My Days With Errol Flynn: The Autobiography of Stuntman Buster Wiles [Hardcover]

Buster Wiles (Author), William Donati (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An inaccurate title misrepresents the tripartite nature of this curious biographical amalgam. Only a quarter of of the tale actually covers Wiles's experiences with the actor, while nearly half is devoted to his own, Flynn-less life story. The last fourth of the book is an unrelated appendix in which Donati ( The Flynn Controversy ) attempts to refute Charles Higham's charges in Errol Flynn: The Untold Story that the actor was anti-Semitic, homosexual and a Nazi spy. Though one chafes at having been duped by the title of this book, Wiles proves to be an irrepressible character and yarn spinner, and his accounts of his vagabond youth as a roustabout, bootlegger and gambler, as well as his time as a Hollywood stuntman and philanderer, are winning and action-packed. His actual "days with Errol Flynn" center around the three-and-a-half years during which the two shared the star's home between divorces and remarriages. Wiles's memories of Flynn are exactly what one would expect from a drinking buddy and kindred spirit. Photos.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Movie stuntman Wiles recounts his rough and tumble life, with stints as a circus acrobat and a bootlegger, which led to a close friendship with Flynn. The two hit it off from their first picture, Captain Blood in 1935, and apparently spent many happy hours together: drinking, fighting, playing pratical jokes, and womanizing. Wiles's accounts of their escapades make up in spirit what they lack in finesse. Co-author Donati has added an extensively researched appendix to refute the claims made by Charles Higham in Errol Flynn: The Untold Story (LJ 4/1/80) that Flynn was a closet homosexual and a Nazi spy. Does anybody besides Wiles really care? Marcia L. Perry, Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield, Mass.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Roundtable Pub (February 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915677369
• ISBN-13: 978-0915677368
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,679,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stuntman: Flynn was a great guy, March 25, 1998

By 

Charles Culbertson ([e-mail]) (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Days With Errol Flynn: The Autobiography of Stuntman Buster Wiles (Hardcover)

Buster Wiles died just a couple of years after producing his book, "My Life With Errol Flynn," which was written with the help of author William Donati. If you want to see Wiles in action, take a look at the charge scene in Errol Flynn's "The Charge of the Light Brigade." The man leaping up from the ground and remounting his racing horse is not Errol, but Buster Wiles. Wiles' look at Flynn is a loving and respectful one. The two men were apparently good friends, and Wiles was distraught at the actor's death in October 1959. In his book he paints a picture of a lovable rogue who, unfortunately, let his demons get the better of him. Nevertheless, Wiles is extremely kind to Flynn and takes a number of potshots at Charles Higham's asssertions that the movie idol was a Nazi spy. William Donati has also added a section to the book in which his own investigations cast enormous doubt on Higham's allegations. "My Life With Errol Flynn" is good reading for fans of the screen's greatest swashbuckler.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Autobiography of a Stuntman, September 21, 2005

By 

Acute Observer (N. Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Days With Errol Flynn: The Autobiography of Stuntman Buster Wiles (Hardcover)

Vernon "Buster" Wiles was born in Missouri, raised in Tennessee, and worked as a Hollywood stuntman for twenty years. Young Buster worked as a newsboy and a caddy, and enjoyed sports especially football and boxing. He tells of his job at the Bank of Commerce (pp.20-21). Buster traveled around the country doing various jobs which prepared him to become a stuntman. He had other jobs and businesses; people learned never to cross him (p.37).

Part II tells of his work as a stuntman in Hollywood pictures, and scenes off-camera. Her worked with Errol Flynn and became friends due to their sports interests. Errol's father was a Professor of Marine Biology at Queen's College in Belfast Ireland. Buster tells of his work in "High Sierra" where he played the rifleman who shot "Roy Earle", then doubled for Bogart to fall down the mountain (p.90). His main training was to run seven miles a day. After Pearl Harbor Errol Flynn was deferred due to heart murmur and tuberculosis (kept secret). Flynn did work for British intelligence (pp.112-113). Flynn sold War Bonds, and visited Alaska to entertain soldiers.

Part III tells of his life after quitting the movie business; aches and pains took longer to heal. Buster worked as an agent for jockeys, and traveled up and down the Pacific Coast. His advice for betting on horses is on page 175. Buster loved the excitement of gambling, but his winnings often disappeared as fast as he got them. Buster was shocked to hear of Errol Flynn's death, but he knew he lived fast. The legends about Flynn aren't all true (p.185). Buster wrote this autobiography to correct the misinformation in the CBS film that fictionalized Flynn's life (p.202). He sets the record straight.

The important part of this book is the Appendix by William Donati, who checked the sources for Higham's biography. Wiles told of the lies in that book (p.208). Those who knew Flynn, like David Niven, didn't believe that book (p.210). The declassified documents show that it was not Errol Flynn but Dr. Hermann Erben who was the subject of investigation. There was nothing to Higham's story (pp.211-212). Dr. Erben first met Flynn in 1933 before Flynn began acting in Britain. Higham modified an official document to support his story (p.221)! Donati interviewed Dr. Erben (pp.229-237). Other examples of Higham's errors are given (pp.249-260). If Charles Higham can't be trusted (p.261) how reliable is his story? Does this controversy arise from the uncorroborated writings of Dr. Erben (p.264).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A SWASHBUCKLER'S PAL SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT!, December 25, 2007

By 

Graham Hill "Movie & TV Historian" (HOLLYWOOD Calif.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: My Days With Errol Flynn: The Autobiography of Stuntman Buster Wiles (Hardcover)

If anyone really knew Errol Flynn, well besides the women in his life that is; it would have to be someone like his close friend stuntman Buster Wiles. Buster's book co-written with William Donati, takes the reader on a rare "behind the scenes" journey of what it was like working on those great Errol Flynn Warner Brother's movies -THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON and numerous others. How did Flynn always look so at ease doing all those daring and adventurous scenes? Well of course he had a lot of help, specially from the stunt profession. Wiles didn't double Flynn all the time, but he was always close by him doing all kinds of stunts from fights to horse falls to spectacular jumps.

The book is primarily about Buster's life story from his humble beginnings in the south, to his "riding the rails" in search of work. To his eventual arriving in Hollywood and becoming a stuntman by accident so to speak. His becoming one of Flynn's best friends covers the middle or Act 2 of his life. The final Act covers his many years as a placing judge at the Longacres Race Track in Seattle. There's plenty of humor to Buster's narrative but really I think one of his main purposes was to dispel the highly controversial and damning remarks made against his famous friend. In 1980 author Charles Higham claimed in his book "Errol Flynn: The Untold Story", that Flynn was a bi-sexual Nazi spy and a total fascist. Buster knew better and deeply felt the truth should be told. I for one agree. Of course having Errol Flynn in the title of any book really helps to sell it. Meaning no disrespect to Buster, it's still the iconic legendary swashbuckler himself that still fascinates us to this day. And I think this book has finally allowed him to rest a little easier.