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

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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.

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).

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.

I had the pleasure of meeting Buster Wiles in the mid-1970s. I was working as a waitress in downtown Seattle. He was without a doubt the most dapper gentleman I had ever met, and since. He always came into the restaurant singing, and told fabulous stories about the Old Hollywood stars he knew. I am thrilled I found this book.

Buster wiles was certainly a man one calls "Most Extraordinaire". He had every talent in world one could imagine. Most people would be extremely happy just to possess a fraction of it. This book is funny with lots of laugh and an entertainment on its own! Very succinct, easy reading and clearing up many mysteries about Errol Flynn!

His book is very enlightening and valuable as it also contains a very large light shedding section of many pages, written by William Donati, with proof to clear Errol Flynn's name of slanderous accusations written by Charles Higham. A book full of lies and slanderous accusations of which he has no proof, none what so ever! A book solely designed to take a world famous name and smear it on purpose with extreme false allegations by twisting words into ugly meanings with an outstanding imagination. This book is solely written to make money in a most polluted way on the expense of an innocent person by dragging them through the mud. A most foul method to provide sensationalism to an unsuspecting public.

"My Days With Errol Flynn" is a book very worthwhile to have and read of a man whose name is enshrined in the Hall of Fame of Hollywood Stuntman, who risk their lives on a daily basis for our enjoyment when we watch a movie. Buster Wiles was a living sensation! Happy Reading!

My Days With Errol Flynn, by Buster Wiles with William Donati (Roundtable Publishing, 1988):

Buy It! Buster Wiles scored a lit hat-trick with his as-told-to autobiography. I can't recommend it highly enough. The only disappointment was that he glossed over the part of his life as a jockey agent and horse racing steward.

He easily could have amplified the already amazing story of his life with more true stories about the world of horse racing into which he jumped wholeheartedly after his career as a stunt man had come to an end.

(He certainly would have done a better job than the majority of the professional racing writers, whose work simply stinks.)

Warning: Donati, however, had a problem. What he stated in his appendage (which had nothing to do with Wiles' charming, robust commentary) is absolutely true.

But his appalling histrionics in defending Errol from the absurd charges that he had been a Nazi spy backfired - in fact, it ruined the end of the book.

This was a shame, because he spared no expense traveling around the world and dealt with innumerable bureaucratic morons unearthing proof that the charges were false - and in this respect, he cannot be given enough credit for his good works. His sincerity & integrity is beyond reproach.

If Wiles - the non-writer - had had the foresight and access to edit his author's comments ("Bill, cut the soap box speeches - it will drive my readers NUTS!"), we all would have been better off.

I'd like to rate it; No Can Do. Amazon's rating system is impossible to understand. Which star do you "click"? There's no legend that the star to the left represents "one" on a scale of five, or "five" on a scale of five (and for the star all the way to the right, the same).

Maybe their patent for a new traffic stop light - where red can mean green, or green means green, or yellow appearing at the top of the three-color lighting scheme signals that you should come to a halt 500 feet after you've cleared the intersection - is still pending, and until then, an explanation cannot be furnished.

Maybe I should just click 'em all. Why not?