Customer Reviews

The Baron of Mulholland: A daughter Remembers Errol Flynn

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A coffee table book, this is Rory Flynn's homage to her father. There are interesting family photographs and she doesn't seem to dodge some of her family pain (e.g., her mother's alcoholism). Of particulat interest are the reproductions of letters written by her father, mostly to either her mother or her. You have to adjust to his handwriting, but he was very articulate (and a good speller and grammarian). And swashbuckler he may have been, but he was much more the loving, almost traditional father...against his reputation as somewhat of a scoundrel. Actually, I'd probably give it four stars if there wasn't so much focused on her half-brother Sean, whom she obviously idolized. His disappearance in Vietnam, while a photo journalist, is unfortunate, but I purchased the book for Errol, not Sean. [She has a good website and seems to be an outstanding photographer in her own right.]

I was on the waiting list for this book, and as one of the first 500, was supposed to get an autographed copy.

First, that never happened - I got the book like everyone else, several months past it's expected release date, and with no autograph.

But that is really a personal issue, and was by no means the worst of it.

After all that waiting, basically all we got was a bunch of photos - many of which are readily available elsewhere...and photocopied pictures of semi-legible letters. Not much at all in the way of analysis or personal commentary, which is what I was hoping for from one of Errol Flynn's daughters.

Additionally, a good chunk of the book (about 1/3) is related not to Errol, but to Sean Flynn, who was lost in the Cambodian jungle during the Vietnam War - long after Errol Flynn's death in 1959. While the issue of Sean Flynn is interesting, there is another whole book written on that topic, and really, the subject is not on-topic for this book, which was supposed to be about The Baron.

Maybe I got my hopes up for something grand, after I purchased and read Maria Cooper Janis's magnificent tribute to Gary Cooper.

This book pales in comparison, which is too bad because many of us were looking forward to it for a very long time.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that Olivia deHavilland gets a book completed...because frankly, based on the interviews with her on various DVD sets, she might shed some more compelling light on the subject of this fascinating man, who many of us adore.

Rory Flynns book provides a fascinating insight into a complex and enigmatic man who led an extroadinary life.
I defy anyone not to be moved by her reminiscences of her father especially her memories of the last evening she spent with him.
The book is a genuine, warm and heartfelt memoir which deserves a wide audience.

The book was a cute "I loved my Daddy" book. But I think Ms Flynn is using her father's name to make money. The book was most definitely not worth the price--more like $20, not $65. It is a poor quality paperback book with poor quality scanned pictures.

Book offers insight into a man who quite possibly was the most complex actor to grace the big screen. A must read for all hardcore Flynn buffs and certainly entertaining for even the most casual of fans. When she recalls her last evening with her dad and the events surrounding the day it is impossible to lay the book down. Also found the rare pictures and letters to be fascinating to read and look at. Very, very good piece of touching work by a daughter who obviously still adores her father.

For readers interested in getting to the heart of the matter, Rory Flynn's book The Baron of Mulholland is a triumphant success.

Everything that follows is my explanation for that statement.
The Baron of Mulholland is published by Xlibris, an Internet based print-on-demand publisher. Xlibris books are available through their website or through Amazon.com. I suppose there are those who frown upon print-on-demand publishing and so will avoid purchasing a book such as this. That's their mistake because print-on-demand publishing is here to stay. As for Rory's book, the end result was worth her effort. The Baron of Mulholland makes fascinating reading.

My first reaction to the book remains positive, due primarily to its superior design. It's beautiful the way such books should be and beautiful is precisely the right word to describe so many of the rare photographs. Great care and thought went into the creation of this book and it shows on every page.

The book bears the multiple subtitles of "A daughters remembers" and "A photo memoir" and both are apt indicators of the contents. The first section, titled "The Romance" consists entirely of reproductions of letters Flynn wrote to Nora Eddington, his second wife. Flynn's handwriting sometimes requires diligence depending upon his state of mind during the composition. Having read many of Flynn's letters over the years I was pleased to see these rarely revealed missives because they often uncover a gentler, romantic side to Flynn's nature. This is the Errol Flynn the public and the film critics never saw. Writing to Nora from his Mulholland Farm Flynn tells her, "A wind blows outside, whistling around the place in a very lonely manner - there's something very forlorn about a wind about a house..." This section is illustrated with images culled from newspapers, magazines and Rory's private scrapbooks and establishes the right tone for everything that follows.

I shall abstain from describing the remainder of this marvelous book's contents because readers need to discover for themselves the treasures found herein. I will mention the final section is dedicated to Sean Flynn and reading it was a deeply moving experience for me. The photographs here are along the same mixture of clippings and personal photos, prefaced by one astonishing photograph of Sean Flynn parachuting (presumably into Vietnam) and holding his camera aloft to photograph himself. His father's adventuresome spirit was very much a part of his life and his disappearance and presumed death in Vietnam is a wound that will never heal for his family.

I think Rory Flynn should also be credited for her diplomatic handling of certain sensitive family matters. She avoids any blatant bashing of individuals with whom she may be at odds, perhaps reserving her public animosity only for Patrice Wymore. Regarding Wymore, Rory states "Pat Wymore, who, apparently had felt humiliated by my father because he had taken a much younger girlfriend for the last two years of his life, had him interred in an unmarked plot in Forest Lawn Memorial Park..." Thanks to Rory and her sister Deirdre their father's resting place now has a bronze marker, but her anger at Wymore fairly jumps from the page all these decades later.

I have but one modest and entirely selfish complaint about this book - because certain candid photographs presented here are not given much space I wish a few of the better ones had been reproduced in a larger size. With that said, I have no doubt others will feel obligated to nitpick about this book, but to them I will say but one thing: there is an Errol Flynn renaissance underway so just shut-up and enjoy it.

Rory Flynn's affection for her father is evident throughout. This is a wonderful book for Flynn fans around the world. I consider it among my favorite books. Rumored to be forthcoming for years, I for one am thrilled that Rory has finally realized her dream and published this long awaited book. The last page is a photograph of Rory's son Sean and Arnella's son Luke. It is impossible not to wish the best for them when looking at this photograph. It's the perfect final page to a wonderful book.

I have written this because of that adventuresome spirit that we saw flickering up on the silver screen and who inspired us all during the turbulent times of our lives. Due in a large part to our interest in Errol Flynn many of us have improved our lives in ways we never thought possible. And so Mr. Flynn has taken to the stage once again thanks to the efforts of his daughter, and ladies and gentleman, he deserves our attention, and his daughter deserves a round of applause for making it so. Give the lady a hand!

This book did exactly what it said on the tin so to speak,with wonderful photos, and copies of Flynn's letters and what I call little windows into a side of Flynn
you would never suspect, told from his daughter's perspective.
A lovely read for any Flynn fan. A book to be treasured.

Rory Flynn, provides a look at her father that we have not seen in other publications. She reproduces many of his letters to her mom (Nora Eddington) as well as to Rory, and you see a man who loved his wife and looked forward to the birth of his children and even helped pick out their names. Many family photos are also included although I wish they had been reproduced in a larger size within the pages so it would have been easier to see all of the details in them. Rory also provides letters her half-brother Sean wrote so you get a glimpse into his thoughts as well. And she also provides an account of her times with her father as well as her last visit with him shortly before his death. This book is done by someone who knew Errol Flynn and I appreciated a view of this unforgettable film star from his daughter.

This book is more unique than one can imagine. I couldn't put it
down. There are many personal photos and lots of hand-written
letters which shows the brilliant mind and humor of a loving dad.
It opens up a very personal side of the greatest actor this nation has ever known. Why aren't there any men out there like him today? Well, he was one-of-a-kind. This is not sugar-coated, but an honest telling of a gentle man who wanted a family and loved his children most of all. It definitely opened my eyes as letters show the real person. This man could have been equally notable as an author as well as an actor. He was quite remarkable. I hope that this becomes a best seller. It is very well written and a great tribute to a very special man.
It is a delight and the best book I've read in years. One feels as if you know the man from his writings and your observations. Too bad he was taken at such an early age. One can only imagine the great things he could have accomplished, if time allowed. Those wonderful movies are alive for generations yet to come to enjoy. Thank you so much, Rory.