— David DeWitt
No Blood. No Charge.
13
Apr
June 13, 1935
Hollywood Citizen News
by Elizabeth Yeaman
Apropos of The Three Musketeers, and the quest for a dashing D’Artagnan, Warners are looking for a captain Blood to replace Robert Donat in the picture of that title. Captain Blood was Irish and had all the emotional verve typical of the Irish, so Warners hacve decided to test George Brent for this role. Errol Flynn, another Irishman under contract to Warners, probably would be tested also if he had been established with the film public, but since his name is unknown outside of Hollywood, he will not qualify. Dwight Franklin, a great authority on pirates, who has been working on technical aspects of Captain Blood, feels that Brent should qualify for the role.
***
It is possible that Leslie Howard will be the star of The Charge of the Light Brigade, which Warners are going to produce as a big special during the coming year. The story, written by Abe Jacoby, was suggested by the Tennyson poem, “Charge of the Light Brigade.” Action will center around the Crimean War and Florence Nightingale will be one of the principal characters.
_____________________
Before Blood, Before Flynn was in the Big Money:
— Tim
Happy 80th ~ Dodge City
10
Apr
“A Technicolor Triumph”
“The Most Spectacular World Premier Ever Given a Motion Picture”
— Tim
On Catalina Island with Lili Damita and Friends!
05
Apr
A nice day on the Sirocco with some pals! Looks a bit crowded! Errol took the photo?
— David DeWitt
500 likes Lock, Stock and Errol
01
Apr
Dear fellow Flynn fans,
Errol lives. While all is quiet here on the Western blog, there are 500 more Flynnthusiasts out there on FB: www.facebook.com…
Granted half of em are personal aquaintances quizzing themselves about my inflynntuation with this Hollywood hero and villain long gone but still not forgotten.
Well, that‘s what happens when you see “The Adventures of Robin Hood“ at age 8, are winning a carnival costume competition in high school soon thereafter, dressed up as RH with green hood, yellow thighs and a bow without arrows, because they were sacked by the teacher before they could be put to good use.
Young laddie sees all the pirate movies, watches as Flynney swopps dagger for swagger in Gentleman Jim and decides forever to root for the underdog, side with the outsider and bully the bullies.
Growing up though one outgrows talking trash’n’treason all the time, learns to reason and forgets about it all. You are not in Sherwood any more….
Come young adulthood by chance you stumble across that tell all tall tale of “My wicked, wicked ways“ and realize that Flynn also was a flawed human being with a vita vastly surpassing any script.
Before you know it the life of your childhood idol leads straight up to your doorstep. One aspect being Dr. Erben having lived just around the corner, the other being an unfinished film with a prominent Austrian actress, who‘s willing to share the anecdotes of William Tell with you.
You even discover that a crew member on the yacht of Errol Flynn‘s best man was a local and that while hunted by Interpol for murder, he inexplicitly escaped shipwreck and death of its captain one fateful night in a storm off the coast of Morocco. Can I get a witness!?
There you have it, you caught Flynn fever again. A merry man called Brian Twist sells you his copies of newspaper articles on the internet, next thing you know you discover there‘s even a site where EF fans like you fence back and forth on a blog, each and everyone calling themselves Anonymous. Some secret society to your very liking.
So here we are today with many more stories to pen.
Join and enjoy,
— shangheinz
No. 1 for Apple Records
31
Mar
What was the first record pressed by Apple Records ?
It wasn’t “Those were the Days”
Na, it wasn’t “Hey Jude”
It wasn’t performed by The Beatles, but, rather, by a very famous singer who knew Flynn.
For many years few ever heard the recording, but a beautiful Flynn Mother Should’ve Known:
— Tim
FORGOTTEN HEROES honors all Vietnam Vets and Errol Flynn
30
Mar
To ALL FLYNN FANS OUT THERE.
March 29 is the day we honor all Vietnam Vets, I’d thought I’d post this to let you know how I tried to honor them in 1990
When I was a kid Errol Flynn inspired me to be an actor and eventually come out to Hollywood and make the kind of films he made
.
It’s been a long journey since I made my last film FORGOTTEN HEROES in 1988 and I was able to finish it in 1990. I had over 250 screenings of my film and I wanted to “honor and welcome home’ all the Vietnam Vets. After that war, they were spat on and later Hollywood spat on them in films. The anti-war protestors all ran Hollywood and they ended up blackballing me and my film.
That was in 1992, I still have the film and I am selling the DVD on my website.
I wanted to post a review from a fellow filmmaker and Flynn aficionado Steve Latshaw!
“Jack
I am watching FORGOTTEN HEROES tonight and am reminded of what a beautiful, heartfelt film it is. You’ve seen it so many times its impact may be lost on you. It’s truly a great film, beautifully shot. And I loved the nods to Errol, particularly the incredible scene where the surfer has been tortured and asks the Greek to kill him. It reminded me of the great scene in Objective Burma – but you took it further and the emotional impact was profound.
I have made over 35 movies in my career. I have always wanted to make a film that would affect people lives in a profound and positive way. I haven’t yet done so. I’ve often said I’d give up my career if I could make one film like that. You did it right out of the gate.
I am and continue to be in awe of your passion and envious of your talent.”
Bung Ho.
STEVE LATSHAW
April 13, 2008
You can go to my website and purchase a copy and let me know if you want me to sign it for you. My film stars veteran character actor William Smith. He plays a Russian General who wants to defect to the USA.
I tell people that Forgotten Heroes is “Objective Burma meets Kelly’s Heroes in Vietnam”.
— Jack Marino
Speaking of Errol Flynn …
29
Mar
From King Karl Holmberg, comes a rare image of a young Mrs. Olsen percolating over Errol Flynn. Thank you, Karl!
Mrs. Olsen saves another marriage.
— Tim
