Errol Flynn

Adventures

Errol Flynn is probably notable for many things but for me it was two things that mattered: he was the supreme adventurer and he was an Aussie!

Yep, Errol's adventures seemed to be always a case of life imitating art (or is that vice versa?) He certainly lived life to its fullest and his movies were such supremely escapist affairs that one felt his movies were just the filming of his real-life adventures. With a twinkle in his eye he could make the hammiest line sound real, and if that’s not acting, what is?

On the matter on his "Aussieness", I'm reminded of a conversation that I had with my Mum when I'd only just discovered that this fabulous guy (whom I'd just watched "wup" Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Robin Hood) was in fact born in Australia - my Mum (pictured below during the mid 1940s) being a huge fan of this perfect male specimen corrected me in saying: "He was born in Tasmania".

I immediately thought to myself: Is Mum providing more detailed information (by informing the actual State of Australia in which "Our Errol" was born) or was she showing me her "culturally imperialist" side? (Tasmania being detached from the Aussie mainland and very much "on the way to Antarctica").

I recently queried Mum (still spritely and quite switched on despite being well into her 8 decade here - on the mainland) about the exchange all those years ago and she deferred to the latter as being the true case! - yep, Tasmanian may well have been considered a "bit of a backwater" in the 1950s (especially by my Mum).

(For you non-Australians still reading this: herein endith the Geography lesson)

So Mum, despite your thoughts about Tasmania in the 1950s, this section of the website is dedicated to you - a true fan of Errol Flynn!

Print Quality of all titles is uniformly excellent with only King's Rhapsody (1955) down a little.

Further, Santa Fe Trial (1940) is a very good print - much superior to commercial offerings.

Note that all of these films can also be found in the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section.

The set up and pricing are the same as for the INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TITLES section namely:

· The DVDs in this section of the website consist of one movie title per DVD, each movie commencing when inserted into your DVD player (no delays or useless menus).

· DVDs are available in any combination of titles comprising 1, 2 or 4 DVD boxed sets

(Note: They are not available in 3, 5 or 6 DVD sets)

A typical Errol Flynn 4 DVD boxed set is pictured below:

· The prices (including Express Postage anywhere) for these single movie DVDs are:

1 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$20 or US$20 or £10

2 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$25 or US$25 or £13

4 DVD Boxed Set price : AU$35 or US$35 or £18

· Email me for a current price in CN$, Euros, NZ$ etc

· PURCHASING TIP: the most economical way to buy movies from this section is in groups of 4 films,

-they are neatly assembled in a quad case with full artwork (see picture above) and sell for AU$35 or US$35 or £18. Since postage is included then each film can be delivered to your door for less than AU$9 or US$9 or £5 per movie!

(Note that AU$ prices are for AU postal destinations only,

international customers to use US$ or UK£)

-NEW TITLE-

Adventures of Captain Fabian (1951) - 100 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Victor Francen & Jim Gérald

Directed by William Marshall

This Franco-American costume drama concerns sea captain Michael Fabian and his involvement with a servant girl Lea Marriote (Micheline Presle), whose thirst for revenge against a prominent New Orleans family who wronged both her and Fabian drives this action packed film. After Fabian defends Lea on a murder charge, she promptly weds George Brissac (Vincent Price), scion of that aforementioned family, thereby laying the groundwork for a final battle.

Filmed in Paris and Nice, the screenplay was written by Errol Flynn from the Robert Shannon novel, Fabulous Ann Madlock.

Adventures of Don Juan (1948) - 110 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Viveca Lindfors, Robert Douglas, Alan Hale & Romney Brent

Directed by Vincent Sherman

In a spirited, athletic performance as fabled Spanish swashbuckler/lover Don Juan, Flynn spends the early portions of the film romancing willing young ladies and duelling with jealous husbands. Spain's Queen Margaret (Viveca Lindfors) assigns Don Juan to head the royal fencing academy to keep him out of trouble. When scheming Duke de Lorca (Robert Douglas) plots to topple the monarchy, it is Don Juan's eager young fencing pupils who come to the rescue.

Errol in top form again!

Sumptuous Warner Bros production complete with fabulous Max Steiner score.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - 102 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles & Alan Hale

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Based on the well-known English legend, Robin of Locksley is a noble who is forced to become an outlaw when Prince John the usurper tries to take the throne from his absent brother. He flees to Sherwood forest where he gathers together his Merry Men and is called Robin Hood. He begins to rob the rich and give back to the poor, the townsfolk that are heavily-taxed by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Meanwhile he still has to defend the throne, and woo Maid Marian.

Undoubtedly the best of the best!

Oscar wins for Art Direction, Editing and Score (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)

Oscar Nomination for Best Picture

Against All Flags (1952) - 83 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn & Mildred Natwick

Directed by George Sherman

Its 1700 and the pirates of Madagascar menace the India trade. British officer Brian Hawke has himself cashiered, flogged, and set adrift to infiltrate them. There, Hawke meets Spitfire Stevens, a pirate captain in her own right, and the sparks begin to fly, especially after he rescues adoring young Princess Patma from a captured ship. Meanwhile, Hawke's secret mission proceeds to an action-packed climax.

Flynn is back to his best in what is considered to be "the last of the great swashbucklers"

-NEW TITLE-

Another Dawn (1937) - 73 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, Frieda Inescort, Herbert Mundin & Richard Powell

Directed by William Dieterle

Captain Denny Roark (Errol Flynn) is a British army officer stationed in a remote Sahara outpost just after WWI. Against his better judgement, Roark falls in love with Julia (Kay Francis), the wife of his commanding officer Colonel Wister (Ian Hunter). Wister knows what's going on, but he is too much the gentleman to interfere, just as Roark is too much the gentleman to demand that the Colonel grant Julia a divorce.

Nice Erich Wolfgang Korngold musical score

Captain Blood (1935) - 119 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill & Basil Rathbone

Directed by Michael Curtiz

The quintessential swashbuckler. Irish doctor Dr. Peter Blood is wrongly sentenced to deportation and slavery to the Caribbean. He plans an escape and now seeking vengeance forms an alliance with the French buccaneer Capt. Levasseur. However during their reign of piracy they capture Arabella Bishop and Blood's feelings are betrayed when he challenges Levasseur over her.

Quintessential Flynn in his "breakout" role and a fabulous Eric Wolfgang Korngold score

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) - 116 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles, Nigel Bruce & David Niven

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Major Vickers is an officer at the 27th Lancers in India 1856. When the regiment is on maneuver, the barracks are attacked by Surat Khan and his soldiers, who massacre British women and children. This leaves an inextinguishable memory and Vickers promises to revenge the dead. Based on Tennyson's poem, with a scintillating climax: the famous Balaklava Heights charge.

Flynn's follow-up to Captain Blood and reuniting director Curtiz and co-star de Havilland. Fabulous production values & wonderful Max Steiner score

-NEW TITLE-

Cry Wolf (1947) - 83 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Barbara Stanwyck, Geraldine Brooks, Richard Basehart, Jerome Cowan & John Ridgely

Directed by Peter Godfrey

The tense psychological drama Cry Wolf offers a fascinating if not altogether successful change of pace for action star Errol Flynn. Most of the story takes place at a remote and forbidding mansion, where Sandra Marshall (Barbara Stanwyck), the widow of the house's owner, arrives to take charge. An apparent golddigger, Sandra refuses to be bought off with a small cash settlement and insists on claiming her late husband's entire estate, which earns her a powerful enemy in the form of research scientist Mark Caldwell (Flynn). Upon learning that her headstrong sister-in-law Julie (Geraldine Brooks) is kept a virtual prisoner in the house, Sandra begins suspecting that Caldwell is up to no good - a suspicion seemingly confirmed when Julie dies under mysterious circumstances. But as the story slowly unravels, it becomes clear that Caldwell is actually … best not to give too much away here.

Cry Wolf was Geraldine Brooks' first film, and the second for her costar Richard Basehart

The Dawn Patrol (1938) - 103 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven, Donald Crisp, Melville Cooper & Barry Fitzgerald

Directed by Edmund Goulding

The story is set during World War I; the scene is the French headquarters of the British Royal Flying Corps, 59th division. The corps is suffering heavy losses, a fact that ace pilot Courtney (Errol Flynn) ascribes to the supposed ruthlessness of squadron commander Brand (Basil Rathbone). What the audience knows that Courtney doesn't is that Brand is distraught at losing his men, but is forced by his own superiors to push the pilots beyond their limits. After being accused day after day of being a butcher, Brand takes grim delight in turning over his command to Courtney. Soon Courtney finds himself enduring the "butcher" tag, especially after the younger brother of his best friend Scott (David Niven) is killed. To redeem himself, Courtney gets Scott drunk and takes his place in a suicidal bombing mission.

The star power of Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone in their third screen teaming.

Desperate Journey (1942) - 107 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Coleman, Alan Hale & Arthur Kennedy

Directed by Raoul Walsh

One of the most exciting pictures ever made (in my humble opinion) Desperate Journey is fast-paced and very enjoyable! Directed by action film veteran Raoul Walsh, the story of British bomber 'D-for-Danny', shot down over occupied central Europe, offers a terrific cast, including Ronald Reagan and Arthur Kennedy (in their second teaming with Flynn), and Alan Hale (in his tenth of 12 Flynn films). The gifted Canadian actor, Raymond Massey, also making his second appearance with Flynn, is a thoroughly hiss-able Nazi Major (speaking the gobbly-gook Hollywood passed off as 'German' in these films) who 'loses' the captured fliers (after a brilliantly funny scene with Reagan) then pursues them across the continent. A great chase ensues and if you're like me, you'll be cheering as they approach the Dutch border and the Nazis close in.

Fabulous Max Steiner score.

Dive Bomber (1941) - 132 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy, Alexis Smith, Regis Toomey & Robert Armstrong

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Lieutenant Commander Joe Blake (Fred MacMurray), Lt. Tim Griffin (Regis Toomey), and Lt. Swede Larson (Louis Jean Heydt) are longtime US Navy flying buddies, about to be transferred to different posts when Larson suffers a blackout during high-altitude maneuvers and cracks up. Navy doctor Douglas Lee (Errol Flynn) insists on trying to save him with an immediate operation, and the mortally injured pilot dies on the table. This sets the stage for a long, lingering, and bitter hatred between Blake and Lee - which is only exacerbated when Lee chooses to become a flight surgeon so he can help to find a solution to the problem of high altitude blackout. Lee is assigned to medical research with Lt. Cdr. Lance Rogers (Ralph Bellamy), a flight surgeon whose dedication to high-altitude research has left him unfit for further flying. Their work proceeds through small triumphs and terrible tragedy, and Lee and Blake keep crossing paths, unwillingly - they not only don't like each other personally, but end up competing for the attentions of the same woman (Alexis Smith) at one point. But they're forced to work together for the good of the service, even after Lee grounds Tim Griffin as medically unfit to keep flying. A fresh tragedy shows Blake that Lee has always been looking out for the best interests of the pilots, and they begin working together in earnest, at last.

Dodge City (1939) - 104 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale & Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Wade Hatton is a cattle man who arrives in the frontier community of Dodge City, which is overrun by footloose cowboys and outlaws. When Hatton helps Dodge City lawmen capture a gang of cattle rustlers led by Jeff Surrett, he's asked to help guide a wagon train into town with his friends Rusty Hart and Tex Baird. En route, an impulsive young cowpoke named Lee Irving needlessly fires off his pistol, sparking a cattle stampede that leads to his death. When Hatton and his men arrive in Dodge, they discover Surrett is once again at large, and his gang has taken over the city. Appointed the city's new sheriff, Hatton is determined to clean up the town and put the outlaws out of business.

A landmark western which, along with Stagecoach, has often been credited with revitalizing the genre.

A solid box office hit, Dodge City was the first of a series of westerns for swashbuckling star Flynn; his next oater, Virginia City, followed in 1940 (see below).

Edge of Darkness (1943) - 119 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Walter Huston, Nancy Coleman & Helmut Dantine

Directed by Lewis Milestone

In October 1942, a German observation airplane discovers a seaside village named Trollness where the Norwegian flag is flying over the town square. A ground patrol discovers an empty town littered with corpses, including a number of Nazi officials. The story of the massacre is told in flashback. Errol Flynn plays Gunnar Brogge, a fisherman engaged to Karen Stensgard (Ann Sheridan), whose father, Martin (Walter Huston), is the village physician. Gunnar and Karen are working to undermine the Nazis. The town is divided, with the minister leading a contingent which believes that violence, even against the sadistic Germans, is morally wrong. Karen is concerned about the imminent arrival of her brother, who is known to be friendly to the German occupiers; she fears he may learn of plans by the British to deliver a supply of guns to the resistance. The Nazi commandant, Captain Konig (Helmut Dantine), keeps up the pressure to learn of any opposition to his administration, eventually deciding to execute a selected number of the villagers to force someone to reveal the extent of the resistance's schemes.

One of Errol Flynn's very best WWII roles.

-NEW TITLE-

Escape Me Never (1947) - 104 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Ida Lupino, Eleanor Parker, Gig Young & Reginald Denny

Directed by Peter Godfrey

Largely set in Italy, the story concerns the relationship between poverty-stricken musician Sebastian Dunbrok (Errol Flynn) and unwed mother Gemma Smith (Ida Lupino). Suspecting that her fiancé, Caryl (Gig Young), Sebastian's brother, is the father of Gemma's child, young heiress Fennella McLean (Eleanor Parker) retreats to the Italian Alps. Attempting to straighten out the situation, Sebastian finds himself falling in love with Fennella. For his brother's sake, Sebastian breaks off the relationship and marries Gemma, but while awaiting the birth of her child, he writes a heartfelt ballet score dedicated to Fennella. However, when Gemma's baby dies, the conscience-stricken Sebastian changes the dedication to his wife.

Stirring musical score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

Based on a play and novel by Margaret Kennedy.

Footsteps in the Dark (1941) - 96 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Ralph Bellamy, Alan Hale, Lee Patrick & Allen Jenkins

Directed by Lloyd Bacon

A spritely comedy/mystery, starring Errol Flynn as a wealthy investment counsellor who secretly doubles as a dilettante detective, the better to write mystery novels. Brenda Marshall plays his wife, who can't understand why he is never home and begins to suspect hanky-panky. In fact, Flynn is investigating the murders of a jewellery smuggler and an exotic dancer.

Footsteps in the Dark was an attempt by Warner Bros. to create a "Nick and Nora Charles" team, in emulation of MGM's popular Thin Man series. And it comes off! Flynn fans will love this one.

Gentleman Jim (1942) - 104 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, Jack Carson, Alan Hale, John Loder & Ward Bond

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Flynn stars as Jim Corbett, the 19th-century American pugilist who introduced "scientific" methods to bare-knuckle boxing. Originally an office clerk, Corbett is introduced to the then-illegal sport of fighting when one of the bank executives sponsors the young man's training at the Olympic Club. His arrogance wins Corbett a few enemies, including high-born lady Victoria Ware (Alexis Smith), whose dislike turns to casual affection when she realizes that Corbett is a sincere young fellow who can back up his boasts. What "Gentleman Jim" desires most in life is a match with reigning heavyweight champ John L. Sullivan (Ward Bond). Corbett and Sullivan finally meet in a bout governed by those new Marquis of Queensbury rules that Corbett has helped popularize.

Gentleman Jim is broad, boisterous entertainment thanks to a "knockout" performance by Errol Flynn - he was a capable boxer, and Gentleman Jim makes full use of this skill.

-NEW TITLE-

Green Light (1937) - 85 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Anita Louise, Margaret Lindsay, Cedric Hardwicke, Walter Abel & Henry O'Neill

Directed by Frank Borzage

When Errol Flynn insisted that Warner Bros. come up with a non-swashbuckler for his next vehicle, the result was Green Light. Based on a novel by Lloyd C. Douglas (Magnificent Obsession, The Robe etc.), the film tells the story of a young surgeon (Flynn) who willingly takes blame for a fatal mistake committed by an older doctor (Henry O'Neill). Disgraced, Flynn takes the near-suicidal assignment of testing a new vaccine for spotted fever; to ascertain the serum's effectiveness, he must expose himself to the disease. Flynn's fiancee (Anita Louise), having learned that her lover was not responsible for the older doctor's error, is reunited with Flynn as he lies recuperating from the fever. Weaving in and out of Green Light is the kindly old spiritual leader (Cedric Hardwicke) who espouses the values of sacrifice and faith. Green Light did acceptable box office business, but Errol Flynn was back at his sword-wielding best in his next film, The Prince and the Pauper (which is also available from this website)

Kim (1950) - 113 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Dean Stockwell, Paul Lukas, Robert Douglas, Thomas Gomez & Cecil Kellaway

Directed by Victor Saville

Kim, a young boy living on his own on the streets of India, is actually the son of a British officer. He meets a lama, a holy man, and devotes himself to his tending. But when British administrators discover his birthright, he is placed in a British school. His nature, however, is opposed to the regimentation expected for the son of a British soldier, and he rebels. His familiarity with Indian life and his ability to pass as an Indian child allows him to function as a spy for the British as they attempt to thwart revolution and invasion of India. Rejoining his holy man, Kim with the help of daring adventurer Mahbub Ali (Flynn) takes on a dangerous mission.

While a great deal of Kim was filmed on location in India, some of the more complicated exterior sequences were lensed in Lone Pine, California.

-NEW TITLE-

King's Rhapsody (1955) - 93 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Anna Neagle, Patrice Wymore, Martita Hunt, Finlay Currie & Francis De Wolff

Directed by Herbert Wilcox

Based on a musical play by Ivor Novello, about a European prince Richard, King of Laurentia (Erol Flynn) who falls in love with a commoner Marta Karillos (Anna Neagle). The prince abdicates his duties (as Prince) and goes into exile so he may set up house with the woman he loves. When the King dies, Flynn is obliged to return to his throne and marry the hand-picked Princess Cristiane (Patrice Wymore). Years later, Richard finally free to marry whm he chooses, seeks out Marta.

Patrice Wymore was Mrs. Flynn at the time.

Quality Note: This is a wide-screen color print - however its not the greatest of prints - a little smeary at times - but its still a good chance to see another side of Flynn

Mara Maru (1952) - 98 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Ruth Roman, Raymond Burr, Paul Picerni & Richard Webb

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Flynn plays deep-sea diver Gregory Mason, who is hired to locate a sunken PT boat bearing a diamond-encrusted religious icon. Mason's employer on this mission is the disreputable Brock Benedict (Raymond Burr), a firm believer in the old buccaneer credo that "dead men tell no tales." Aware that he's expendable once he finds the treasure, Mason stalls as long as he can, hoping that Benedict and his crooked flunkies will end up wiping out one another. He also intends to claim the treasure for himself, rather than turn it over to the proper authorities. Ruth Roman co-stars as Stella Callahan, the widow of Mason's former partner, who wants nothing more than for Mason to return the gem-studded cross to its rightful owners (well, maybe she wants Mason, too).

Excellent Errol Flynn adventure from Warner Bros with a good score from Max Steiner.

Now an excellent quality print - free upgrades to previous customers (with one small condition)

The Master of Ballantrae (1953) - 90 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Roger Livesey, Anthony Steel, Beatrice Campbell, Yvonne Furneaux & Felix Aylmer

Directed by William Keighley

Errol Flynn buckled his last swash in The Master of Ballantrae, playing out the final film of his Warner Brothers contract in this high seas adventure, liberally adapted from the Robert Louis Stevenson yarn. Flynn plays Jamie Durrisdeer, a Scottish heir, who fights for freedom against the British. When the rebels are defeated, Jamie must flee to the West Indies with Col. Francis Burke (Roger Livesey), an Irish soldier of fortune, in order to escape capture. After battling pirates, Jamie puts together a small fortune and returns to Scotland to marry his true love, Lady Alison (Beatrice Campbell). But Jamie's hopes are dashed when he finds that Lady Alison, thinking that Jamie was dead, is now engaged to his brother Henry (Anthony Steel), who may have betrayed Jamie to the English.

Fabulous color production with Errol still going strong!

Montana (1950) - 76 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S. Z. Sakali, Douglas Kennedy & James Brown

Directed by Ray Enright

Australian sheep-man Morgan Lane comes to Montana looking for government-owned grazing land, and encamps his sheep at the boundary line set up by the cattle barons to keep the sheep from eating the good grass. He goes to town, posing as a merchant, explains his Australian accent, and learns that Maria Singleton, owner of a large ranch, and Rodney Ackroyd, another ranch owner and Miss Singleton's fiancée, are the leaders of the cattlemen against the sheep-men. Romance tugs at Morgan and Miss Singleton but the cattle vs sheep feud keeps them apart.

Montana scores best during the scenes between stars Errol Flynn and Alexis Smith; they were good friends in real life, so much so that Flynn served as best man at Smith's wedding to actor Craig Stevens.

Northern Pursuit (1943) - 93 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Julie Bishop, Helmut Dantine, John Ridgely, Gene Lockhard & Tom Tully

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Flynn is cast as Canadian Mountie Steve Wagner, assigned to track down and capture downed Nazi pilot Hugo von Keller (Helmut Dantine) in the snowier Hudson Bay regions. Once Wagner and fellow Mountie Jim Austin (John Ridgely) catch up with Von Keller, they pretend to be on his side, hoping that he'll reveal his espionage plans. Taken in, Von Keller leads the Mounties towards a secret Nazi hideaway, where the Germans have hidden a huge bombing plane, to be used against North America.

The fact that star Errol Flynn had been recently embroiled in a real-life rape trial only served to increase the box-office appeal of this fine Warner Bros actioner. In the light of Flynn's legal problems, one line in Northern Pursuit invariably brought down the house in 1943: After assuring his girl that she's the only woman he's ever loved, Flynn turns to the camera and quips "What am I saying?"

Objective Burma! (1945) - 142 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, William Prince, James Brown, George Tobias & Henry Huff.

Directed by Raoul Walsh.

A group of men parachute into Japanese-occupied Burma with a dangerous and important mission: to locate and blow up a radar station. They accomplish this well enough, but when they try to rendezvous at an old air-strip to be taken back to their base, they find Japanese waiting for them, and they must make a long, difficult walk back through enemy-occupied jungle.

Another great Errol Flynn action / adventure film!

The Prince and the Pauper (1937) - 118 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, Henry Stephenson, Barton MacLane, Billy Mauch & Alan Hale

Directed by William Keighley

As Jane Seymour, consort of King Henry VIII gives birth to the heir to the throne, the later Edward VI and Tom Canty is born in the nearby slums. Years later, as King Henry is near death, providence brings the two together and they discover that they share a striking resemblance. Having changed clothes with Tom during play, Edward is mistaken for a pauper by the Captain of the Guard and evicted from the palace. In contrast, Tom is believed to be the Prince of Wales by all of sundry and, when protesting, is treated as mentally unsound. Only the Earl of Hertford, the king's scheming advisor, realizes the truth but keeps quiet to further his own career. With a price on his head, the real Edward lives the life of a pauper among the thieves and beggars of London, befriended only by Miles Hendon.

From the novel by Mark Twain.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1937) - 106 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Donald Crisp, Vincent Price & Alan Hale

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Concerns the tempestuous relationship between the middle-aged Elizabeth and the ambitious Essex. At one point, the Queen intends to marry Essex and relinquish her throne, until she realizes that his plans for advancement would ultimately prove disastrous for England. When afforded the opportunity to execute Essex for treason, she reluctantly signs his death warrant.

It is no secret that Bette Davis and Errol Flynn were at each other's throats throughout the filming: Davis felt that Flynn was unprofessional, while Flynn thought that Davis took herself too seriously. Davis had wanted Laurence Olivier to play the Earl of Essex opposite her Queen Elizabeth I. She was forced to compromise and the finished product, a lavish Technicolor costumer allowing full scope to Davis' histrionics and Flynn's derring-do, betrays little of the backstage hostilities.

Adapted by Norman Reilly Raine and Aeneas McKenzie from Maxwell Anderson's blank-verse play.

Oscar Nominations for Art Direction, Color Cinematography, Special Effects, Sound Recording and Score (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)

Rocky Mountain (1950) - 83 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Patrice Wymore, Scott Forbes, Guinn Williams & Dickie Jones

Directed by William Keighley

A Confederate troop, led by Captain Lafe Barstow, is prowling the far ranges of California and Nevada in a last desperate attempt to build up an army in the West for the faltering Confederacy. The patrol saves a stagecoach, with Johanna Carter as one of the passengers, from an Indian attack, and is marooned on a rocky mountain.

Patrice Wymore met Errol Flynn on the set and she became his 3rd wife.

The Roots of Heaven (1958) - 121 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Juliette Greco, Trevor Howard, Eddie Albert, Orson Welles, Paul Lukas & Herbert Lom

Directed by John Huston

Romain Gary's best-selling novel The Roots of Heaven was adapted to film in Cinemascope and DeLuxe Color by producer Darryl F. Zanuck. Though billed third, Trevor Howard plays the central character, an idealist who has gone into Africa in hopes of saving the elephants from extinction. At first regarded as a crank, Howard shows he's not kidding by taking a shot at the posterior of a pompous news commentator (Orson Welles). As Howard's crusade gains momentum, several opportunists go along with him, among them a disgraced British military officer (Errol Flynn) hoping to redeem himself.

The Roots of Heaven represented the last truly worthwhile screen appearance by Errol Flynn, who died less than a year after filming his Roots death scene. The film itself was shot on location in French Equatorial Africa - apparently a gruelling experience for its stars and its director (the legendary John Huston).

"Our Errol" is superb in this film: really proving what a great actor he was!

San Antonio (1945) - 109 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S. Z. Sakali, Victor Francen, Florence Bates & Paul Kelly

Directed by David Butler

Cattleman Clay Hardin, who, on a trek south of the border, has discovered that San Antonio saloon proprietor Roy Stuart is actually a cattle rustler of major proportions. Determined to bring Stuart to justice, Clay runs into difficulties when he mistakes Jeanne Starr for being on the saloon owner's payroll. Meanwhile, Stuart's partner (and enemy) Legare uses the taut situation to benefit himself. Then Clay's longtime friend, Charlie Bell, is brutally slain and Jeanne's manager, Sacha Bozic is forced to skip town, who, unbeknownst to Clay, having witnessed the murder.

Fabulous Western!

Oscar Nominated for Art Direction & Music

Santa Fe Trail (1940) - 110 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Raymond Massey, Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale, Van Heflin & Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams

Directed by Michael Curtiz

The story of Jeb Stewart, his romance with Kit Carson Holliday, friendship with George Custer and battles against John Brown in the days leading up to the bloody confrontation between Brown and the US Army at Harper's Ferry, Virginia and the outbreak of the American Civil War.

Before we get to the meat of the story, we are treated to a great deal of byplay between West Point graduates Jeb Stuart (Flynn) and George Armstrong Custer (Ronald Reagan), who carry on a friendly rivalry over the affections of one Kit Carson Halliday (Olivia DeHavilland). As a follow-up to Warners' Dodge City and Virginia City, Flynn again has Alan Hale and Guinn'Big Boy' Williams, his comic sidekicks from those earlier films.

Breathtaking entertainment, excitingly staged by director Michael Curtiz.

Very Nice B&W Print! (much superior to commercial offerings including that shown on TCM!)

The Sea Hawk (1940) - 127 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp & Alan Hale

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Geoffrey Thorpe is an adventurous and dashing pirate, who feels that he should pirate the Spanish ships for the good of England. In one such battle, he overtakes a Spanish ship and when he comes aboard he finds Dona Maria, a beautiful Spanish royal. He is overwhelmed by her beauty, but she will have nothing to do with him because of his pirating ways. When the ship reaches England, Queen Elizabeth sends Thorpe on a mission and in the process, he becomes a prisoner of the Spaniards. Thorpe escapes and returns to England to uncover some deadly secrets. Exciting duels follow as Thorpe must expose the evil and win Dona Maria's heart.

A very entertaining swashbuckler with a wonderful score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold

-NEW TITLE-

Silver River (1948) - 110 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Thomas Mitchell, Bruce Bennet, Tom D'Andrea & Barton MacLane

Directed by Raoul Walsh

After being handed a dishonorable discharge during the Civil War, Mike McComb (Errol Flynn) becomes a professional gambler and follows a path of ruthless action to get what he wants. After moving out West and making a killing prospecting silver, McComb becomes a wealthy and powerful man, and he finds himself infatuated with beautiful Georgia Moore (Ann Sheridan). However, Georgia is married to Stanley Moore (Bruce Bennett), who works for McComb, so he arranges for Stanley to be given a dangerous assignment; Stanley is killed, and McComb sweeps the widowed Georgia off her feet. Georgia weds McComb, but in time she finds out the ugly truth about her second husband, leaving him behind. Devastated, McComb sets out to mend his ways and win Georgia back by serving more noble purposes.

Silver River was the seventh Flynn vehicle directed by Raoul Walsh

-NEW TITLE-

The Sisters (1938) - 99 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Donald Crisp, Jane Bryan & Beulah Bondi

Directed by Anatole Litvak

The 1938 filmization of Myron Brinig's novel The Sisters stars Bette Davis (Louise) , Jane Bryan (Grace) and Anita Louise (Helen). The daughters of turn-of-the-century druggist Ned & Rose Elliott, the Elliot girls all meet their future husbands at a 1904 ball in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt. Special emphasis is given the relationship between Louise and reckless, irresponsible newspaperman Frank Medlin (Errol Flynn). Feeling trapped by his marriage, Medlin turns to drink and philandering. When Frank eventually runs off to Singapore, Louise is too proud to hold her husband by informing him that she's pregnant. Caught up in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Louise wanders around dazedly until she finds shelter in an Oakland brothel. She loses her baby, but is consoled by her employer William Benson (Ian Hunter), who falls in love with her.

-NEW TITLE-

That Forsyte Woman (1949) - 110 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young, Janet Leigh & Harry Davenport

Directed by Compton Bennett

Loosely based on The Man of Property, Book One of John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga, the film casts Garson as Irene Forsyte, the independently-minded wife of tradition-bound Victorian "man of property" Soames Forsyte (Flynn). Rebelling against her husband's repressed nature and preoccupation with material possessions, Irene falls in love with unconventional architect Philip Bossiney (Robert Young). When he proves to be too free-spirited even for her, Irene moves on to the Forsyte clan's black sheep, Young Jolyon (Walter Pidgeon). Soames makes a belated attempt to win his wife back, but once again proves incapable of warmth, compassion or understanding. The casting-against-type of Garson and Flynn was fascinating - Flynn in fact was slated to play either Bossiney or Young Jolyon, but insisted upon taking the less characteristic role of Soames.

Though one might have expected friction between MGM's resident "nice lady" Greer Garson and Warner Bros. notorious "bad boy" Errol Flynn, the two got along splendidly during this lavishly color filming of That Forsyte Woman

Oscar Nominated for Best Costume Design

They Died With Their Boots On (1941) - 140 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Arthur Kennedy, Charley Grapewin, Gene Lockhart & Anthony Quinn

Directed by Raoul Walsh

General George Armstrong Custer is a flamboyant and brilliant cavalry officer, who during the Civil War defies his superiors' orders and becomes a hero as a result. After a period of forced retirement in the postwar years, Custer is put in charge of the 7th Cavalry in the Dakota Territory. Here he whips this ragtag group into spit-and-polish shape, and also does his best to extend a neighborly hand to the local Indian tribes. Custer even goes so far as to promise Chief Crazy Horse that the white man will never set foot in the sacred Black Hills. Alas, Custer is betrayed by greedy gold prospectors, whipped into a frenzy by scheming land speculator Ned Sharp. Forced by circumstances to do battle against Crazy Horse to prevent tribal retaliation, Custer and his command ride towards a rendezvous with destiny at the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876.

Historical inaccuracies abound but it’s a great story and well told!

This film represented the final screen pairing of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, a fact that lends poignancy to their classic parting scene. Though an extremely long film, They Died With Their Boots On is never dull, especially during the spectacular Custer's Last Stand finale.

-NEW TITLE-

Too Much, Too Soon (1958) - 120 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Dorothy Malone, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Ray Danton, Neva Patterson, Ed Kemmer & Martin Milner

Directed by Art Napoleon

Diana Barrymore (Dorothy Malone) is a basically decent young lady who suffers mightily from lack of parental love. Her famous father, John Barrymore (played with boozy bravado by Errol Flynn), is the soul of graciousness and affection when sober, but a human monster when drunk - which is often. Her poetess mother, Michael Strange (Neva Patterson), is too preoccupied by her bitterness against Barrymore to pay much attention to Diana. Striking out on her own as an actress, Diana vainly seeks personal happiness with several husbands: actor Vincent Bryant (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.); jealous, possessive tennis player John Howard (Ray Danton); and another actor, alcoholic Robert Wilcox (Ed Kemmer). Unable to find satisfaction in her work or her private life, Diana follows family "tradition" by turning to liquor.

Errol Flynn's is sensational in this knowing performance of his old friend and drinking companion John Barrymore.

Too Much, Too Soon was adapted from the warts-and-all autobiography of Diana Barrymore.

Uncertain Glory (1944) - 102 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Paul Lukas, Lucile Watson, Faye Emerson & James Flavin

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Errol Flynn plays French criminal Jean Picard, a craven coward whose many misdeeds have earned him a date with the guillotine. Detective Marcel Bonet (Paul Lukas) intends to see that Picard keeps his appointment with the executioner, despite the fact that there's a war on. When the Nazis capture 100 French hostages to force a resistance saboteur to surrender himself, Picard offers to pose as the saboteur and thereby save the lives of the innocent villagers.

A different Errol Flynn in this interesting WWII film

Virginia City (1940) - 121 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Miriam Hopkins, Randolph Scott, Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale & Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams

Directed by Michael Curtiz

After escaping from a Confederate prison during the Civil War, Union officer Flynn vows to stop a $5,000,000 gold shipment from reaching the South. He is challenged by Southern sympathizer Randolph Scott, whose interest in the gold is patriotic, and by outlaw Humphrey Bogart whose interests are purely mercenary. Adding spice to the proceedings is Miriam Hopkins as a dance hall chanteusse-cum-Confederate spy.

The Warriors (1955) - 85 mins

Starring Errol Flynn, Joanne Dru, Peter Finch, Yvonne Furneaux, Patrick Holt & Michael Hordern

Directed by Henry Levin

The Warriors, Errol Flynn's final swashbuckler was retitled The Dark Avenger for its European release.

Lensed on location in Hertfordshire, England, the film stars Flynn as Edward, the "Black Prince" of England. At the end of the Hundred Years' war, Edward remains in France to guard the lands taken by his predecessor-father. He is opposed in this by Count DeVille (Peter Finch). The story comes to a rousing conclusion as Edward and his followers defend their castle against DeVille's minions. Joanne Dru costars as Lady Joan Holland.

Very nice Widescreen Color print!

Home