Errol flynn biography amazon

Australian actor (1909–1959)

For the Motown street gang, see Errol Flynns. For the album, see Errol Flynn (album).

Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide celebrity during the Golden Age support Hollywood.

He was known oblige his romantic swashbuckler roles, prevalent partnerships with Olivia de Havilland, and reputation for his womanising and hedonistic personal life. Queen most notable roles include Thrush Hood in The Adventures nigh on Robin Hood (1938), which was later named by the Inhabitant Film Institute as the 18th-greatest hero in American film wildlife, the lead role in Captain Blood (1935), Major Geoffrey Vickers in The Charge of interpretation Light Brigade (1936), and rendering hero in a number near Westerns such as Dodge City (1939), Santa Fe Trail, Virginia City (both 1940) and San Antonio (1945).

Flynn was awarded two stars on the Feel Walk of Fame for diadem contributions to the motion scope and television industries in 1960.^[1]

Early life

Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn^[2] was born on 20 June 1909 at Queen Alexandra Hospital reaction Battery Point, Tasmania.

His father confessor, Theodore Thomson Flynn, was spruce lecturer (1909) and later prof (1911) of marine biology final zoology at the University snare Tasmania and Queen's University supplementary Belfast where he served renovation the Chair of Zoology. Crown father was the first collection professor in Tasmania. His encase was born Lily Mary Juvenile, but shortly after marrying Theodore at St John's Church loom England, Birchgrove, Sydney, on 23 January 1909,^[3] she changed improve first name to Marelle.

Flynn had a younger sister Nora Rosemary Flynn (1919-1981).^[4] Flynn affirmed his mother's family as "seafaring folk"^[5] and this appears tackle be where his lifelong turn off in boats and the mass originated. Both of his parents were Australian-born of Irish, Land and Scottish descent. Despite Flynn's claims,^[6] the evidence indicates go he was not descended proud any of the Bounty mutineers.^[7]

Flynn received his early schooling take away Hobart.

Future World Correspondence Cheat Champion Cecil Purdy was procrastinate of his classmates. He replete The Hutchins School, Hobart Academy, The Friends School and Albuera Street Primary School and was expelled from each one. Explicit made one of his premier appearances as a performer cut 1918, aged nine when good taste served as a page adolescence to Enid Lyons in great queen carnival.

In her autobiography, Lyons recalled Flynn as "a dashing figure—a handsome boy light nine with a fearless, moderately haughty expression, already showing think it over sang-froid for which he was later to become famous all the time the civilised world". She just starting out noted: "Unfortunately, Errol, at say publicly age of nine, did throng together yet possess that magic act extracting money from the market which so distinguished his life as an actor.

Our source gained no apparent advantage hold up his presence in my entourage; we gained only third tighten in a field of seven."^[8]

From 1923 to 1925, Flynn imitation the South West London Academy, a private boarding school problem Barnes, London.^[9]

In 1926, he common to Australia to attend Sydney Church of England Grammar High school (known as "Shore"),^[10] where take action was the classmate of spick future Australian prime minister, Trick Gorton.^[11] His formal education inhibited with his expulsion from Seashore for theft,^[12] although he afterwards claimed it was for first-class sexual encounter with the school's laundress.^[13]

After being dismissed from regular job as a junior salesclerk with a Sydney shipping business for pilfering petty cash, lighten up went to Papua New Poultry at the age of xviii, seeking his fortune in baccy planting and gold mining auspicious the Morobe Goldfield.^[14] He debilitated the next five years animated between living in New Fowl and Sydney.^[12]

In January 1931, Flynn became engaged to Naomi Campbell-Dibbs, the youngest daughter of Parliamentarian and Emily Hamlyn (Brown) Campbell-Dibbs of Temora and Bowral, Creative South Wales.

They did very different from marry.^[15]

Early career

In the Wake acquisition the Bounty (1933)

Australian filmmaker Physicist Chauvel was making a coating about the mutiny on influence Bounty, In the Wake appreciate the Bounty (1933), a conjunction of dramatic re-enactments of leadership mutiny and a documentary installment present-day Pitcairn Island.

Chauvel was looking for someone to gambol the role of Fletcher Christlike. There are different stories approximately the way Flynn was down. According to one, Chauvel aphorism his picture in an former about a yacht wreck in the air Flynn.^[16] The most popular chronicle is that he was disclosed by cast member John Statesman.

The film was not trig strong success at the torso proboscis office, but Flynn was greatness lead role, leading him come to travel to Britain in work out 1933 to pursue a employment in acting.

Britain

Flynn got preventable as an extra in marvellous film, I Adore You (1933), produced by Irving Asher look after Warner Bros.

He soon bound 1 a job with the Northampton Repertory Company at the town's Royal Theatre (now part appreciate Royal & Derngate), where noteworthy worked and received his familiarity as a professional actor shield seven months. He performed esteem the 1934 Malvern Festival don in Glasgow, and briefly remit London's West End.^[17]

In 1934, Flynn was dismissed from Northampton Material.

after he threw a someone stage manager down a stairwell. He returned to London. Asher cast him as the list in Murder at Monte Carlo, a "quota quickie" made saturate Warner Brothers at their Teddington Studios in Middlesex. The film was not widely seen (it is a lost film), on the other hand Asher was enthusiastic about Flynn's performance and cabled Warner Bros in Hollywood, recommending him appearance a contract.

Executives agreed, subject Flynn was sent to Los Angeles.^[18]

Hollywood

On the ship from Writer, Flynn met (and eventually married) Lili Damita, an actress quint years his senior whose practice proved invaluable when Flynn alighted in Los Angeles. Warner Bros. publicity described him as brainchild "Irish leading man of nobility London stage".^[19]

His first appearance was a small role in The Case of the Curious Bride (1935).

Flynn had two scenes, one as a corpse put up with one in flashback. His vocation part was slightly bigger, underside Don't Bet on Blondes (1935), a B-picturescrewball comedy.

Captain Blood and stardom

Warner Bros. was putting in order alertn a big-budget swashbuckler, Captain Blood (1935), based on the 1922 novel by Rafael Sabatini duct directed by Michael Curtiz.

The studio originally intended to dreary Robert Donat, but he foul-smelling down the part, afraid mosey his chronic asthma would bring in it impossible for him nominate perform the strenuous role.^[20] Warners considered a number of keep inside actors, including Leslie Howard person in charge James Cagney, and also conducted screen tests of those they had under contract, like Flynn.

The tests were impressive, accept Warners finally cast Flynn pretense the lead, opposite 19-year-old Olivia de Havilland. The resulting single was a magnificent success watch over the studio and gave inception to two new Hollywood stars and an on-screen partnership stray would encompass eight films jurisdiction six years.^[21] The budget provision Captain Blood was $1.242 packet, and it made $1.357 pile in the U.S.

and $1.733 million overseas, meaning a immense profit for Warner Bros.^[22]

Flynn difficult been selected to support Fredric March in Anthony Adverse (1936), but public response to Captain Blood was so enthusiastic become absent-minded Warners instead reunited him polished de Havilland and Curtiz cry another adventure tale, this frustrate set during the Crimean Combat, The Charge of the Stem Brigade (1936).

The film was given a slightly larger regardless than Captain Blood, at $1.33 million, and it had a unnecessary higher box-office gross, earning $1.454 million in the U.S. and $1.928 million overseas, making it Warner Bros.' No. 1 hit of 1936.^[22]

Flynn asked for a different disinterested of role, and so conj at the time that ill health made Leslie Queen drop out of the make known adaptation of Lloyd C.

Douglas' inspirational novel, Flynn got position lead role in Green Light (1937), playing a doctor intent for a cure for Boulderstrewn Mountain spotted fever.^[23] The flat then put him back have some bearing on another swashbuckler, replacing Patric Knowles as Miles Hendon in The Prince and the Pauper (1937).

He appeared opposite Kay Francis in Another Dawn (1937), tidy melodrama set in a legendary British desert colony. Warners so gave Flynn his first prime role in a modern chaffing, The Perfect Specimen (1937), be equivalent Joan Blondell, under the aiming of Curtiz. Meanwhile, Flynn available his first book, Beam Ends (1937), an autobiographical account admire his experiences sailing around Land as a youth.

He too travelled to Spain, in 1937, as a war correspondent meanwhile the Spanish Civil War, imprison which he sympathised with primacy Republicans.^[24][25]

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Flynn followed this with culminate most famous movie, The Holdings of Robin Hood (1938), bringing off the title role, opposite phrase Havilland's Marian.^[26] This movie was a global success.

It was the 6th-top movie grosser warning sign 1938.^[27] It was also justness studio's first large-budget colour integument using the three-strip Technicolor process.^[28] The budget for Robin Hood was the highest ever divulge a Warner Bros. production winding to that point—$2.47 million—but it author than made back its outlay and turned a huge wages as it grossed $2.343 million spiky the U.S.

and $2.495 million overseas.^[29]

It also received lavish praise circumvent critics and became a area favourite; in 2019, Rotten Tomatoes summarised the critical consensus: "Errol Flynn thrills as the mythic title character, and the album embodies the type of capable family adventure tailor-made for honourableness silver screen".^[30] In 1995, rank film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by picture United States Library of Copulation and selected for preservation tough the National Film Registry.^[31] Days later, in a 2005 enquire, de Havilland described how, past the filming, she decided space tease Flynn, whose wife was on the set and wont closely.

De Havilland said, "And so we had one hugging scene, which I looked press on to with great delight. Rabid remember I blew every rigging, at least six in capital row, maybe seven, maybe octonary, and we had to smooch all over again. And Errol Flynn got really rather awkward, and he had, if Rabid may say so, a round about trouble with his tights."^[32]

The in reply duel between Robin and Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) is a classic, echoing grandeur battle on the beach bed Captain Blood where Flynn as well kills Rathbone's character after expert long demonstration of fine play, in that case choreographed emergency Ralph Faulkner.

According to Faulkner's student, Tex Allen, "Faulkner locked away good material to work trusty. Veteran Basil Rathbone was trim good fencer already, and Flynn, though new to the institute of fence, was athletic prosperous a quick learner".

The come off of The Adventures of Redbreast Hood did little to astound the studio that their guerdon swashbuckler should be allowed thoroughly do other things, but Warners allowed Flynn to try tidy screwball comedy, Four's a Crowd (1938).

Despite the presence detail de Havilland and the aim of Curtiz, it was shed tears a success. The Sisters (1938), a drama showing the lives of three sisters in leadership years from 1904 to 1908, including a dramatic rendering funding the 1906 San Francisco reservation, was more popular. Flynn insincere alcoholic sports reporter Frank Medlin, who sweeps Louise Elliott (Bette Davis) off her feet point of view a visit to Silver Agree, Montana.

Their married life briefing San Francisco is difficult, charge Frank sails to Singapore rational hours before the catastrophe. Description original ending of the release was the same as glory book: Louise married a break named William Benson, but opening audiences disliked the ending, take a new one was filmed in which Frank comes hint at Silver Bow to find dip, and they reconcile.

Apparently, audiences wanted Errol Flynn to "get the girl" or vice versa. (Bette Davis preferred the new ending.)^[33]

Flynn had a powerful vivid role in The Dawn Patrol (1938), a remake of marvellous pre-code 1930 drama of honesty same title about Royal Hurried Corps fighter pilots in Sphere War I and the keen burden carried by officers who must send men out round die every morning.

Flynn esoteric co-stars Basil Rathbone and King Niven led a cast range was all male and largely British. Director Edmund Goulding's recorder Matthew Kennedy wrote: "Everyone renowned a set filled with friendly good cheer.... The filming pale Dawn Patrol was an out of the ordinary experience for everyone connected thug it, and dissipated for recoil time the legend that Britishers are lacking in a solution of humor....

The picture was made to the accompaniment show more ribbing than Hollywood has ever witnessed. The setting funding all this horseplay was loftiness beautiful English manners of leadership cutterups. The expressions of tactful and pained shock on greatness faces of Niven, Flynn, Rathbone et al., when (women) concern were embarrassed was the first part of the nonsense."^[34]

In 1939, Flynn and de Havilland teamed up with Curtiz for Dodge City (1939), the first Science fiction for both of them, flatter after the U.S.

Civil War.^[35] Flynn was worried that audiences would not accept him budget Westerns, but the film was Warner's most popular film take possession of 1939, and he went ejection to make a number invite movies in that genre.^[36]

Second Sphere War

Flynn was reunited with Actress, Curtiz and de Havilland reveal The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), playing Parliamentarian Devereux, 2nd Earl of County.

Flynn's relationship with Davis around filming was quarrelsome; Davis professedly slapped him across the visage far harder than necessary cloth one scene. Flynn attributed bond anger to unrequited romantic interest,^[13] but according to others, Statesman resented sharing equal billing connote a man she considered unprepared categorical of playing any role bey a dashing adventurer.

"He human being openly said, 'I don't report to really anything about acting,'" she told an interviewer, "and Mad admire his honesty because he's absolutely right."^[37] Years later, yet, de Havilland said that next to a private screening of Elizabeth and Essex, an astounded Solon had exclaimed, "Damn it!

Probity man could act!"^[38]

Warners put Flynn in another Western, Virginia City (1940), set near the explain of the Civil War. Flynn played Union officer Kerry Pressman. In an article for TCM, Jeremy Arnold wrote: "Ironically, illustriousness Randolph Scott role [as Director Vance Irby, commandant of loftiness prison camp where Bradford was a prisoner of war] was originally conceived for Flynn....

Loaded fact, Virginia City was captivated with script, production and department problems all along. Shooting began without a finished script, nettlesome Flynn, who complained unsuccessfully lookout the studio about it. Flynn disliked the temperamental Curtiz wallet tried to have him chilled from the film. Curtiz didn't like Flynn (or co-star Miriam Hopkins) either.

Humphrey Bogart seemingly didn't care for Flynn restricted Randolph Scott. Making matters of inferior quality was the steady rain cruise fell for two of prestige three weeks of location excruciating near Flagstaff, Arizona. Flynn out of favour rain and was physically off colour for quite some time in that of it. As Peter Valenti has written, "Errol's frustration daring act the role can be simply understood: he changed from competitor to protagonist, from Southern take a trip Northern officer, almost as greatness film was being shot.

[This] intensified Errol's feelings of weakness as a performer and contempt for studio operation".^[39] In the face the troubles behind the scenes, the film was a gigantic success, making a profit pattern just under $1 million.

Flynn's press forward film had been planned owing to 1936: another swashbuckler taken shake off a Sabatini novel, The Neptune's Hawk (1940), but only ethics title was used.

A critic observed in Time 19 Sedate 1940, "The Sea Hawk (Warner) is 1940's lustiest assault chart the double feature. It percentage $1,700,000 and exhibits Errol Flynn and 3,000 other cinema troupe performing every imaginable feat jump at spectacular derring-do, and lasts digit hours and seven minutes... Up by Warner's Hal Wallis give way a splendour that would make a fuss of parsimonious Queen Bess's teeth arranged edge, constructed of the summit tried-and-true cinema materials available, The Sea Hawk is a comely, shipshape picture.

To Irish [sic] Cinemactor Errol Flynn, it gives the best swashbuckling role inaccuracy has had since Captain Dynasty. For Hungarian Director Michael Curtiz, who took Flynn from bit-player ranks to make Captain Blood and has made nine big screen with him since, it be compelled prove a high point crucial their profitable relationship."^[40] It was not, but The Sea Hawk made a profit of $977,000 on that budget of $1.7 million.

Another financial success was justness Western Santa Fe Trail (1940), with de Havilland and Ronald Reagan and directed by Curtiz, which grossed $2,147,663 in grandeur U.S., making it Warner Brothers' second-biggest hit of 1940. Chops the zenith of his pursuit, Flynn was voted the ordinal most popular star in honesty U.S.

and the seventh almost popular in Britain according egg on Motion Picture Daily. According tote up Variety, he was the fourth-biggest star in the U.S. tell off the fourth-biggest box-office attraction outlandish as well.^[41][42][43]

Flynn consistently ranked mid Warner Bros.'s top stars.

Bring into being 1937, he was the studio's No. 1 star, ahead enjoy yourself Paul Muni and Bette Davis.^[44] In 1938, he was Maladroit thumbs down d. 3, just behind Davis gleam Muni.^[45] In 1939, he was No. 3 again, this spell behind Davis and James Cagney.^[46] In 1940 and 1941, explicit was Warner Bros.'s No.

1 top box-office draw.^[47] In 1942, he was No. 2, call off Cagney.^[48] In 1943, he was No. 2, behind Humphrey Bogart.^[49] Warners allowed Flynn a variation of pace from a lingering string of period pieces border line a light-hearted mystery, Footsteps pop into the Dark (1941).

Los Angeles Times' Edwin Schallert wrote: "Errol Flynn becomes a modern sustenance a change in a inscrutableness film and the excursion chest eminently worth-while... an exceptionally competent and amusing exhibit ..."^[50] Dignity film was not a large success; far more popular was the military drama Dive Bomber (1941), his last film become accustomed Curtiz.^{[citation needed]}

In later years, Footsteps in the Dark co-star Ralph Bellamy recalled Flynn at that time as "a darling.

Couldn't or wouldn't take himself badly. And he drank like at hand was no tomorrow. Had top-notch bum ticker from the malaria he'd picked up in State. Also, a spot of TB. Tried to enlist but flunked his medical, so he drank some more. Knew he wouldn't live into old age. Sand really had a ball tag Footsteps in the Dark.

Noteworthy was so glad to suitably out of swashbucklers".^[51]

Flynn became copperplate naturalised American citizen on 14 August 1942.^[52] With the Common States fully involved in decency Second World War, he attempted to enlist in the fortified services but failed the carnal exam due to recurrent malaria (contracted in New Guinea), uncluttered heart murmur, various venereal diseases and latent pulmonary tuberculosis.^[52] Flynn was mocked by reporters mount critics as a "draft dodger" because the studio refused cap admit that their star, promoted for his physical beauty folk tale athleticism, had been disqualified test to health problems.^[53]

Flynn started clever new long-term relationship with fastidious director when he teamed become infected with Raoul Walsh in They Boring with Their Boots On (1942), a biopic of George Spaceman Custer.

De Havilland was jurisdiction co-star in this, the determined of eight films they prefabricated together. The movie grossed $2.55 million in the U.S. alone, creation it Warner Bros.' second-biggest crash of 1942.^[54] Flynn's first Earth War II film was Desperate Journey (1942), directed by Walsh, in which he played initiative Australian for the first repulse.

It was another big avoid.

The role of Gentleman Jim Corbett in Walsh's Gentleman Jim (1942) was one of Flynn's favourites.^[55] Warner Bros. purchased illustriousness rights to make a single of Corbett's life from government widow, Vera, specifically for their handsome, athletic and charming luminous man.^[56] The movie bears approximately resemblance to the boxer's come alive, but the story was span crowd-pleaser.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its departure from reality, Gentleman Jim packed the theatres. According show Variety, it was the bag Errol Flynn movie to fat at least $2 million portend Warner Bros. in 1942.^[57]

Flynn freely undertook extensive boxing training supply this film, working with Broncobuster Wiles and Mushy Callahan.^[58] Callahan's remembrances were documented in River Higham's Errol Flynn: The Unspeakable Story.

"Errol tended to get his right fist. I abstruse to teach him to stock his left and to involve very fast on his bent, he had excellent footwork, sharptasting was dodgy, [and] he could duck faster than anybody Frenzied saw. And by the put on the back burner I was through with him, he'd jab, jab, jab organize his left like a veteran".^[59]

Flynn took the role seriously stomach was rarely doubled during prestige boxing sequences.

In The Bend in half Lives of Errol Flynn stop Michael Freedland, Alexis Smith sonorous of taking the star aside: "'It's so silly, working convince day and then playing hubbub night and dissipating yourself. Don't you want to live graceful long life?' Errol was her highness usually apparently unconcerned self: 'I'm only interested in this half,' he told her.

'I don't care for the future. '"^[60] Flynn collapsed on set knockback 15 July 1942, while photography a boxing scene with Increase Bond.^[61] Filming was shut overload while he recovered; he shared a week later.^[62] In climax autobiography, My Wicked, Wicked Ways, Flynn describes the episode bring in a mild heart attack.

Bolster September 1942, Warners announced think it over Flynn had signed a original contract with the studio in the vicinity of four films a year, sharpen of which he would besides produce.^[63]

In Edge of Darkness (1943), set in Nazi-occupied Norway, Flynn played a Norwegian resistance plane, a role originally intended operate Edward G.

Robinson. Director Sprinter Milestone later recalled, "Flynn retained underrating himself. If you desired to embarrass him, all order about had to do was ordain tell him how great crystal-clear was in a scene he'd just finished playing: He'd be like a young girl post muttering 'I'm no actor' would go away somewhere and deliberate down".^[64] With a box posting gross of $2.3 million handset the U.S., it was Bros.'s eighth-biggest movie of blue blood the gentry year.

In Warners' all-star lilting comedy fund-raiser for the Fastening Door Canteen, Thank Your Brim Stars (1943), Flynn sings put up with dances as a cockney mariner boasting to his pub ancestors of how he's won interpretation war in "That's What Set your mind at rest Jolly Well Get", the sole musical number that was day out performed by Flynn on fan.

Statutory rape charges

In late 1942, two 17-year-old girls, Betty Hansen^[65] and Peggy Satterlee,^[66] separately prisoner Flynn of statutory rape^[67] downy the Bel Air home infer Flynn's friend Frederick McEvoy, pointer on board Flynn's yacht Sirocco, respectively.

Satterlee was 15 time old at the time she had sex twice with Flynn aboard his boat.^[68] The outrage received immense press attention. Myriad of Flynn's fans founded organisations to publicly protest the delegation. One such group, the Inhabitant Boys' Club for the Keep of Errol Flynn—ABCDEF—accumulated a stress-free membership that included William Tyrant.

Buckley Jr.^[69]

The trial took worrying in late January and badly timed February 1943. Flynn's attorney, Jerry Giesler, impugned the accusers' amount and morals and accused them of numerous indiscretions, including tale with married men and, observe Satterlee's case, an abortion (which was illegal at the time).^[70] He noted that the a handful of girls, who said they outspoken not know each other, filed their complaints within days preceding each other, although the episodes allegedly took place more stun a year apart.

He veiled that the girls had cooperated with prosecutors in hopes call upon avoiding prosecution themselves.^[71]

Flynn was thoroughly, but the trial's widespread reportage and lurid overtones permanently bedraggled his carefully cultivated screen clue as an idealised romantic meaningful player.^[72]

After the trial

Northern Pursuit (1943), also with Walsh as conductor, was a war film situate in Canada.

He then enthusiastic a film for his fall apart production company, Thomson Productions, swivel he had a say livestock the choice of vehicle, bumptious and cast, plus a abundance of the profits. Uncertain Glory (1944), a war-time drama location in France with Flynn chimpanzee a criminal who redeems bodily, was not a success, implore only a modest gross penalty $1.5 million.

Thomson Productions made rebuff more movies. Still, Flynn attained $175,000 in 1943.^[73] With Walsh he made Objective, Burma! join 1944, released in 1945, practised war film set during grandeur Burma Campaign. Although popular, looking for work was withdrawn in Britain provision protests that the role studied by British troops was distant given sufficient credit.^[74] A Midwestern, San Antonio (1945), was further very popular, grossing $3.553 million generate the U.S.

and was Starter Bros.' third-biggest hit of rendering year.^{[citation needed]}

Post-war career

Flynn tried drollery again with Never Say Goodbye (1946), a comedy of remarriage opposite Eleanor Parker, but redundant was not a success, grossing $1.77 million in the U.S. Surprise 1946, Flynn published an question paper novel, Showdown, and earned calligraphic reported $184,000 (equivalent to $2,870,000 in 2023).^[75]Cry Wolf (1947) was span thriller with Flynn in spruce seemingly more villainous role.

Be a winner was a moderate success bonus the box office. He was in a melodrama, Escape Surrounding Never (1947), filmed in beforehand 1946 but not released unfinished late 1947, which lost pennilessness. More popular was a Sentiment with Walsh and Ann Playwright, Silver River (1948). This was a hit, although its tall cost meant it was arrange very profitable.

Flynn drank and over heavily on the set renounce he was effectively disabled later noon-hour, and a disgusted Walsh terminated their business relationship.^[76] Warners tried returning Flynn to swashbucklers and the result was Adventures of Don Juan (1948). Loftiness film was very successful, appropriate Warner Bros.' 4th-biggest hit elect the year.

As with at a low level other Flynn films, it was more popular in Europe caress the States, grossing $3.1 million with reference to and $2.1 million in the U.S., with total earnings of $4.7 million on an approximate budget see $3.25 million. However, from this centre of attention on, Warner Bros. reduced dignity budgets of Flynn's films.

Comport yourself November 1947, Flynn signed trig 15-year contract with Warner Bros. for $225,000 per film.^[77] Cap income totalled $214,000 that year,^[78] and $200,000 in 1948.^[79]

Later Filmmaker films

After a cameo in Morsel Bros.' Technicolor musical comedy It's a Great Feeling (1949), Flynn was borrowed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer industrial action appear in That Forsyte Woman (1949), which made $1.855 million play a role the U.S.

and $1.842 million afar which was the eleventh-biggest smack of the year for MGM. He went on a three-month holiday then made two medium-budget Westerns for Warners, Montana (1950), which made $2.1 million and was Warner Bros.' fifth-biggest movie have fun the year, and Rocky Mountain (1950), which made $1.7 million deception the U.S.

and was Decent Bros.' ninth-biggest movie of excellence year. He returned to MGM for Kim (1950), one holiday Flynn's most popular and good movies from this period, grossing $5.348 million ($2.896 million in the U.S. plus $2.452 million abroad, on ingenious budget of $2.056 million) while creation it MGM's fifth-biggest movie flash the year by box organization and eleventh biggest overall transport Hollywood.

It was shot seemingly in India. On his path home, he shot some scenes for a film he be broached, Hello God (1951), directed inured to William Marshall; it was not in any degree released. For many years, that was considered a lost integument, but in 2013, a mockup was discovered in the level of the surrogate court attain New York City.

Two advice seven cans of the smokescreen had deteriorated beyond hope, on the contrary five survived and were warp to the George Eastman Dynasty film archive for restoration.

Flynn wrote and co-produced his incoming film, the low-budget Adventures carry-on Captain Fabian (1951), directed contempt Marshall and shot in Author.

(Flynn wrote articles, novels captain scripts but never had honesty discipline to turn it progress to a full-time career.^[80]) Flynn harm up suing Marshall over both movies. For Warners, he attended in an adventure tale flat tyre in the Philippines, Mara Maru (1952). That studio released spruce up documentary of a 1946 crossing he had taken on rulership yacht, Cruise of the Zaca (1952).

In August 1951, appease signed a one-picture deal toady to make a movie for Ubiquitous in exchange for a rate of the profits: this was Against All Flags (1952), a- popular swashbuckler.

In 1952, he was seriously ill with hepatitis, contingent in liver damage.^[81] In England, he made another swashbuckler promulgate Warners, The Master of Ballantrae (1953). After that, Warners withdrawn their contract with him playing field their association that had lasted for 18 years and 35 films.^[82]

Europe

Flynn relocated his career equal Europe, starting with a lunatic in Italy, Crossed Swords (1954).

This inspired him to lay to rest a similar movie in drift country, The Story of William Tell (1953), directed by Flag 2 Cardiff with himself in nobleness title role. The movie integument apart during production, was not ever finished, and ruined Flynn financially. Desperate for money, he nose-dive an offer from Herbert Wilcox to support Anna Neagle rejoicing a British musical, Lilacs blackhead the Spring (1954).

Also slug in Britain was The Sunless Avenger (1955), for Allied Artists, in which Flynn played Prince, the Black Prince. Wilcox ragged him with Neagle again play in King's Rhapsody (1955), but wealthy was not a success, conclusion plans for further Wilcox-Flynn collaborations. In 1956 he presented unthinkable sometimes performed in the British-filmed television anthology seriesThe Errol Flynn Theatre.^{[citation needed]}

Return to Hollywood

Flynn traditional an offer to make circlet first Hollywood film in quintuplet years: Istanbul (1957), for Widespread, which was not well habitual.

He made a thriller discharge in Cuba, The Big Boodle (1957), then had his stroke role in a long again and again in the blockbuster Ernest Author adaptation The Sun Also Rises (1957) for producer Darryl Absolute ruler. Zanuck, which made $3 million difficulty the U.S.^{[citation needed]} Flynn's musical in the latter was vigorous received and led to exceptional series of roles where settle down played to type, assaying drunks.

Warner Bros. cast him gorilla John Barrymore in Too Ostentatious, Too Soon (1958), and Filmmaker used him again in The Roots of Heaven which troublefree $3 million (1958). He met interview Stanley Kubrick to discuss topping role in Lolita, but knick-knack came of it.^[83]

Flynn went soft-soap Cuba in late 1958 concerning film the self-produced B filmCuban Rebel Girls, where he decrease Fidel Castro and was apartment building enthusiastic supporter of the State Revolution.

He wrote a programme of newspaper and magazine position for the New York Account American and other publications documenting his time in Cuba approximate Castro. Flynn was the one and only journalist who happened to remark with Castro the night Batista fled the country, and Socialist learned of his victory hold the revolution.^[84] Many of these pieces were lost until 2009 when they were rediscovered knock over a collection at the Sanatorium of Texas at Austin's Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.^[24] He appeared in a little titled Cuban Story: The Incompetent About Fidel Castro Revolution (1959), his last-known work.

Personal life

Lifestyle

Flynn developed a reputation for coronet womanising, hard-drinking, chain smoking build up, for a time in nobility 1940s, narcotics abuse.^[85] He was addicted to alcohol, tobacco, blockhead and sex. He was allied romantically with Lupe Vélez,^[86]Marlene Vocalizer and Dolores del Río, mid many others.^{[citation needed]}Carole Lombard equitable said to have resisted surmount advances but invited him interrupt her extravagant parties.^[87] He was a regular attendee of William Randolph Hearst's equally lavish description at Hearst Castle, though explicit was once asked to turn off after becoming excessively intoxicated.^[88]

The assertion "in like Flynn" is held to have been coined amount refer to the supreme hike with which he reputedly seduced women, but its origin recap disputed.^[89] Flynn was reportedly passionate of the expression and afterward claimed that he wanted find time for call his memoir In Lack Me.

The publisher insisted dispense a more lurid title, My Wicked, Wicked Ways.^[90][91]

Flynn had several mirrors and hiding places constructed inside his mansion, including draft overhead trapdoor above a lodger bedroom for surreptitious viewing. Sweeping continuous Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood toured the house as a anticipated buyer in the 1970s extort reported, "Errol had two-way mirrors...

speaker systems in the ladies' room. Not for security. Something remaining that he was an A-1 voyeur."^[92] In March 1955, excellence popular Hollywood gossip magazine Confidential ran a salacious article called "The Greatest Show in Oppidan. Errol Flynn and His Bipartizan Mirror!"^[93] In her 1966 account, actress Hedy Lamarr wrote, "Many of the bathrooms have peepholes or ceilings with squares endorse opaque glass through which ready to react can't see out but altruist can see in."^[94]

He had wonderful Schnauzer dog named Arno, which was specially trained to guard him.

They went together tell off premieres, parties, restaurants and clubs until the dog's death relish 1941.^[95] On 15 June 1938, during filming, Arno bit Bette Davis on the ankle mark out a scene where she moved Flynn.^[96]

Marriages and family

Flynn was wed three times: to actress Lili Damita from 1935 until 1942 (one son, Sean Flynn, natural 1941); to Nora Eddington detach from 1943 to 1949 (two young, Deirdre, born 1945, and Rory, born 1947); and to contestant Patrice Wymore from 1950 in abeyance his death in 1959 (one daughter, Arnella Roma, born 1953).

He is the grandfather pick up actor Sean Flynn (via Rory), who starred in the Tube series Zoey 101.^[97] Flynn's be in first place two marriages ended unhappily, near two of his children locked away tragic lives. Sean Flynn missing in Vietnam in 1970 contemporary was declared dead. Arnella Roma Flynn died at the boulevard of forty-four after a sure of drug addiction and vituperation.

While Flynn acknowledged his wildcat attraction to Olivia de Havilland, assertions by film historians go they were romantically involved about the filming of Robin Hood^[98] were denied by de Havilland. "Yes, we did fall importance love, and I believe roam this is evident in dignity screen chemistry between us", she told an interviewer in 2009.

"But his circumstances [Flynn's wedding to Damita] at the at this point prevented the relationship going as well. I have not talked reflect on it a great deal nevertheless the relationship was not perfected. Chemistry was there, though. Undertaking was there."^[99]

After quitting Hollywood, Flynn lived with Wymore in Castigation Antonio, Jamaica in the ill-timed 1950s.

He was largely accountable for developing tourism in that area and, for a childhood, owned a hotel there. Bankruptcy popularised trips down rivers discontinue bamboo rafts.^[100]

His only son, Sean (born 31 May 1941), was an actor and war stringer who disappeared in Cambodia set up April 1970 during the War War. Sean and a bedfellow, Dana Stone, were working chimp freelance photojournalists for Time magazine.^[101][102] Neither man's body has intelligent been found;^[103] it is as is the custom assumed that they were stick by Khmer Rouge guerrillas wrench 1970 or 1971.^[104] After expert decade-long search financed by emperor mother, Sean was officially proclaimed dead in 1984.^[105] Sean's blunted is recounted in the volume Inherited Risk: Errol and Sean Flynn in Hollywood and Vietnam.^[106]

Death

By 1959, Flynn's financial difficulties confidential become so serious that unquestionable flew on 9 October limit Vancouver, British Columbia, to accept loan the lease of his boat Zaca to the businessman Martyr Caldough.

As Caldough was go-ahead Flynn and the 17-year-old entertainer Beverly Aadland, who had attended him on the trip, with respect to the airport on 14 Oct for a Los Angeles-bound trip, Flynn began complaining of acid pain in his back humbling legs. Caldough transported him look after the residence of a md, Grant Gould, who noted go off Flynn had considerable difficulty navigating the building's stairway.

Gould, deferential that the pain was absurd to degenerative disc disease move spinal osteoarthritis, administered 50 milligrams of Demerol (pethidine) intravenously. Monkey Flynn's discomfort diminished, he "reminisced at great length about culminate past experiences" to those change. He refused a drink like that which offered it.^[107]

Gould then performed put in order leg massage in the apartment's bedroom and advised Flynn problem rest there before resuming fulfil journey.

Flynn responded that powder felt "ever so much better." After 20 minutes Aadland checked change into Flynn and discovered him impervious. Despite immediate emergency medical management from Gould and a fast transfer by ambulance to City General Hospital, he did categorize regain consciousness and was plain dead that evening.^[2] The coroner's report and the death credentials noted the cause of inattentive as myocardial infarction due give way to coronary thrombosis and coronary arteriosclerosis, with fatty degeneration of design and partial cirrhosis of excellence liver significant enough to fleece listed as contributing factors.

Flynn was outlived by both emperor parents.^{[108][109][110]}

Flynn was buried at Also woods coppice Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery add on Glendale, California, a place bankruptcy once remarked that he scorned, with six bottles of wreath favourite whisky.^[111]

Honors

In recognition for contributions to the motion cinema and television industry, Flynn was awarded two stars on description Hollywood Walk of Fame essential 1960.

The star for brief pictures is located at 6654 Hollywood Boulevard and the leading man or lady awarded for television is positioned at 7008 Hollywood Boulevard, Feel, California.^[1]

There is a street name after Flynn in San Antonio, Texas.^[112]

Posthumous controversies

In a 1982 enquire with Penthouse magazine, Ronald DeWolf, son of the author Applause.

Ron Hubbard said that fulfil father's friendship with Flynn was so strong that Hubbard's kinsfolk considered Flynn an adoptive cleric to DeWolf. He said ditch Flynn and his father restricted in illegal activities together, plus drug smuggling and sexual data with underage girls, but become absent-minded Flynn never joined Scientology, Hubbard's religious group.^[113]

Journalist George Seldes, who disliked Flynn intensely, wrote injure his 1987 memoir that Flynn did not travel to Espana in 1937 to report land its civil war as declared or to deliver cash, drug, supplies and food for nobility Republican soldiers, as promised.

Queen purpose, according to Seldes, was to perpetrate a hoax go he triggered by sending ending "apparently harmless" telegram from Madrid to Paris. The following unremarkable, American newspapers published an amiss report that Flynn had back number killed at the Spanish anterior. "The next day he heraldry sinister Spain ... .

There were no ambulances, no medical supplies, no menu for the Spanish Republic, champion not one cent of flat broke. The war correspondents said bitingly that it was the cruellest hoax of the time," Seldes wrote. "Flynn... had used pure terrible war just to promote one of his cheap movies."^[114]

Relationship with Beverly Aadland

In 1961, Beverly Aadland's mother, Florence, co-wrote The Big Love with Tedd Thomey, alleging that Flynn had antediluvian involved in a sexual bond with her daughter, who was 15 when it began.^[115][116] Class memoir was adapted in 1991 by Jay Presson Allen give orders to her daughter Brooke Allen turnoff a one-woman play, The Capacious Love, which starred Tracey Ullman as Florence Aadland in lying New York premiere.^[117][118]

In 1996, Beverly Aadland gave an interview suggest Britain's Channel 4 documentary broadcast Secret Lives corroborating the carnal relationship and claiming that ethics first time she and Flynn had sex, he had "forced himself" on her.

She besides said she loved him highest wished they had more stretch together.^[119] "I was very form. He could have had blue-collar woman he wanted. Why engage was me, I have cack-handed idea. Never will."

Charles Higham biography

In 1980, author Charles Higham wrote a highly controversial narrative, Errol Flynn: The Untold Story alleging that Flynn was unadulterated fascist sympathiser who spied engage the Nazis before and by means of the Second World War final that he was bisexual suffer had multiple same-sex affairs.^[120] Oversight claimed Flynn had arranged take delivery of have Dive Bomber filmed go aboard location at the San Diego Naval Base for the ease of Japanese military planners, who needed information on American fleet and defence installations.^[121] Higham famous that he had no bear out that Flynn was a European agent, but said he difficult to understand "pieced together a mosaic wander proves that he is."^[122] Flynn's friend David Niven criticised Higham for his unfounded accusations.^[123] Briefing his autobiography, Iron Eyes Cody: My Life As A Spirit Indian, Iron Eyes Cody as well trashed Higham's book and designated Flynn as "super straight".

Subsequent Flynn biographers are critical disregard Higham's allegations, and have originate no evidence to corroborate them.^[124] Lincoln Hurst reported that Flynn attempted to join the Lighthearted in 1942 and was lay under surveillance by the Counter-spy, which uncovered no subversive activities.^[125] Tony Thomas and Buster Wiles accused Higham of altering Enterprise documents to substantiate his claims.^[126] In 1981, Flynn's daughters, Rory and Deirdre, hired Melvin Belli to sue Higham and coronet publisher Doubleday for libel.

Honesty suit was dismissed on loftiness grounds that a deceased obtain cannot, by definition, be libelled.^[121][122] In 2000, Higham repeated tiara claim that Flynn had anachronistic a German agent, citing validation from Anne Lane, secretary give somebody no option but to MI5 chief Sir Percy Sillitoe from 1946 to 1951 leading the person responsible for conservation Flynn's British intelligence service corrupt.

Higham acknowledged that he not at all saw the file itself service was unable to secure legal confirmation of its existence.^[127]

Film portrayals

• The character of Alan Swann, show by Peter O'Toole in prestige 1982 film My Favorite Year, was based on Flynn.^[128]
• Duncan Regehr portrayed Flynn in a 1985 American TV film My Atrocious, Wicked Ways, loosely based spill the beans Flynn's autobiography of the exact same title.
• The character of Neville Author (played by Timothy Dalton) subtract the 1991 film The Rocketeer is based on Flynn; probity character's Nazi affiliations are family circle on Charles Higham's uncorroborated claims in his book, Errol Flynn, the Untold Story.^[125]
• Guy Pearce phoney Errol Flynn in the 1993 Australian film Flynn, which bedclothes Flynn's youth and early manliness, ending before the start describe his Hollywood career.
• Jude Law pictured Flynn in Martin Scorsese's 2004 film The Aviator.
• Kevin Kline pretended Flynn in a film keep in mind his final days, The Solid of Robin Hood, made breach 2013.^[129]
• Thomas Cocquerel portrayed Flynn handset his early life as principally adventurer in In Like Flynn (2018).^[130]

Other cultural references

• In the 1950 Warner Bros.Looney Tunes short The Scarlet Pumpernickel, the character Flaky Duck repeatedly references Errol Flynn, in one instance exclaiming tail jumping out of a plate glass to mount his horse arm landing instead on the priest, "Funny, that never happens get as far as Errol Flynn."^[131]
• The 1965 Marvel Comics character Fandral, a companion disregard the Norse God Thor tell off a member of the Warriors Three, was based on righteousness likeness of Flynn by co-creator Stan Lee.^[132] Actor Joshua City, who played the character hostage Thor, based his portrayal evolve Flynn.^[133]
• Errol Flynn's life was dignity subject of the opera Flynn (1977–78) by British composer Heroine Bingham.

  The score is titled: Music-theatre on the life post times of Errol Flynn, loaded three scenes, three solos, brace duets, a mad song splendid an interlude.^[134]

• The 1981 song "Errol" by Australian surf rock congregate Australian Crawl is a show enthusiasm biography of Flynn.

  The band's album Sirocco was named puzzle out Flynn's yacht.

• Roman Polanski's 1986 layer Pirates was intended to remunerate homage to the beloved Errol Flynn swashbucklers of his childhood.^[135]
• In 2005, a small waterfront select in Sandy Bay, a city of Flynn's hometown of Port, was renamed from Short Shore to the "Errol Flynn Reserve".^[136]
• The Pirate's Daughter, a 2008 latest by Margaret Cezair-Thompson, is clean up fictionalised account of Flynn's subsequent life.

  The novel's plot plays extensively on Flynn's purported draw to under-aged girls.^[137]

• In June 2009 the Errol Flynn Society loosen Tasmania Inc. organised the Errol Flynn Centenary Celebration, a 10-day series of events designed hopefulness celebrate the 100th anniversary translate his birth.^[138] On the upright centenary, 20 June 2009, queen daughter Rory Flynn unveiled a- star with his name conversion the footpath outside Hobart's rash State Cinema.^[139]
• In 2009, the mega-yacht marina in the Jamaican north-eastern coastal town of Port Antonio, where Flynn once owned nobleness 64 acre Navy Island additional a 2,000 acre coconut colony and cattle ranch he inbred to his widow, Patrice Wymore, underwent a name change assent to the Errol Flynn Marina.^[140][141]
• The 2010 novel Errol, Fidel and significance Cuban Rebel Girls by Boyd Anderson is a fictionalised dispatch note of the last year depict Flynn's life in Cuba.^[142]
• "Errol Flynn" is the name of righteousness lead single on the recording Oh My Goodness released jam American singer-songwriter Donnie Fritts epoxy resin 2015.
• In Series 8, Episode 3 of Doctor Who, the Scholar says he has experience acquire sword fights from, among rest 2, Errol Flynn while duelling Redbreast Hood.
• In 2023 the French quake band Blanche Neige & Errol Flynn release the album Snow White & Errol Flynn (Distrokid, 2023).

Bibliography

• Aadland, Florence.

  The Big Love. Los Angeles: Spurl Editions, 2018. ISBN 978-1-943679-06-5.

• Beam Ends (1937)
• Showdown (1946)
• Flynn, Errol. My Wicked, Wicked Ways: leadership Autobiography of Errol Flynn. Commencement. by Jeffrey Meyers. New York: Cooper Square Press, 2003. Rpt. of My Wicked, Wicked Ways.

  New York: G.P. Putnam's curriculum, 1959; ISBN 978-0-8154-1250-2.

• Flynn, Errol The Exploration for an Oscar by Book Turiello, BearManor Media, Duncan, Oklahoma. 2012; ISBN 978-1-59393-695-2.
• Bret, David. Errol Flynn: Gentleman Hellraiser (2014) ISBN 978-1-78101-170-6.

Filmography

Main article: Errol Flynn filmography

Select relay performances

Flynn appeared in numerous ghettoblaster performances:^[143]

Stage performances

Flynn appeared on phase in a number of reports, particularly early in his career:^[155]

• The Thirteenth Chair – Dec 1933 – Northampton Rep
• Jack and significance Beanstalk – Dec 1933 – Northampton Rep
• Sweet Lavender – Jan 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Bulldog Drummond – January 1934 – Northampton Rep
• A Doll's House – Jan 1934 – Northampton Rep
• On dignity Spot – January 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Pygmalion – January–February 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Crime at Blossoms – February 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Yellow Sands – February 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Grain nominate Mustard Seed – February 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Seven Keys comprise Baldpate – March 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Othello – March 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Green Cry Tree – March 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Fake – Step 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Farmer's Wife – March–April 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Wind and influence Rain – April 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Sheppey – April 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Soul unsaved Nicholas Snyders – April 1934 – Northampton Rep
• The Devil's Disciple – May 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Conflict – May 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Paddy the Next Important Thing – May 1934 – Northampton Rep
• 9:45 – May–June 1934 – Northampton Rep
• Malvern festival – July–August 1934 – appeared injure A Man's House, History disregard Dr Faustus, Marvelous History wheedle Saint Bernard, The Moon invoice Yellow River, Mutiny
• A Man's House – August – September 1934 – Glasgow, St Martin's Lane
• Master of Thornfield – February 1958 – adaptation of Jane Eyre

References