Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Errol Flynn

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This is a highly interesting and absorbing documentary on the life of Errol Flynn: excerpts from his box-office successes, reminiscences from his ex-wives, his daughter, his co-stars, and others. Actors like Richard Dreyfus, Joanne Woodward, Burt Reynolds help to explain the man's magnetism and charisma --- or, rather, they don't explain it, since those qualities are inexplicable: they just happen --- but they do homage to the electrifying presence and command of the film medium that Flynn exuded. A fairly short, brilliant and tragic life: romantic, in every sense --- and romance is defined by a sense of loss, and unfulfillment. Flynn's career is worthy of a truly in-depth study by a first-rate biographer. So far, there have only been one or two inadequate or downright shabby accounts. One of them is by a person I once met; a short, fat, ugly, bitter, little, journalistic academic, who is clearly unable to live with the fact that there are people in this world with infinitely more charm, dash and talent than himself. A real jerk. This documentary will do, until someone does the life full justice. Its main virtue is that it manages to demonstrate that Flynn was not only a star, but a great actor.

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.

The Adventures of Errol Flynn accurately captures the essence of who he was; from his magnificent Hollywood debut in Captain Blood; through his rousing performances in The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk and Gentleman Jim; to his ultlimate demise due to excessive indulgences in women, drink and drugs. By most historical accounts, Flynn was a superbly charasmatic talent who succumbed to the temptations that so easily accompany phenomenal success in Hollywood, particularly at an early age in life. The Adventures of Errol Flynn was particularly insightful, with commentary by his costar in eight or nine films, Olivia de Havilland and by noted film historians. Even if you're not a huge Errol Flynn fan, you can't go wrong given the dirt cheap price of this entertaining DVD.

The Adventures of Errol Flynn is one of the most polished Flynn documentaries I have viewed to date.

The contributions from Deirdre Flynn, Patrice Wymore, and Olivia de Havilland in particular; make this work highly informative. This is because all these women are well qualified to provide reliable accounts of Flynn, and all experienced him at different stages and circumstances in his life. None of these women have any plausible reasons to provide a sugarcoated version of Flynn, as they were all hurt by him in some way, so it is reasonable that what they provide is completely authentic.

Flynn is presented as far from faultless but he is well confirmed as having been fun, generous, often well-intended, and highly capable of serious thought and discussion.

Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Author
Author of: The Tourist, Brennan Cooper, Boomerang Baseball, and The American Dream: From Perth to Sacramento