My Name is Errol Flynn

As the poster on YouTube says: "This is the intro from a TCM TV doc on the life of Errol Flynn...This guy created the mold that Johnnie Depp has had so much fun breaking. Flynn would have absolutely approved." I just wish this clip was longer.
P.S. Special cameo by Don Knotts.

Whoa!

A little bit of trivia for you on this hump day...
While filming The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), the tension between Bette Davis and Errol Flynn was thick. Davis wanted Laurence Olivier to play Flynn's part, and so detested him the entire shoot.

During the film when Elizabeth (played by Davis) slaps Essex (Flynn) in front of the entire court, Davis intentionally smacked Flynn right across the face. The anger on Flynn's face is quite genuine, as is his visible imposition of self-control to avoid hitting Davis back.

Crushing on Errol Flynn

It's #MCM (Man Crush Monday) and we're crushing on Errol Flynn!

"Va Va Voom" Star of the Day

Diana Barrymore
Her autobiography was titled Too Much, Too Soon, which was completely apropos for the life of Diana Barrymore. Part of the talented yet tortured Barrymore family tree, she was the aunt of Drew Barrymore, and a pretty talented actress in her own right.  However, her tumultuous personal problems prevented her from being truly successful.

Her life even began dramatically, as her parents' rocky marriage lasted only a few years after her birth and they divorced when she was only four.  From then on she had little contact with her estranged father, as she traveled around the world to study, and her mother's bitterness towards her former husband didn't help foster a healthy relationship. Diana was raised by school matrons and nannies, as she went from boarding school to boarding school, but once she reached her teens she found her focus in acting.

Wednesday's This & That

Happy Windsday! While I deal with this unusual weather, here's what's happening around the internet...

Slater, Missouri's fourth annual Steve McQueen Days begin April 24! Slater is the childhood home of actor Steve McQueen, and the annual event last two days. The schedule includes a Happy 80th Birthday Dinner Buffet, a car show and bike show, wine tasting, bike rodeo, and a Steve McQueen Memorial Highway Dedication. Learn more at www.cityofslater.com.

And eerily timed with the recent findings of what is believed to be Sean Flynn's remains, a movie based on Errol Flynn's son Sean will premiere at the Cannes Festival, entitled "The Road to Freedom." The remains found in Cambodia, where Sean last was seen, are still being verified by scientists.

And pictures have surfaced of Kate Winslet shooting the HBO remake "Mildred Pierce," the role originated by Joan Crawford.

Hopefully these news items send a chill up your skirt!

Crushing on Errol Flynn

Flynn looks smashing in this hi-res movie still from "Captain Blood," courtesy of Dr. Macro.

Why I Didn't Like "The Aviator"

There are three primary reasons why:

Basically, the casting was horrible.
A tiny mustache or a funny accent/voice does not make you anything like the original.

Monday's This & That

Well that was one helluva fast weekend! Anyway, what's been going on around here?

Looks like Hong Kong wants Disney to bail out of Hong Kong Disneyland. The attendance has never been up to par with the American Disney parks. And with the Hong Kong government maintaining most of the control, it's never been a "real" Disney park, in my opinion...

...The final Fraggle Rock season is coming to DVD! The final 24 episodes of the fourth season will be released later this year in a deluxe collectible box. Check out the link to see which ep's this includes...

...And the Jamaican piece of land that Errol Flynn bought, after washing ashore in his yacht in 1946, is up for sale -- expected to go for around $50 million. Anyone wanna chip in with me?

Happy "Talk Like a Pirate" Day!

Ahoy, me hearties! Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day, an' here arrr a few sites t' help ye out:

Learn t' speak like a pirate with this Pirate Translator. Gar!

The Official Website will keep ye abreast o' the latest news an' reports from the brig.

Get yer own Pirate Name with this handy pirate name generator.

This Talk Like a Pirate Day website helps Childhood Cancer Support, Inc., supporting children and families with cancer and leukemia.

Also take time to enjoy the best pirate movies out there: Captain Blood, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, and Muppet Treasure Island!

Yo-ho-ho!

Happy Birthday, Hunky Errol Flynn

Inject vodka into an orange to celebrate! Today is our favorite swash-bucklin,' womanizin,' drug-poppin,' big screen hero's birthday!

June 20, 1909 - October 15, 1959"The public has always expected me to be a playboy,

and a decent chap never lets his public down."
"I like my whisky old and my women young."

"It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper."

"I felt like an impostor, taking all that money for reciting
ten or twelve lines of nonsense a day."

"Women won't let me stay single, and I won't let myself stay married."

"I've had a hell of a lot of fun, and I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Happy Anniversary, Sweepea's Lounge

Tomorrow will be our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, but since I'll be out of town this week due to Thanksgiving, I thought I'd post this today.

Wow!! It's been a whole year, and so much has changed! We used to be pink, and I used to be a blonde! So...taking a walk down memory lane, here's some of our momentous firsts:

First Post Eh-vah! (and first mention of Errol Flynn)
First "Va Va Voom" Star of the Day: Julie London
First Star Sighting of the Day: Sean Maguire. Now he's on that one sitcom with the guy who does that thing...
First Dumpster Drama... Act I, people!
First Must-Rent Movie: Sunset Blvd

...and as they say at the end of the birthday song: "and many more...!!" Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Classic Quote of the Day

"The public has always expected me to be a playboy, and a decent chap never lets his public down."

-- Errol Flynn

Errol Flynn beats Johnny Depp as Top Pirate!

From Starpulse.com:

Swashbuckler Errol Flynn has dented Johnny Depp's "Pirates Of The Caribbean" celebrations by being hailed Hollywood's top buccaneer in a new World Entertainment News Network (WENN) poll.

The WENN pirate poll:

1. Errol Flynn As Dr Peter Blood - Captain Blood (1935)
2. Johnny Depp As Captain Jack Sparrow - Pirates Of The Caribbean (2003-2006)
3. Robert Newton As Long John Silver - Treasure Island (1950)
4. Tyrone Power As Jamie Waring - The Black Swan (1942)
5. Douglas Fairbanks As The Black Pirate - The Black Pirate (1926)
6. Charles Laughton As Captain William Kidd - Captain Kidd (1945)
7. Dustin Hoffman As Captain Hook - Hook (1991)
8. Walter Matthau As Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red - Pirates (1986)
9. Robert Newton As Blackbeard - Blackbeard, The Pirate (1952)
10. Wallace Beery As Long John Silver - Treasure Island (1934)

Must-See Movie: The Great Race

The Great Race (1965)
The greatest Blake Edwards' film of all time, this movie is packed with stars and the best moments in cinematic history. Sparkly-eyed, immaculate, and white-toothed daredevil, The Great Leslie (Tony Curtis) convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers to hold a race from New York to Paris. Leslie's nemesis, the mustached and shifty-eyed Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon) vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a wacky car of his own, along with his dim-witted sidekick (Peter Falk). Along the way they meet a voluptuous suffragette (Natalie Wood), are engaged in a huge old-fashioned Western bar fight, fall into a Man in the Iron Mask-type plot, and have a hand in the largest pie fight ever staged on film.

Infused with typical 60's sexual innuendo, Tony Curtis plays the straight man as he woos Natalie Wood cross-country with his cheeky debonair winks (accentuated by the perfect "ping!" sound effects). He fences like Errol Flynn, competes like a gentleman, and stays pristinely white throughout the journey.

The classic status of this movie, however, is due largely to the slapstick -- very reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy. The chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk as bumbling baddies is the paradigm of comedy from the time period in which it's framed. Professor Fate is your archetypal early 20th century villian, twirling his black curly mustache. Then he goes from gravelly sneering villian to giggly, child-like royalty with a dual role as the Prince of Pottsdorf. Fate's assistant Max is the superlative performance of Falk. His talent to use his shortcomings is exemplified, as his squinty-eyed face hunchily searches for Fate with that trademark "Pro-fess-ah!!"

Supported by Keenan Wynn, Vivian Vance, Larry Storch, Dorothy Provine, and a plethora of other fabulous character actors, the movie is unlike anything you've seen in Hollywood to date.

Mee-Yow Thursday

On the set of Captain Blood, Basil Rathbone didn't get along with Errol Flynn. During their dueling sequence Rathbone reminded Flynn that he was being paid considerably more for his part in the picture than Flynn was.
Then Rathbone deliberately wounded him in the arm (leaving a permanent scar).

Ay, Matey!

Today is Talk Like A Pirate Day! Irritate friends and family with your obsessive use of the word "Arrrr!" in every sentence.

Get Pir-attude at The Original Talk Like a Pirate Day site! (Thanks, Coco!)

Use the English-to-Pirate generator to help translate your language to Piratese.

Find out what your pirate name is!

And of course don't forget our favorite pirate, Captain Blood. Visit the official Errol Flynn website.

Avast and have ye a great day!

Wednesday's This & That

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was delightful. Now let's see what's going on around here...

Funny. Both Brad Pitt and Vince Vaughn are battling for Steve McQueen items being auctioned off. I see that Jenn Aniston has a dating pattern: she loves men who love the King of Cool. Right on, sister! I hear ya on that one.

With the trend leading to pirates this summer, you might want to check out two of my favorite pirate flicks: Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk - both starring my #1 swashbuckling cad, Errol Flynn. Both only $13.99 on Amazon, yo.

The Errol Flynn Marina

The Jamaica Observer reports:

The marina at Port Antonio will now be known as the Errol Flynn Marina, a move its owners hope will help to brand the facility among its intended clientele - high-income luxury yacht owners.

What? The port being in Jamaica wasn't enough?? Oh wait, they want high-income people, not drunk college kids on Spring Break.

Happy Birthday, Errol Flynn!

Today is our favorite swash-bucklin,' womanizin,' drug-poppin,' big screen hero's birthday, and to celebrate, I've created two free desktop wallpapers for you. Enjoy!



And make sure to visit his official website today and poke around!

Friday's This & That

This week was a complete bitch, for so many reasons and on so many levels. I'm so glad it's over, because I'd rather be my former sunshine-y Pollyanna self than this bitter old woman I've become.

The only thing that's made me happy within the last week is watching this informercial for the Sweep N Mop. Now I want one. I mean, it's only 2 for $10 (plus S&H)! You can't beat that! Does anyone have one?

Bette Davis' new biography seems to be ultra-kind to her, despite her reputation for being a stage diva.

Errol Flynn's frequent co-star Olivia DiHavilland is featured in an LA Weekly article. She will be honored at the Academy on June 15th, and a tribute will be displayed for her at both the Academy and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from June 15 to July 1.

And Saturday, June 10th (tomorrow!) on TCM at 8 PM (EST, I assume) watch Sunset Blvd. It's also playing Sunday, June 11th at 6PM. This is the movie I raved about previously. The best film-noir movie of them all.

And yes, there will be a Romance Cheese Friday today!