL FLYNN FINAL DIVORCE DECREE
Errol Flynn and Lili Damita went their separate ways today.
The actress received her final divorce decree, ending another episode in Flynn’s courtroom capers. Superior Judge William S. Baird entered the decree, which followed an interlocutory award to Miss Damita on April 1, 1942.
…
SUPPORTING PLAYERS
Ann Sheridan:
During filming of Edge of Darkness, throughout the fall of ’42 and into ’43, it was increasingly rumored and reported that Errol and Annie were romantically involved – rumors and reports that likely incensed Tiger ‘Lil.
Judge William S. Baird:
Judge William S. Baird spent three decades on the Superior Court, retiring Feb. 1, 1952. Some of the lighter moments got into print. Among his cases was one in which actress Gail Patrick (later “Perry Mason” executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson) was suing for divorce from Robert H. Cobb, owner of the Brown Derby restaurants. United Press reported on Nov. 14, 1940 that Patrick testified that Cobb’s disposition “humiliated me, embarrassed me, and made me nervous and ill.” UP said Baird interjected: “Well, you must have known his disposition.” She nodded in agreement and Baird asked: “Well, then, why did you marry him?” The actress responded: “We were both Irish.”
A 1942 wire service story said: “Superior Judge William S. Baird knows women as well as law. “A lawyer asked Charles K. Matthay yesterday if his actress-wife Virginia Hall felt she had been properly clothed. “No woman,” observed the judge, ‘feels she is properly clothed.’”
A 1943 report from United Press began: “Superior Court Judge William S. Baird is believed to be the only judge who ever awarded alimony to a horse.” He approved an agreement under which the husband made monthly payments for the upkeep of two horses.
Here is a still photo of a still used as evidence in one of Judge Baird’s many newsworthy cases. This is one of the first cases following a new law that made it a felony to have a still. The still was too large to present as evidence in court, so it was exhibited to Judge Baird outside the LA Hall of Justice on July 15, 1927.
— Tim
April 8, 1944
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
An uncommon lot of “criminals” seem to be doing noble things for France these days—at least, in motion pictures. There was Humphrey Bogart in “Passage to Marseille” and Jean Gabin in “The Impostor.” Now it is Errol Flynn who is abandoning crime for patriotism in “Uncertain Glory,” at the Strand.
In this rather hopped-up Warner picture, which takes place in occupied France, Mr. Flynn plays a man condemned for murder who, in hopes of getting away, offers to surrender himself to the Nazis as a particularly desired saboteur. The offer is grudgingly accepted by Paul Lukas of the French police, who suspects Mr. Flynn’s intentions and keeps a careful watch on him. But when the chance does come for Earnest Erroll to take it on the lam, he does the noble thing bravely. You see, he had meanwhile met a girl. (It is always, or almost always, a girl who inspires Mr. Flynn.)
You may note that our references to characters have been by their own familiar names. It is because this picture is plainly an actor’s vehicle. An air of French actuality is entirely foreign to it. The whole thing is artificial, in structure, mood and atmosphere. But if you accept it on that basis — as a purely theatrical show — it does have some compensations in the entertainment line. The sparring of Mr. Lukas and Mr. Flynn is amusing throughout, mainly because of the performance of Mr. Lukas as an anxious plain-clothes cop. (Mr. Flynn is his boyish self, as usual, and quite remote from a faithful criminal type.) Director Raoul Walsh has keyed it to a subdued, suspenseful pace which is suggestive of explosive tension, even if it never explodes. And Jean Sullivan, who bears a close resemblance to Teresa Wright, is a nice new face in it. However, we casually wonder what values one can hold to when one sees Errol Flynn as a murderous criminal symbolizing the spirit of France.
UNCERTAIN GLORY; screen play by Laszlo Vadnay and Max Brand; from an original story by Joe May and Mr. Vadnay; directed by Raoul Walsh; produced by Robert Buckner for Warner Brothers. At the Strand.
A version of this article appears in print on April 8, 1944 in the National edition with the headline: Errol Flynn Assists the French Underground in Strand Film, ‘Uncertain Glory’
— Tim
Dear fellow Flynn fans,
Francisco Olegario Segura called “Pancho” by friends and pros, had what many labeled the best forehand ever in the history of tennis.
Former World No. 1 Player Ellsworth Vines remembered it all too well: “(His) Two-handed forehand is most outstanding stroke in game’s history; unbeatable unless opponent could avoid it.”
Pancho, the eldest of 7-10 children (reports vary) was born in Ecuador on a raft on the way to the hospital on June 20th 1921.
Not only did he share Errol`s birthday, but also crossed rackets with him in later years in Spain.
“I used to play at midnight in Madrid for 1000 dollars. Errol Flynn would send a chauffeur to pick me up.”
After an exceptional career on the lawns all around the world, considering he had suffered from rickets and malaria from an early age, he settled in the US and taught many flynntimos his most deadly shot at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club.
Ava Gardner, Kirk Douglas and Shelley Winters, just to name a few, honed their tennis court skills with this great character known for his humor, relentnessness and longevity.
He retired at 49 at the US open and died at 96 with fond memories of mentoring Jimmy Connors and to a lesser extent the son of Dean Martin to felt ball stardom.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
After visiting the International Brigades’ military headquarters in Albacete, Errol and Erben were driven to Madrid, arriving on April 2 at the Hotel Gran Via, across from the famous Edificio Telefonica, then the tallest building in Europe. Every morning at precisely 9:45 am, the Telefonica was bombarded by the Rebels.
From Madrid, on April 3, they visited the Guadalajara Front:
Then to the University City Front:
— Tim
STARS GET WELCOMED FOR FILM PREVIEW
Evening Herald Express
By Jimmy Starr
Dodge City, Kan. April 1 (1939)
For years they have been saying that Hollywood is colossal, but it took the Warner Brothers’ 14-car special train which arrived in Dodge City this morning to prove that moviedom was never colossal until today.
With no strings on a bank account, the party, which includes 35 stellar names, 72 newspapermen and magazine correspondents and cameramen and dozens of studio technicians departed Thursday night from Santa Fe station in Los Angeles and arrived in Dodge City this morning.
A typical Hollywood gathering of several thousand persons were at the station to greet the stars. Radios and loud speakers blared gala tunes. Dozens of luminaries were ushered through wildly gesticulating crowds.
The baggage car of the special train was transformed into a replica of the famous “Gay Lady Saloon” of Dodge City’s wildest and wooliest days, and it was visited by thousands of Dodge City fans.
OLD WEST ATMOSPHERE
The Warner studio had given it an Old West atmosphere with sawdust on the floor, typical signs warning customers against crooked faro dealers and advice to check shooting irons with the bartender. All it needed to complete the picture was a dirty old villain to shoot it up and a tree to hang him on.
Then there was a palace car, but it was not for for the human stars of Hollywood. Instead it housed 16 equine stars to be used in an especially staged rodeo in Dodge City this afternoon as a warm-up for the triple preview of the 2-million dollar Technicolor picture Dodge City tonight. In order to accommodate the terrific influx of visitors from four states it was necessary to engage three theaters, which will run all night, to show the production to the tremendously swollen population.
150,000 THERE
Dodge City, which has a normal population of 13,000 persons, is today entertaining a swarming multitude of 150,000 yelling, restless, staring, snoopy, autograph-hunting, curious, hungry, thirsty, dusty, foot-weary and movie-mad spectators. As a tribute to Jack Warner and the picture, Dodge City citizens took it upon themselves to emulate the founders of their rough and ready village by growing enough bushy beards that not only would frighten Boris Karloff, but also would supply a thousand baseball teams for the House of David. It was indeed a sight to turn a mattress factory green with envy.
ODDITIES BETWEEN WHISTLESTOPS
Olivia de Havilland, heroine of the picture, was the heartbroken ingenue of the train when she was rudely and without warning snatched from the special at Pasadena.
It seems that Mr. Selznick, who stalled for two years before making Gone with the Wind, is now in a big hurry. It also happens that Miss de Havilland is playing Melanie in Mr. Selznick’s picture and there was rumor that her presence would be needed. Olivia jumped up and down, stamped her feet, yelled and carried on. But she isn’t on the train anymore. Poor Melanie.
SCHOOLS LET OUT
Unusual fascination for such a stellar caravan caused city officials of three cities to declare a school holiday so that Young America could see and hear some of its celluloid heroes and heroines. Fifteen-minute stops were made in Flagstaff, Ariz.; Gallup, N.M.; and Albuquerque, N.M. Indians, Mexicans, hermits, prospectors and ranchers with their families came afoot, on horseback, in rickety buggies and chugging jalopies to join the townsfolk in their amazing display of admiration for Hollywood’s parade on wheels.
— Tim
