“Wolverton is plainly an homage to the 1930s-1950s Australian actor Errol Flynn. He has Flynn’s flair, his womanising ways (having a hand chopped off would interfere in his removal of corsets, Wolverton quips), a Zorro-esque mask, and even Flynn’s pencil moustache. Only the épée is missing. Wolverton relies upon stealth, wit, and cunning, wise-cracking all the while.”
“In London, Thomas Blood, an Irish adventurer better known as “Captain Blood,” was captured attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.
Blood, a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War, was deprived of his estate in Ireland with the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660. In 1663, he put himself at the head of a plot to seize Dublin Castle from supporters of King Charles II, but the plot was discovered and his accomplices executed. He escaped capture. In 1671, he hatched a bizarre plan to steal the new Crown Jewels, which had been refashioned by Charles II because most of the original jewels were melted down after Charles I’s execution in 1649.
On May 9, 1671, Blood, disguised as a priest, managed to convince the Jewel House keeper to hand over his pistols. Blood’s three accomplices then emerged from the shadows, and together they forced their way into the Jewel House. However, they were caught in the act when the keeper’s son showed up unexpectedly, and an alarm went out to the Tower guard. One man shoved the Royal Orb down his breeches while Blood flattened the Crown with a mallet and tried to run off with it. The Tower guards apprehended and arrested all four of the perpetrators, and Blood was brought before the king. Charles was so impressed with Blood’s audacity that, far from punishing him, he restored his estates in Ireland and made him a member of his court with an annual pension.
Captain Blood became a colorful celebrity all across the kingdom, and when he died in 1680 his body had to be exhumed in order to persuade the public that he was actually dead.”
“Well, one night Errol came home drunk. The old girl (the landlady) had lit the plaster statue of the Virgin with a candle at its foot. The statue was about five feet high and coloured. A big bunch of flowers stood at the foot of the image and Errol, thinking it was just another pretty girl, made a lunge. Both he and the statue, in a thousand bits, hurled down two flights of stairs. The enraged landlady, awoken from her slumber, tossed Mr. Flynn and his belongings right out on the footpath. But with his winning ways, Errol was back next morning and forgiven. He was about 17 or 18 at this time, as wild a young man as Sydney ever saw.”
Was Robin Hood a radical revolutionary, or a right wing reactionary? The debate rages on, with liberals, conservatives, and libertarians, all claiming him for themselves. What do you think?
Americans of all walks of life were banded together to support the war effort, and Hollywood celebrities were no exception. This was the reason that on September 3, 1942, famed actor James Cagney, known for his energetic performances, and deadpan comic timing, visited Libertyville as part of an effort to sell war bonds. Drawing a crowd of some 4,000 at Cook Park (according to the 194o census the population of Libertyville was 3,930) Cagney gave a speech about the virtues of supporting the war effort by buying war bonds. It must have been a very inspiring speech since by the time he left the steps of the Cook Memorial Library, which was at the time located in Cook House, the town had pledged nearly $111,000.
As a reward for the town’s patriotism, Liberty was chosen to be the location of the world premiere of “Desperate Journey”, a film about a group of downed Allied airmen making their way out of Nazi Germany staring Errol Flynn and (Future President) Ronald Reagan. As part of the ceremonies, then Illinois Governor Dwight H. Green drove a horse-drawn carriage, loaned to him by publishing magnate John F. Cuneo, up Milwaukee Avenue.
Three mates Tom, Dick and Harry all turn up at the pearly gates.
St Peter says “Tom, you were a fine man! Faithful at work and in marriage; why you never even looked sideways at another woman. So here are the keys to your heavenly Rolls-Royce.”
Tom hoons off happy. Next St Peter says to Dick “Now Dick, you were mostly good, but you did have a wandering eye unfortunately, so here are the keys to your BMW.
Finally St Peter comes to Harry “Harry, I’m sorry, but your life made Errol Flynn look like a choirboy! Here are the keys to your Ford.”
So Dick and Harry are hooning along the highways of heaven when they see Tom’s Rolls-Royce pulled over and Tom sitting in the gutter bawling his eyes out. Dick and Harry say to Tom “Thomo! What’s wrong mate?”
“I just drove past my wife on the highway.” says Tom.
Dick and Harry explain “Don’t be upset Thomo, that’s great news mate!” Tom looks up teary and says “She was riding a scooter.”
“One look at Flynn and you know he’s a star, and you know he’s the perfect choice for a daring rogue character. His charisma is what sustains the film, you immediately understand why Blood can manage to lead an exceptionally loyal crew and can somehow manage to get power in Port Royal even as he’s a slave. Flynn is a magnetic actor, and even when the plot falls into handy coincidences – which it does often, including having the Spanish fleet salvage a foiled plan – one feels as though the universe itself is charmed by Flynn.”