We love the classics for so many reasons – art, talent, entertainment, emotion, beauty. Not one of those is more important or worthy a reason than any other. On this day we honor Errol Flynn for all of them and because today would have celebrated a birthday.
“By instinct I’m an adventurer; by choice I’d like to be a writer; by pure, unadulterated luck, I’m an actor.”
Errol Flynn was a fine actor. His athletic ability and “adventuring” personality made him a natural for the swashbuckling roles he became famous for. He remains the undisputed king of swashbuckling films, a title he inherited from Douglas Fairbanks who “owned” the genre before him in the silent era. Onscreen, Flynn fought injustice and won the hearts of damsels, a hero. His “real” life was something else altogether, however, as it was filled with excesses, legal battles and controversy, famously saying “I like my whisky old and my women young.” Hmmm… I’ll leave the serious discussions to someone else. Today I simply want to look at him – no disrespect to the actor. In remembrance of the one Marlene Dietrich called “Satan’s Angel” and who others referred to as “The Baron.”
Errol Flynn attracted the attention of Warner Brothers while still living in his native Tasmania. He shot to stardom when he replaced Robert Donat in the title role in Michael Curtiz’ CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935).
CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935)
Following is a gallery of Errol Flynn movie stills. From his filmography, I chose the nine films in which he acted with Olivia de Havilland. These are among his best and most popular. Together, Flynn and de Havilland were one of the silver screen’s great romances. Chemistry and beauty for the ages. Here they are: Curtiz’s CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935), THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936), FOUR’S A CROWD (1938), THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938), DODGE CITY (1939), THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX (1939) and SANTA FE TRAIL (1940), plus Raoul Walsh’s THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (1941) and David Butler’s THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS (1943).
CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935)
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936)
FOUR’S A CROWD (1938)
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938)
DODGE CITY (1939)
THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX (1939)
THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (1941)
THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS (1943)
Simply stunning. I could hardly stop looking at pictures for this one and hope you enjoy them as we remember Errol Flynn (June 20, 1909 – October 14, 1959) on this Cinemental Journey.
Once upon a screen... 
I am a huuuuge Errol Flynn fan, this is so good! nice quality pics too. Errol & Oloivia, there was no better couple IMO, thanks and cheers!
Glad you liked it! But, really, what’s not to like. WHAT A LOOKER!
Thanks for stopping by.
Aurora
Love the pics!!! Great idea!!
Thanks. Had to share.
Aurora
Stunnning! The memory of watching these films with my dad as a kid and the love of reading were two of the best legacies he left me! You have a way with words my friend! Thanks for keeping these movies alive for all of us!
Thanks Peps! So glad you stopped in and that you liked the post. He sure WAS stunning! I’m glad others enjoy looking at this as much as I do.
Love your comments about your dad – you know the time I spent “hanging” with him and your mother are among my fondest memories. These films and stars mean so much to so many because of that, the memories they evoke.
Aurora
Aurora, those are some incredible, high quality pics of Errol. I do think he was a fine actor, a very underrated one. By the way, he always looks better with a moustache to me.
They definitely are SOMETHING to look at!
I may prefer the mustache as well. But what a choice to have to make. He looks stunning in all of them to me.
I have to say I’m not all that familiar with his work outside the more popular movies. From what I’ve read and heard he is definitely underrated and he knew it, which disenchanted him with acting. It’s too bad, really, he didn’t get the positive response he deserved. As I’m sure you know, Bette Davis famously put his performance in Elizabeth and Essex (1939) down for years. It wasn’t until after his death that she said she’d re-watched it and realized he was quite good. I think he’d have appreciated hearing that.
Thanks, Rick!
Well … you made my day!
Ha! Hope you had breakfast. Swooning on an empty stomach can be hazardous to your health!
Aurora
Even Jack Warner, who was a real SOB to actors, said that “Errol Flynn is a charming and tragic man.” There was so much more to The Great Flynn than anybody was interested in when he was a star.