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Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television Studies 35.1 (2005) 80



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Thomas McNulty. Errol Flynn: The Life and Career McFarland, 2004. 381 pages; $65.00.

Love of Sea

The first time I remember seeing an Errol Flynn film was a theatrical re-release of The Adventures of Robin Hood. The picture was part of a celebration of Warner Brothers history, and demonstrated not only the endurance of the legend of Errol Flynn, but also his importance to Warner Brothers Studio. There is no denying Flynn's grace and charisma as he bounds through Sherwood Forest, going head to head with Basil Rathbone and wooing Olivia de Havilland. Even while watching his boyish charm, however, there seemed to be something much more mischievous and dangerous in his eyes.

Thomas McNulty's new biography, Errol Flynn: The Life and Career, explores the public face as well as the turmoil and angst behind the scenes. McNulty begins with Flynn's childhood in Tasmania, Australia, emphasizing his penchant for women and disdain for authority, themes that reappeared throughout the rest of his life. Although the early adventures of Flynn, whether fictional or true, are the stuff of legends, they somehow seem a bit confusing. At one point early in the book McNulty notes Flynn's love of the sea, but then writes, "of the many ironies in [Flynn's] film career, the fact that he would make film history portraying the image of a seafaring adventurer is the most profound" (32). It is hard here to see an irony, he loved the sea and he played someone who loved the sea, or why the so-called irony is profound. Instead of explaining or expanding on his statement, McNulty simply moves on to a new subject.

The most exciting and interesting parts of the early chapters come from Flynn himself. McNulty wisely inserts Flynn's own writings in many places, allowing the reader the greatest insight into the actor's head. In one article from 1939, Flynn writes, "there is romance in adventure - if you are young. It is essentially part and parcel of youth.... You never bother about risks when you're young. I often wonder if they'd bother me now. I'd be ashamed if they did" (78). The writing is clear and descriptive, showing Flynn's wanderlust and sense of adventure. This lesser-known Flynn is fascinating and gives a glimpse into both Flynn's choice of films and choice of life to which modern audiences are generally not privy.

McNulty writes best when focused on a specific topic, such as the trial or Flynn's romance with Beverly Aadland. His analysis of his personal and professional relationships is especially intriguing. Quotes from frequent co-star Olivia de Havilland are interspersed throughout the book, but it would have been nice to have a more comprehensive examination of their relationship, as well as others such as Basil Rathbone or Alan Hale who often appeared on-screen with Flynn. Although an Appendix catalogues many remembrances by those who worked with him, it may have strengthened the book to have more of these incorporated and expanded on in the text.

McNulty does an excellent job uncovering the facts of Flynn's life versus the myth that has been propagated throughout the years and his book will surely become an authoritative text. Well-researched and thorough, those interested in the life and legacy of Flynn will find the book ultimately rewarding, but it may be too long and unstructured for the casual reader.

Flynn was an interesting and intelligent actor, whose work has been overshadowed in recent years by the controversy and confusion in his personal life, as well as the deterioration of his health near the end of his life. Hopefully this volume, with its abundance of his own writings and thoughts, will help revive some of the interest in the wonderful films of Flynn.

ehparks@gmail.com


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