My Wicked, Wicked Ways... The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985) (TV)

Director:

Don Taylor

Writers:

Doris Keating (writer)
James Lee (writer)

Release Date:

January 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Womanizer | Behind The Scenes | Marriage | Party | Trial

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Duncan Regehr	...	Errol Flynn
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adrian Aron	...	Actress
James Bacon	...	Himself
Robert Beckler	...	Ballroom Dancer
William Beckley	...	Alexandre
Mark Bringleson	...	Detective / Actor
Jan Burrell	...	Millie
Pepe Callahan	...	Pepe
Michael Callan	...	Hal Wallis
Mark Carlton	...	Art Skildanny
Camilla Carr	...	Lou Warner
George Coe	...	Irving Jerome
Denise Crosby	...	Diana Dyrenforth
Noel De Souza	...	Corpsman
Dick Durock	...	Crusher
Carl Esmond	...	General Von Helmuth
Stefan Gierasch	...	Michael Curtiz
Michael C. Gwynne	...	Raoul Walsh
Deborah Harmon	...	Prudence
Morgan Hart	...	Marie Smith
Barbara Hershey	...	Lili Damita
Barrie Ingham	...	John Barrymore
John Dennis Johnston	...	Billy Welch
Ami Julius	...	Girl #1
Gene Knight	...	Master of Ceremonies
Elissa Leeds	...	Bette Davis
Hal Linden	...	Jack Warner
Irene Olga López	...	Mexican Madam
Marlyn Mason
Pamela Mason	...	Phoebe Straight
Darian Mathias	...	1st Girl
Darren McGavin	...	Dr. Gerrit Koets
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Jerry Gersler
Lee Purcell	...	Olivia de Havilland
Deborah Richter	...	Lucille Hartley
Eugene Ross	...	Muldoon
George Marshall Ruge	...	Fencing Opponent
Elizabeth Savage
David Schroeder	...	Bartender
Linda Shayne	...	Girl on Train #1
Beth Windsor	...	Lita

Also Known As:

Die Errol-Flynn-Legende (West Germany) [de]
Errol Flynn - Hollywoodin paha poika (Finland) [fi]
Hela mitt syndiga liv (Sweden) [sv]
Mes 400 coups: la légende d'Errol Flynn (France) [fr]

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Movie Connections:

References Frisco Kid (1935)

In Like Flynn...The Legend of Errol Flynn Lives On!

A few months back, I (like many others before me I'm sure) discovered the "legend" of Errol Flynn. Now, I call it a legend, because if you were to print this man's life story today, I'm sure no one would believe it. But make no mistake; in Hollywood, Errol Flynn was, and still is, a legend. I have heard it said many times that Errol Flynn's real life escapades far outweighed any that could be conjured up for him on the big screen. This is true. After reading the book "My Wicked Wicked Ways" (on which this movie is based) and a few other repitable biographies, I won't be the one to argue with that. As for the movie adaption of My Wicked Wicked Ways, all I can say was, it's OK. It's prettied up, but at least it gives you sort of an idea of what Hollywood was like back in the "Golden Years" of the 30's and 40's.

The movie starts from Flynn's arrival in hollywood in the early thirties. He is simply one of the thousands of contract players that Warner Brothers has on the payroll, and waits, like most of the rest, for bit parts, and walk on roles. Duncan Regehr captures Flynn's personality pretty well. He was a man who lived for the moment, and a man who simply ignored any consequences to his own actions. He was fearless, but vulnerable. And of course, the ladies loved him! Everything else aside, I think what attracted everyone to him was not so much his looks, but his charm. Many of the people who worked with him commented that "No matter what he did, you could never stay mad at him for long." He'd tell a quick story, or smile that devilish smile, and everyone would forget that he was three hours late for shooting that day. He was also smart. Self taught, mostly. We get the feeling that he could have been anything he wanted to. The highlights along the way are some of the Flynn/Curtiz tiffs on set. Michael Curtiz directed Flynn in a bunch of films, and was NOT a fan of Errol Flynn. He usually had to beg and plead Flynn to get through a scene! Also, Barbara Hershey as Lili Damita, Flynn's on again, off again, on again, off again wife. The scenes between the two of them were hilarious. Also, the scenes between Flynn, and his friend, the doomed John Barrymore. Again, this was fluffed up a little bit, but if you are a fan of Errol Flynn's you should take a look at it anyways...also, read the book MY WICKED WICKED WAYS, I guarantee you won't be able to put it down... Some of my personal Errol Flynn film favorites are CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935) CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936) THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) THE SEA HAWK (1940) THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (1942) GENTLEMAN JIM (1942) OBJECTIVE BURMA (1945) THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN (1949) all these are highly entertaining, and will show you why Flynn was on top of Hollywood's star list for over ten years....LONG LIVE ERROL FLYNN!