I’m going to be honest right off the bat – I was not excited to spend my day with Errol Flynn. I have learned a bit about him these past months and you might say I’m not a fan. While I don’t necessarily believe that he was a Nazi spy, I am sure that he was a massive creep. Well, at least I’ll get through some of his films I had on my to-watch list anyway and get it over with.
Dodge City (1939)
First of Flynn’s films I checked out was Dodge City which is a textbook example of a western AND it pairs him up with one of his most iconic on-screen partner – Olivia de Havilland (and I DO love her).
Dodge City is a town of sin where cattle drivers are up to no good. Among them is Flynn but a particularly tragic event changes his outlook on life and he decides to become a sheriff.
Olivia is a true pioneer woman and one the man appreciate because she’s womanly and obedient but also does not complain and adjust to the tough situation.
Yee yee.
I did not find Dodge City particularly interesting or groundbreaking but it’s really fun and entertaining – a perfect Sunday morning western.
The Sea Hawk (1940)
The second film is also directed by Michael Curtiz (like Dodge City). It is an iconic Errol Flynn joint in which his swashbuckling persona truly comes through. Watching The Sea Hawk one has no doubts about him being thee swashbuckling hero.
It is an adventure/historical drama about British-Spanish conflict and British sea captains ambushing Spanish ships. It’s full of fights, and men, and romance, and drama, and fun. It’s a very specific kind of film one needs to be in mood for but I can definitely see people in the 40s getting swept into the story for two hours in the cinema and I like thinking about that.
I also am really happy that this is such a sea film. I associate August heavily with the sea and I’m not going to the seaside this year so it’s nice I at least get to see it on the screen.
Desperate Journey (1942)
Desperate Journey is a WWII drama-adventure film. Which is kind of… interesting when you think about the rumors about Errol Flynn and watch him be an Ally hero here. The film also features Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan and Errol Flynn… My two favourite people together.
Oh joy.
This is not the kind of WWII film I’m used to. It’s very Flynn so it’s literally a total adventure. It somehow made it feel a bit like a B-movie to me. But, it’s pretty engaging and entertaining.
Gentleman Jim (1942)
And we end off with a boxing movie. Boxing is something that Hollywood apparently loved always.
And I do to!
It’s another entertaining film and I’m happy that overall I had fun today.
Yes, I barely wrote anything today but I admit that I feel pretty defeated by this day and by Errol Flynn. And my mind is not in those 1940s adventures, it’s in 1960s, or alternative 1960s from Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. I have some thoughts but I need to sort them out. Hopefully I’ll write a more substantial post tomorrow.
Swingin' at the Seance 