— Tim
Archive for the ‘New Guinea’ Category
The Mayor of Townsville
09
Feb
The Sartorial Flynn
21
Oct
Inspired by the keen observations of timerider – and with his kindly “Carry on, Old Boy” blessing – I hereby start a post for all to post your all time favorite images of Errol at his sartorial best, most fun, interesting, unique, and/or ahead of his time. I expect all of us will have multiple, even numerous favorites.
As timerider would say, “Carry On”! … In that spirit and fashion, I post my first:
— Tim
Meet the Mayor
04
Jun
Mayor David Wenham – from 300, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
“Last month the hard working Wenham played Christian Travers, the fictional mayor of Townsville in director Russell Mulcahy’s Errol Flynn biopic In Like Flynn, shot on the Gold Coast.
Produced by James M. Vernon and Corey Large, the film follows the early life of the Tasmanian-born Flynn (Red Dog: True Blue’s Thomas Cocquerel) as he and his friends set sail from Sydney to New Guinea in search of gold. The mayor is the local bookmaker and brothel owner. Other cast members include Callan Mulvey, Isabel Lucas, Corey Large, William Moseley and Clive Standen.
Wenham relished the chance to work with Mulcahy, describing him as a great character and an absolute hoot.”
— Tim
Introducing Errol Flynn
24
May
Hollywood Citizen News – Behold Them Minus Hokum by Peter Pry – December 1, 1934
Errol Flynn, newly arrived Irish actor, will have to call out the police reserves for protection
when the local gals discover that he is independently wealthy and doesn’t need to act for a living.
Flynn has lots of that appeal too, and is a husky specimen. He hewed a fortune out of a gold mine in
New Guinea, he represented Ireland as a boxer in the Olympic games of 1928, he has braved cannibals,
is 25, and has never been married! He has only been acting for two years. And he refused the role
of Oberon in A Midsummer’s Night Dream because he didn’t want to start his film career by
playing the king of the fairies.
Los Angeles Evening Express – Harrison Carroll – December 3, 1934
Actors making their debut in Hollywood usually proceed cautiously. Not so, Errol Flynn,
the 25-year-old Irishman signed by Warner Brothers. In his biography charge, which all
newcomers are asked to fill out, Flynn gave some answers that made the boys eyes pop out.
For one thing, he listed actors as his pet aversion. And there were some hotter ones but
we can’t go into them.
Flynn is 6 feet 2, weighs 180 pounds and his hands are calloused. He is a descendant of
Fletcher Christian , of the crew of the famous British ship, the Bounty. He was once a
pearl fisherman and he made a good stake for himself prospecting for gold in the heart of
New Guinea. In 1928, he represented Ireland in the boxing events of the Olympic Games.
And his description of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. will get a chuckle out of Hollywood. Young Doug,
he says, has dveloped an Oxford accent so thick that it is hard for even English people to
understand him.
Los Angeles Examiner – Lloyd Pantages – January 29, 1935
Errol Flynn is not only a good looker, but a swell actor, so keep your eyes open for this gentleman.
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – Elizabeth Yeaman – February 5, 1935
Despite the fact that Errol Flynn is an extremely handsome young Irishman and fairly bursting with
personality, Warners have cast him as a murderer for his film debut here. He will be the villain in
The Case of the Curious Bride, in which Warren Williams has the lead of the sleuthing attorney.
Hollywood Citizen News – Elizabeth Yeaman – March 26, 1935
Errol Flynn, the husky Irish actor at Warners, gets his second film assignment. He will be seen as a
pirate with Robert Donat in Captain Blood. Now it is uncertain if Jean Muir will have the
feminine lead.
Tanikiu Tumas to King Karl Holmberg for the articles and Flynnspiration!
— Tim
IN LIKE FLYNN BEGINS!!!
04
May
PER THE IMBd: This biopic depicts Errol’s roust-about early life in Australia, before he became an internationally famed celebrity. In those days he was an adventurer, opium smuggler, gambler, street fighter, womanizer, and gold prospector. The film, based on Flynn’s early autobiography “Beam Ends,” was written for the screen by Luke Flynn, who found the inspiration as a result of travels through Australia in the footsteps of Luke’s iconic grandfather.
__________
Characters beyond Errol’s days of Beam Ends have been previously mentioned also, including Olivia De Havilland and Michael Curtiz. See, for example this previous IMBd cast of characters:
And a possible “former wife” featured in this new article:
Starring Thomas Cocquerel & Isabel Lucas
— Tim
Eighty Years Ago – 4/6/1937 – “Urban”/Livvie
07
Apr
“Urban”/Livvie at its finest.
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – Harrison Carroll – April 6, 1937
At the time of the Madrid incident–when a machine gun bullet creased his
forehead–Errol Flynn is supposed to have been accompanied by Dr. Harmine
F. Urban (sic), expert in tropical diseases. If so, it was not the first time
the two had been in a tight spot together. They were once ambushed by natives
on the Sepia (sic) River in New Guinea and it was motion pictures taken of Flynn
in this fight that won him his first screen test and role in the British picture,
In the Wake of the Bounty.
Olivia De Havilland, who was Flynn’s screen sweetheart in Captain Blood and The Charge
of the Light Brigade was driving down Hollywood Boulevard when she saw headlines about
his being shot.
She told me yesterday: “I nearly ran into a street car.”
— Tim
Flynn Gets Out of Dodge
28
Sep
A Week in the Life of Errol Flynn, September 1938
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express
Harrison Carrol Reporting
September 21, 1938
“Unless Errol Flynn has another brainstorm between now and then, he’ll play host on a three-week yachting trip to fellow players in Dawn Patrol. The party on the Sirocco will include Donald Crisp, Edmund Goulding, David Niven and Michael Brook (the Earl of Warwick). Basil Rathbone was invited, but chose a New York trip instead.”
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September 27, 1938
“It’s no wonder, doctors say, that Errol Flynn was knocked flat on his back by flue. Though ill on his boat at Catalina, the star insisted on going fishing in a dinghy with David Niven and Donald Crisp. Then, on top of this, he fell overboard. Niven, trying to pull Flynn back, capsized the dinghy and the three actors were floundering in the water for 15 minutes. When they finally got back to the yacht, Flynn was so sick that they had to fly him to the mainland.”
____________________________________________
September 27, 1938
ERROL FLYNN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS ILLNESS
“Still dangerously ill, Errol Flynn, motion picture actor, rallied sufficiently today to permit of his being transferred from his Beverly Hills home to the Good Samaritan Hospital.
The change was made under the direction of his physician Dr. T.M. Hearn. Dr. Hearn said that the actor needed care and attention more readily available at the hospital.
Flynn is suffering from influenza, complicated by an infection of the throat and respiratory organs and a recurrence of malarial fever, which he contracted five years ago in New Guinea.”
Hospital of the Good Samaritan, Los Angeles
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September 28, 1938 Santa Cruz Sentinel
ERROL FLYNN HAS STREP INFECTION
“Errol Flynn, film actor, suffering from influenza and a streptococcic throat infection, was removed to a hospital today. His physician, Dr. T.M. Hearn, said the removal was “a precautionary measure.” Dr. Hearn also announced that the throat specialist, Dr. Voyle James, had been called into consultation. Flynn, after showing improvement yesterday, turned worse last night. His temperature went to 103.5 degrees, later dropping to 102. Dr. Hearn expressed concern over the possible development of pneumonia. Flynn’s illness was contracted when he fell overboard from a fishing boat near Santa Catalina Island.”
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September 27, 1938
“The Warners are reported dickering for Ronald Coleman to take the leading role of the Englishman in Dodge City, now that Errol Flynn is out of the running. The Sea Hawk is scheduled as Flynn’s next.”
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September 28, 1938
CRISIS IN ILLNESS OF ERROL FLYNN NEAR
“An uncomfortable night, and a crisis expected within 24 hours.
This was the report on the condition of Errol Flynn, film actor, who was confined to Good Samaritan Hospital with influenza and streptococci infection of the throat.
Flynn was removed to the hospital yesterday on the orders of Dr. T.M. Hearns.
Dr. Doyle James, throat specialist, was called in consultation by Dr. Hearn, in an attempt to solve the mystery of the streptococci and the continued high fever which is now 102 degrees.”
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September 29, 1938
“Cary Grant is being considered for the leading role of Dodge City now that Ronald Coleman and Errol Flynn have been eliminated.”
— Tim
An Eighty Years Ago Quiz
18
Sep
In September of 1936. it was reported that, during his days in New Guinea, Errol had hunted and sold snakes for a widely-heralded herpetologist.
Who was this famous man?
Clues:
1) He was a preeminent pioneer in his field.
2) He was also a celebrated author and public speaker.
3) He had a very close association with The Bronx Zoo.
4) Here are two photos of him, one in his early expedition era, the second taken approximately at the time Errol was reportedly capturing snakes for him:
— Tim
