The Adventures of Errol Flynn (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

One of the best bios on Flynn...shows another aspect of the man and his life...

[Doylenf · 8/10 · 29 April 2005]

This is an interesting and very informative, entertaining way to spend time learning about ERROL FLYNN. Aside from some penetrating comments from two of his ex-wives (Nora Eddington and Patrice Wymore), there are some frank and very supportive comments on the real Errol Flynn (if anybody really knew him) from his most frequent co-star, Olivia de Havilland. It is the first time she has openly revealed anything about the deep love and affection Flynn and de Havilland had for each other.

In addition, some very interesting comments by Richard Dreyfuss, who became a Flynn fan at the age of eight and gives what seem like spontaneous, off the cuff comments that seem unrehearsed and genuine. Daughter Diedre expresses the wish that others knew more about the quieter, family man side of Flynn that is obscured by all the tales of his womanizing. It seems that his real interest lay in writing, but although he wrote two novels (neither a great literary success), he lacked the discipline to achieve his literary ambitions.

Not easy to understand why anyone asked Joanne Woodward and Burt Reynolds to make contributions. Neither of them was a close confidante of the actor nor ever worked with him. Seems strange to hear them talking about him and contributing little to our knowledge of him without any first hand experience.

The film clips, revealing Flynn in all his charismatic glory (especially during the height of his career) are generous and always stimulating, reminding us how great his screen presence was--a combination of athletic grace and classic good looks along with acting ability that was often underrated.

Any fan of the actor will appreciate this documentary. It has style and content and the kind of assurance about its subject that will endear it to Flynn's fans. If nothing else, it serves to remind us that he was one of the most dashing actors of the silver screen and, when teamed with Olivia de Havilland in those great adventure-romance classics, he had no peer.

While it does deal with some of his unsavory exploits (such as the rape trial), it does not exploit them and instead shows us another, more sensitive side of Flynn that has been missing in most biographies of the actor.

Good documentary on a colorful actor

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 6 October 2007]

Errol Flynn has always been grist for story mills - his off-screen life was as outrageous as his on-screen antics, so it's no surprise that a documentary about him appears from time to time on Turner Classic Movies, which owns the Warner Brothers Library.

What made this Flynn story particularly interesting was the input from the family, ex-wives Patrice Wymore and Nora Eddington, and daughter Rory. They described him as a robe and slippers man who loved his home. That may come as a surprise to some people, but you can't booze and womanize 24/7, and it's clear from photographs that he loved his three children. The documentary fails to mention the death of Sean Flynn, probably because it happened after his father's death.

The other element that puts this biography one step above is the interview with Olivia de Havilland, who speaks quite frankly about the attraction she and Flynn had for one another and how the romance was never to be. de Havilland's affection for Flynn, spoken of so emotionally when she was in the U.S. to receive an award at the time of her 90th birthday, is an indication that there was more to Flynn than young girls, drugs, and liquor. The classy de Havilland obviously saw something special in him, beyond the physical.

The film clips from Robin Hood, Captain Blood and Flynn's other films are fun to watch. He was unique in that while other actors did musicals, dramas, comedies and adventure films, Flynn primarily did adventure films throughout his career. He was a tremendous natural athlete with great flair and charm, born to play the Robin Hoods and Captain Bloods. He could have been excellent in comedy, but his attempt didn't catch on. The problem for Flynn was that while others at Warners could act the big roles and play comedy as well as Flynn, no one at Warners was as adept at playing swashbucklers. This frustrated him, as a similar situation frustrated Tyrone Power at Fox, though Power had many more opportunities to do different types of films than did Flynn.

The wonderful thing about this documentary is it debunks Charles Higham's Nazi premise (which had already been debunked) and, as one poster mentioned already, the homosexuality/bisexuality assertion is ridiculous. Flynn's big problem was underage girls. It's certainly possible that he experimented with the opposite sex under the influence - probably everybody did! Why this is considered noteworthy is anybody's guess.

Flynn was embarking on a career as a character actor at his death, and again, like Tyrone Power, he would have been happy with the meatier roles that supporting roles offer. Neither man lived to fulfill that potential. Flynn had a particular heartbreak in a film version of William Tell that was never finished and IRS problems. The end of his life was a sad one for someone with so much charm, beauty and humor.

Oddly compelling, with some genuinely unique footage and affection for its subject

[neal-57 · 9/10 · 10 June 2006]

An amusing clip from "The Steve Allen Show" opens this documentary. Spoofing "What's My Line," three mustachioed gentlemen identify themselves as Errol Flynn: Louis Nye, Don Knotts(!) and Errol himself. This humorous and charming tone continues through the entire show, with rich footage of some of Flynn's best performances.

Interestingly--and refreshingly--the producers include material not only from Errol's hits--"Captain Blood," "Robin Hood," "The Dawn Patrol," "Gentleman Jim"--but some of his very best acting as seen in:

..."Uncertain Glory," where he played a French gentleman thief named "Jean Picard," no doubt a distant ancestor of a familiar starship commander...

..."Thank Your Lucky Stars," one of only two films which allowed Errol to do song-and-dance (the other being "Let's Make Up")...

...and "Too Much Too Soon," the dreary story of Diana Barrymore's spiral into oblivion, but a film redeemed by Errol's haunting and touching performance as John Barrymore.

About the interviews: some (David Niven, Vincent Sherman) are taken from earlier documentaries (by Tony Thomas, if memory serves). In the new interviews, critics have questioned the appearance of Richard Dreyfuss, Joanne Woodward and Burt Reynolds, none of whom, to my knowledge, worked with or even knew Flynn. Yet they bring a unique perspective as both fans (especially Dreyfuss) and accomplished actors in their own right, colleagues who have appropriate credentials to render evaluations of his work.

And finally, it is fascinating to see how the three who knew Errol best have aged. Widow Patrice Wymore has acquired a silver-haired stateliness very much like that of Lauren Bacall. Daughter Deirdre, who of course is older than her father ever lived to be, now looks very much like him--sort of the way Michael Douglas only started to resemble his father Kirk after hitting middle age. And although she looks quite matronly (but about twenty years younger than her actual age), Olivia de Havilland still shows flashes of her delightful younger self. High point: Olivia tells of deciding to get some of her own back by "torturing" Flynn during the making of "Robin Hood," flubbing take after take of their love scenes and prolonging their physical contact until Errol had "trouble with his tights." Delightful!

The best recommendation for this documentary is simply: it is NOT superficial. Viewers unfamiliar with Flynn and his "adventures" will get a full recitation of his virtues AND vices, including the alcoholism and drug abuse that eventually destroyed him, and the rape trial that, many believe, triggered (or at least exacerbated) both.

Interestingly, the allegations of Nazi involvement on Flynn's part, which originated around 198O, are given the short shrift they deserve, since they were largely based on guilt by association (with Hermann Erben, who was a Flynn friend years before he, Erben, became a Nazi)--and this is done without mentioning the name of the name of the shameless author who published those charges! (I won't mention him either.)

Curiously, charges made by the same writer that Flynn was a homosexual aren't mentioned in this program at all, probably because his very public involvement with women renders such an idea preposterous. Not preposterous is the idea that Errol was bi-sexual--and if he was, what of it? This was a man who wanted to experience EVERYTHING, and he gave it the old college try--entertaining a lot of people along the way, too.

Very insightful look into Flynn's life

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 25 April 2010]

This was a very complete look at Flynn's life and career featuring archival footage of interviews of people who had worked with Flynn, comments from one of his three children, his daughter Dierdre, as well as quite a bit of time spent with Flynn's wife at the time of his death. Particularly touching were Olivia De Haviland's insights into Flynn's personality and her relationship with him through eight films and a romance that never really was or could have been.

Also, finally clearly explained, is the entire issue of Errol Flynn and the draft during World War II. Flynn had a spot on his lungs and an enlarged heart as a result of a bout of malaria, and thus was legitimately 4F. Warner Brothers had understandably downplayed the fact that one of their biggest male stars was in fact a rather sick man, so this came as a bit of a surprise to the public, and quite a few unflattering things were said about Flynn at the time.

I just recently watched his 1958 film "Too Much Too Soon" in which he portrayed John Barrymore in his last days, and it was interesting to hear the narrators mention that perhaps Flynn did so well in this role not only because of his dedication to his past mentor, Mr. Barrymore, but also because he identified so well with where John Barrymore was at this stage of his life. Both men always seemed to be looking for something they could never find.

Also revealing was that Flynn always wanted to be appreciated as an actor and he felt somewhat disappointed that a large part of his fame came because of his personal appeal rather than an appreciation for his skills. If you're interested in Flynn I highly recommend this as a very well done look at the man's life and career. Produced by Turner Classic Movies, it has the same high standards I've come to expect from all of their documentaries.

Admirable Biography of Flynn.

[rmax304823 · 8/10 · 3 March 2010]

In a psychology course, we got to know a personality test called the 16 PF. It broke personality traits down into sixteen types in order of their importance and influence on behavior. Somewhere not too far down on the list was one trait that included such things as extraversion, reckless expedience, risk taking, and the like. In psychometric circles it was widely known as "the Errol Flynn factor."

In the late 1930s and 1940s, Flynn's name and visage was all over the place. When you had made a good deal, you were said to be "in like Flynn." That phrase came after Flynn's trial for statutory rape around 1940. During the trial, two underaged little lambs testified that Flynn had had carnal knowledge of them aboard his boat, the Sirocco. One claimed that Flynn made love with his socks on. A journalist suggested that Flynn's latest film, "Gentleman Jim," should be released simply as "Jim."

Flynn was born in Tasmania, south of Australia, and his life resembled that of one of his screen characters. He seemed to have done everything, from diamond smuggling to working on a slave ship, although his claims couldn't always be swallowed entire.

In this fine biographical documentary we actually get to see Flynn's screen test for his first movie, the Australian el cheapo, "In the Wake of the Bounty." Someone went to the trouble of digging up this 1932 footage from a movie nobody ever heard of. And Flynn ISN'T BAD. He speaks too loudly for current tastes and technologies, but he's earnest and almost believable. And why not? He'd had no dramatic training at all and was being instinctive, as he was throughout his life.

The trajectory of his career is clearly and dispassionately traced, using clips from many of his films and talking heads that include old friends, like Olivia De Havilland, and modern admirers like Burt Reynolds.

He made a big splash with his first major film for Warners, "Captain Blood." He had this uncanny way of being handsome without being in the least effete. He hit his peak near 1940 with "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and a few other swashbucklers. Nobody had ever looked as good as he did in period dress, nor could anyone utter, with a sincerity that approached believability, lines like, "Up into the shrouds, my lads, and over the bulwark with the pelican hooks!" Utter corn, but he pulled it off magnificently.

During and after the war, there was the slow deflation of his career. He boozed it up and was shooting morphine, and his sexual encounters were the stuff of legend. (The movie doesn't cover some of them, which I don't think I can print here. Well, the hell with it, I'll mention that his mansion on Mulholland Drive had an attic with a glass floor so that Flynn and his friends could enjoy watching guests cavort in the bedrooms below.) By the 1950s he was among many others whose careers were bashed by television, and it didn't help that his epic debaucheries were beginning to show. By the time he was 40 he looked ten years older and was turning into a physical wreck, much to the distress of his friends who remembered him as a once graceful athlete. On top of everything else, he was being squeezed dry by alimony payment to his first wife.

His last liaison was with a teen-aged blond who evidently was honest about her attraction to him and about her desire to support him. No one has anything bad to say about her. He died of a heart attack at 50.

Of course everyone misbehaves and everyone dies, whether they've misbehaved or not. But few of us have the chance to leave behind a record of our existence that approaches Flynn's. What a legacy. The guy managed to make a dent in history while having a great deal of fun doing it. There must have been anguish, too, but that can't be avoided. Most of us might ask for something different, but who could ask for very much more?

Well worth seeing--especially since Flynn was a very complex man.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 18 July 2012]

While this made for Turner Classic Movies documentary is very, very good, it isn't quite as good as their best--such as their special about Joan Crawford. This is because the print is a bit rough looking and I could have liked to hear some experts talk about Flynn's psychological profile, as he was a HUGELY dysfunctional guy. Still, it's well worth your time--especially since he was a terrific actor.

Like you'd expect in such a film, it consists of narration, film clips and various interviews. Some of the folks who talked about Errol Flynn seemed like odd choices (after all, what was their connection to Flynn?!)--such as Joanne Woodward, Bury Reynolds and Richard Dreyfus. I don't think any of them knew Flynn. Perhaps part of the problem is that most folks who knew him are dead--and we are fortunate that at least they could assemble folks like his daughter, an ex-wife and Olivia de Havilland (who was the BEST part of the documentary--as her comments were priceless--what a classy and interesting woman!). Interesting topics covered were his relationship with the petulant Bette Davis, drug abuse and the insane allegations he was a Nazi that came out about 30 years ago! Interesting throughout and well worthy your time.

Excellent Flynn documentary

[shawmutley · 9/10 · 1 October 2012]

Caught this documentary on You Tube and absolutely loved it. An interesting and entertaining documentary on the man and his career. I do feel that they could possibly have gone into certain areas more deeply - the rape trial for example as this was undoubtedly the factor that changed the course of Flynn's life - as well as his later career, which isn't examined in great detail, which is a shame because it can be argued that the 1950s were possibly the most interesting in terms of looking at his downfall and then resurgence towards the end. The sequences with Olivia de Havilland being interviewed are especially good. Overall a very good piece of entertainment.

The Swashbuckling Standard

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 16 September 2012]

This is one cinematic legend that continues to grow. Ask just about anyone as to who the greatest costume swashbuckling star is and most of the time you'll get the answer of Errol Flynn. Even when he appeared in westerns and he never understood his popularity in them, his 8 westerns still have a certain swashbuckling élan to them. When you've seen Flynn in The Charge Of The Light Brigade and in They Died With Their Boots On, note the similarity in style of those characters. Errol Flynn put his signature on every part he ever did.

Most important to this narrative of people giving their recollections of Flynn is Olivia DeHavilland. They were a wonderful screen team though Olivia at the time was desperately trying to get out of those patient leading lady parts who waits for her man to route the villains. With the long life she continues to have she's reflected back and now appreciates the wonderful films she did with Errol.

I was fascinated by those takes from In The Wake Of The Bounty where the D.W. Griffith of Australian cinema, Charles Clauvel is directing Flynn in his feature film debut. I've seen and reviewed In The Wake Of The Bounty and while it doesn't have the MGM production values to it, the charisma of Errol Flynn as Fletcher Christian comes through. He was born to be a star.

And like many stars, Flynn kind of backed into it. He was a rebellious type from the beginning and in his teens and twenties led a footloose existence. His discovery by Clauvel was as serendipitous as Lana Turner in Schwab's Delicatessen with that famous sweater. Charisma like that you're born with.

Errol Flynn as all who know anything about him lived a life that anyone would envy except for its relative brevity. His fifty years were more exciting than 99% of the rest of the planet. In terms of physical abuse to his body, he partied heartier than most and paid for it. Still who would not want to be Errol Flynn if you're a male member of the species?