Errol Flynn with Olivia de Havilland in The Charge of the Light Brigade.
Errol Flynn movies on TCM
Errol Flynn would have turned 103 on June 20. In celebration of his birthday, this Wednesday Flynn is Turner Classic Movies’ star of the early morning/afternoon. Inevitably, movies include a couple of Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn pairings: The Charge of the Light Brigade and Santa Fe Trail. But there are quite a few more. (Errol Flynn movie lineup. further below.)
In fact, the interesting thing about TCM’s choice of Errol Flynn movies is that the vast majority are lesser-known titles such as Green Light, Rocky Mountain, The Warriors / The Dark Avenger, and The Master of Ballantrae.
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), the second Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn pairing – and the second time the couple worked under the guidance of Michael Curtiz. The period actioner, which has little in common with the actual titular charge, is partly set in India, where the British are loyal, honorable, brave, and handsome (Flynn, Patric Knowles). The Charge of the Light Brigade is a great-looking movie (cinematography by Sol Polito) and some will find it entertaining despite its conventional storyline. Olivia de Havilland’s acting consists of looking colorfully pretty in black and white.
American doctor, Canadian spy, Scottish nobleman
The slow-moving but intriguing melodrama Green Light (1937) has Flynn cast against type as a scalpel-buckling doctor. Frank Borzage, who made a career directing sentimental dramas, handled the proceedings. The angelic blonde Anita Louise and reliable Warner Bros. contract player Margaret Lindsay are Flynn’s leading ladies.
Northern Pursuit (1943) isn’t considered one of Errol Flynn’s finest movies – except, perhaps, by me. Directed by Raoul Walsh, the gripping Northern Pursuit stars Flynn as a Canadian Mountie who infiltrates a Nazi ring. The super-handsome Helmut Dantine is one of his targets.
Released in 1953, The Master of Ballantrae stars a much aged Errol Flynn, whose contagious joie de vivre had by then left him. Just as tired is the movie itself, based on a Robert Louis Stevenson tale. Anthony Steel and Roger Livesey, the latter not inclined to restrain himself when there’s some scenery to chew on, are the chief supporting players. William Keighley, with whom Flynn had seen better days (The Adventures of Robin Hood), directed the period adventure.
Errol Flynn movies: TCM schedule
3:30 AM GREEN LIGHT (1937)
Director: Frank Borzage. Cast: Errol Flynn, Anita Louise, Margaret Lindsay.
B&W. 85 min.5:00 AM NORTHERN PURSUIT (1943)
Director: Raoul Walsh. Cast: Errol Flynn, Julie Bishop, Helmut Dantine. B&W. 93 min.6:45 AM THE DAWN PATROL (1938)
Director: Edmund Goulding. Cast: Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven, Donald Crisp, Barry Fitzgerald. B&W. 103 min.8:30 AM THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936)
Director: Michael Curtiz. Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp. B&W. 116 min.10:30 AM SANTA FE TRAIL (1940)
Director: Michael Curtiz. Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Raymond Massey, Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale, William Lundigan, Van Heflin. B&W. 110 min.12:30 PM THE WARRIORS (1955)
Director: Henry Levin.
Cast: Errol Flynn, Joanne Dru, Peter Finch, Yvonne Furneaux, Patrick Holt, Michael Hordern. Color. 85 min.2:00 PM ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950)
Director: William Keighley.
Cast: Errol Flynn, Patrice Wymore, Scott Forbes.
B&W. 83 min.3:30 PM THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE (1953)
Director: William Keighley.
Cast: Errol Flynn, Roger Livesey, Anthony Steel, Beatrice Campbell, Yvonne Furneaux, Felix Aylmer.
Color. 89 min.
Schedule (PT) and synopses from the TCM website: