What’s the two biggest things these two fellows had in common? Aside from:
· They both had Irish blood.
· They were both friendly with FDR & Eleanor.
· They were both on the cover of Time Magazine.
— Tim
Dear fellow Flynn fans,
Gina Lollobrigida received her first star on Hollywood Boulevard this week.
Starring with Errol in “Crossed Swords” in his initial European outing and second coming as Don Juan in Italy, after besting Cinecittà it boosted her quest to conquer Tinseltown .
Once crowned Italy´s most beautiful child and runner- runner up in the Miss Italy pageant of 1947, she quickly made a name for herself with movies like “Tulip le fanfan” and “The Young Caruso”.
Never shy and according to her own words “very headstrong” she would go on to complement leading men like Burt Lancaster, Tyrone Power and Anthony Quinn.
She as well as her most ardent rival for the title of “La donna piu bella del mondo”, Sophia Loren, were both considered as leading ladies in the ill fated Flynn tale of William Tell.
While Loren was turned down by our man Flynn, la Lollo meanwhile had a too hefty price tag attached.
She had just won the “Coppa Volpi”, a prestigeous film award.
Some rememberences of this highlight night can be read here: www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
Dear Errol Flynn,
You are a hard man to get!
Love, Marilyn Monroe
from CHRISTIES:
MONROE, Marilyn (1926-1962) Autograph letter signed (”Marilyn Monroe”) to Errol Flynn (1909-1959), [Los Angeles, c. 1950]. 3 pages, on a folded 12mo calling card engraved on front: ”Mrs. Edward Francis Hutton,”
A rare and unusual autograph letter from the young star, written to one of her matinee idols, Errol Flynn, thanking him for a gift of flowers. The note, which appears to have been left at Flynn’s Mullholland Farm doorstep, reads, in full: “Dear Errol Flynn. You are a hard man to get! I have called you several times to thank you for the lovely flowers, and nice note, but have not been lucky enough to reach you – They were lovely, and it was so nice of you to have thought of sending them – Thank you – See you soon, have fun! love Marilyn Monroe”
Flynn was one of Monroe’s screen idols as a child–she saw Flynn’s 1937 film Prince and the Pauper at least three times. When she made it in Hollywood, she attended at least a few of Flynn’s infamous parties on Mullholland Farm. Heddy Lamar recalled that Flynn used to conduct “greyhound” races on the hillside lawns surrounding his estate, with six young men donning numbers on their backs, would chase a “rabbit,” which was actually a young girl, topless, wearing bunny ears. The winner would get the girl, while the girl received a sable stole. “In fact, Marilyn Monroe was the bunny once; though in all fairness to Marilyn, she got the sable but the winner got only a kiss and a photograph of himself with Marilyn…” (McNulty, Errol Flynn, 312)
— Tim