Want to be debonair like the swashbuckling Errol Flynn? First, grow a pencil mustache. Second, splash on some Cuir de Russie by Creed. It starts out lemony and then fades to sandalwood and leather. Unfortunately, this is the one cologne on the list that’s no longer available (at least you still got that pencil mustache), but the smell of Cuir de Russie was said to be reminiscent of standing in the boot section of a western wear store. Giddyup!
— Karl
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December 17, 1941
New York Times
It is altogether fitting—and highly commendable, too —that the studio which gave us “The Story of Louis Pasteur” and “Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet” should turn attention at this time to an experimental branch of medicine which is making remarkable strides and which is of tremendous importance to our preparations for defense. And this the Warners are doing in “Dive Bomber,” yesterday’s arrival at the Strand, which is less about dive bombing than it is about aviation medicine, less about the fellows who fight in airplanes than it is about the surgeons who fight the strange and unpredictable ailments that attack a flying man high in the blue. For its oddly dramatic subject and its most extraordinarily colorful contents, “Dive Bomber” takes the palm as the best of the new “service films” to date.
Colorful, indeed, is the word which should be most clearly emphasized, for not only do the modern experiments in aviation medicine, elaborately detailed herein, have unique and fascinating pictorial interest, but the Warners have photographed this picture in some of the most magnificent technicolor yet seen. And, naturally, they have not forgotten to turn the cameras often upon masses of brilliantly colored planes, ranked in impressive rows about an air base or upon the huge flight decks of carriers, and roaring in silver majesty, wing to wing, through the limitless West Coast skies.
Never before has an aviation film been so vivid in its images, conveyed such a sense of tangible solidity when it is showing us solid things or been so full of sunlight and clean air when the cameras are aloft. Except for a few badly matched shots, the job is well nigh perfect. And the story? Well, again we face a necessary evil. Frank Wead and Robert Buckner, who contrived the fanciful tale, were laboring under the old Hollywood notion that no man can be a hero (or a genius) without first being misunderstood. And they have made this a universal rule. Thus their young naval surgeon, around whom the story is built, is originally misunderstood by a couple of pilots whose injured pal irretrievably dies under his knife. Then the young surgeon, inspired to take up aviation medicine because of this, misunderstands the older doctor under whom he is placed for instruction. A new recruit for naval training is misunderstood by almost every one. And it takes the devil of a lot of brawling and passing of dirty looks before these fellows all get together to experiment in harmony on means to prevent the unconsciousness which comes at the end of a power dive and the deadly sickness which attacks pilots at high altitudes. When they do get down to business, however, it is fascinating to watch them work, and their experiments in pressure chambers and in the air are more exciting than any fights.
Naturally—or, perhaps, inevitably—there has to be a touch of self-sacrifice, and this comes at the end of the picture, rather patly but without too much offense. And, to the credit of the writers, it must be said that they have trimmed romantic dalliance to the core. A female is dragged into the picture only long enough to assure Errol Flynn of holding his franchise as a wolf. For it is Mr. Flynn who plays the young surgeon, and he does so with his usual elegance, looking very dashing and romantic in a variety of uniforms and behaving with solemn dignity in moments of stress. Fred MacMurray and Regis Toomey play a couple of hard-bitten, old-line pilots credibly, and Ralph Bellamy gives a serious, impressive performance as an older doctor. In the few glimpses we have of her, Alexis Smith looks good; can’t tell you yet how she acts. But chief credit for the glory that’s in this picture goes to the United States Navy, which cooperated in its production, and to the fellows who aimed the cameras. They collectively gave it powerful and steady wings.
DIVE BOMBER; screen play by Frank Wead and Robert Buckner; from a story by Frank Wead; directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers. At the Strand. Doug Lee . . . . . Errol Flynn Joe Blake . . . . . Fred MacMurray Dr. Lance Rogers . . . . . Ralph Bellamy Linda Fisher . . . . . Alexis Smith Art Lyons . . . . . Robert Armstrong Tim Griffin . . . . . Regis Toomey Lucky James . . . . . Allen Jenkins John Thomas Anthony . . . . . Craig Stevens Chubby . . . . . Herbert Anderson Sr. Surgeon at San Diego . . . . . Moroni Olsen Mrs. James . . . . . Dennie Moore Swede Larson . . . . . Louis Jean Heydt Corps Man . . . . . Cliff Nazarro
— Tim
While searching for Errol Flynn The Illustrated Life Chronology cover photo, I happened upon this:
Errol, Olivia & the Merry Men of Sherwood: The Making of The Adventures of Robin Hood (Golden Age of Hollywood, Behind the Scenes Series) Paperback – February 7, 2020 by Rupert Alistair
Kurt Burgess, Amazon reviewer:
3.0 out of 5 stars A BLOG’S HARDCOPY
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
For any fan of 1938’s glorious “The Adventures of Robin Hood” this “booklet” can be a keepsake and it won’t take up any room on your bookshelf. It is a vast compilation and editing of many previous articles or filmed interviews with a few new tidbits massaged in. There are some small inset photos sprinkled about, most of which have been published before. The porous paper used in printing does not do them justice, however. Rupert Alistair has a quiver full of notes and references in his bibliography filling the last 19 pages. This is his latest “Golden Age of Hollywood: Behind the Scenes Series.” It is information one might find in a movie blog, still, the work is a small price to pay for devoted fans of the movie or the novice. Depending on your location, it could be read in its entirety while waiting in traffic.
— Karl
Here is the book cover. It is being published by Globe Pequot, and the release date is August 1, 2021.
— Boss Boy
Supplied from Coraki, On the Shortest Notice, Anywhere on the Richmond River
Circa December 1883
“The Richmond River has its source on the southern slope of Mount Lindesay in the McPherson Range on the Queensland – New South Wales border. From here the river flows south-east through Kyogle, Casino, Coraki and Woodburn before turning north-east and reaching the sea at Ballina. Over its course of 237 kilometres it descends 256 metres. Twelve major creeks or rivers enter the Richmond River system along with numerous smaller watercourses. The river’s catchment area is estimated at 6,862 square kilometres.”
1889 Map including Coraki and the Richmond River
— Tim
I recently had the opportunity to review Robert Florczak’s book, Errol Flynn-The illustrated Life Chronology.
In short, it is amazing.
It provides the reader an opportunity to go back in time and experience the life of Errol Flynn in a detailed, visual fashion allowing one to feel a connection to Flynn not previously attained from any other source. This book is a solid, factual piece of work correcting all previous misinformation so often repeated by others. For those of us with an unquenchable desire to learn more about this subject matter, prepare to be quenched.
Robert has worked hard for years to produce this bountiful repertoire on Flynn. Like most works of art, those who benefit have no concept of the number of years and 1000’s of hours of painstaking and critically detailed work that is required to produce such a masterpiece.
This book shall serve as the bible for all Flynn fans going forward both young and old. It also provides a clearer insight into the tragedy that was Flynn’s life and was the man. It details the rollercoaster life of a true adventurer who had no idea what was in store for him, and, as each decade unfolded, it became apparent that this rollercoaster of a life with its drastic ups and downs, would end suddenly and way too soon. Finishing the book, you may feel the glow of connecting to Flynn personally as if you have traveled back to see him on his terms and in his time.
You, my fellow Flynn fans, are in store for a real treat.
In conclusion, I am purposefully omitting details about the book allowing each of you to discover, as I did, Robert’s clear and unadulterated presentation of the life lived by Errol Flynn all on your own.
Thank You, Robert.
GJM
— Boss Boy
Two months later, in February of 1940, the Townsville Cyclone of 1940 caused extensive destruction in Townsville, including flooding of the Railway Estate area, where the Estate Theater was located.
— Tim
December 14, 1936
Sheila Graham
Dallas Morning News
Errol Flynn demanded – and received – a $20,000 bonus for cutting off his reconciliation trip with wife Lili Damita, returning to Hollywood in the kiddie story, Prince and the Pauper.
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Flynn finally gives Hale some steel for all of Alan’s infamous scene-stealing:
— Tim
December 13-14-15, 1940
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Contemporary news accounts:
Again the Old Santa Fe Trail”. The New York Times. December 8, 1940. p. 188.
Schallert, Edwin (December 13, 1940).
“Celebrities En Route to Film Event”. Los Angeles Times. p. 28. Daugherty, Frank (December 14, 1940).
“Santa Fe Greets ‘Trail’ Film With a Three-Day Fiesta: Parade of Indian Tribes, Official Reception Held”. The Christian Science Monitor.
— Tim
Clara Bow was “The It Girl” and I recall reading once (but can’t recall where now as I’m writing this) that Errol implied that he regarded as very sexually attractive. So, based on the similar Bando Da Lua* music videos below, I wonder who Errol would have thought was the sexier between Clara and Tiger Lil’? If he had had a choice and opportunity, who do you think Errol would have preferred?**
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* Bando da Lua was a very popular 1930s Brazilian band, often associated with Carmen Miranda.
** Errol did know Clara and her movie star husband, Rex Bell, and used to visit them at their famous 400,000-acre “Walking Box Ranch” off of Joshua Tree Highway near Searchlight, Nevada.
— Tim
