The Errol Flynn Blog

From Sunday Afternoon:

Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn

Tasmanian-born Errol Flynn remains one of the greatest matinee idols ever produced by the Hollywood machine. Discovered in 1935 at the age of 26 by studio boss Jack Warner for the role of Captain Blood, Flynn's gorgeous good looks and swashbuckling roles have ensured his status forever as one of Hollywood's most enduring icons.

His short and flamboyant life, full of scandals, adventures, lovers and excess was largely played out in front of the cameras – either starring in the movies which were to make him extremely rich and very famous, or filling the newsreels and gossip magazines.

But there is another side of Flynn that is less well known – his ambitions to be a serious writer and newspaper correspondent, his own documentary films and his interest in the Spanish Civil War and Castro's revolution in Cuba both of which he covered as a journalist on assignment for Hearst newspapers.

Much of this part of Flynn's life has been buried under the salacious (and not entirely unfounded) stories and unrelenting gossip which eventually broke his heart and, despite his brashness and bravado, finally killed him. Tragically he was dead from the effects of drugs and alcohol by the time he was only 50 and yet the myths live on.

Tasmanian Devil: the Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn will take a look at the fascinating life and career of Flynn, the man beyond the film star… 'the good-looking bad boy from Hobart'.

The ABC was the first to kick-start this project, supporting it at the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC 2005) and Hot Docs in Canada, the two international forums where it found its finance. The FFC came on board at their last meeting and this film is now in go-mode.

Duration 1 x 55 minutes
Director Simon Nasht
Producer Sharyn Prentice
Writer Robert de Young
EP Amanda Duthie

Now complete, this docu has been shown on BBC4 and in Europe, as well. Look for a more detailed Review here soon!

Btw, our Author's Karl, Jack, Bri, Ralph, Steve and Genene and David are also in the credits of this nicely done docu…

— David DeWitt

From Delvin Irwin's Blog, “The Lighter Side of Life” published online at the Clarion Ledger:

Directing duo are 'Sensational'
Glatzer, Westmoreland sign TV deal
By Michael Fleming

Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (“Quinceanera”) have made a deal with HBO Films to write and direct “Sensational,” a drama that chronicles a scandalous affair Errol Flynn had with a 15-year-old girl. Glatzer and Westmoreland have also made a deal to turn “Quinceanera” into a TV series for the ABC Family Channel. They will direct, write and produce a series inspired by the film, a story of coming of age and culture clash in L.A.'s Echo Park.

“Sensational” tells the story of Flynn's dalliance with Beverly Aadland, a girl who was being pushed into a movie career by her mother, a wannabe actress whose aspirations were cut short after an accident. After Flynn collapsed and died at a party, the affair became a tabloid staple, and the girl's mother found herself on trial for child abuse.

Elysa Koplovitz is producing “Sensational.”

Look for Delvin Irwin in a small role in the film!

— David DeWitt