Errol Flynn

Errol Flynn set the standard for the modern action hero in films like The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dodge City, and The Sea Hawk. This biography follows Flynn from his birth in Tasmania, Australia, in 1909, to his death in Vancouver, Canada, in 1959. Included is analysis of his films, discussion of the 1943 rape trial that changed his life, a survey of the FBI’s infamous surveillance, and the first detailed account of his television appearances in the 1950s. First-hand interviews with Flynn’s friends and colleagues are complemented by research from FBI files, correspondence, Flynn’s diary, and other sources. Illustrated with rare and previously unpublished photographs, the study also gives attention to the historical backgrounds and cultural influences that contributed to Flynn’s fame; the work takes an objective and analytical look at the actor’s adventurous life.
The study includes two appendices: the first is a collection of quotations from various celebrities, from memories of his talent and style to anecdotes about his wild pool parties. The second appendix is a filmography including all Flynn’s work for film, stage, and television, with cast and crew information.

Author and poet Thomas McNulty has published widely in various magazines. He lives in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Thomas McNulty
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 381
Bibliographic Info: 85 photos, appendices, notes, filmography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011 [2004]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6898-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0972-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1

1. From Tasmania to Hollywood (1909–1935)      5
2. Hollywood (1935–1940)      29
3. The War Years (1941–1945)      115
4. Don Juan (1946–1949)      193
5. The Wanderer (1950–1959)      233

Afterword      298
Appendix 1: Remembrances      303
Appendix 2: Filmography      314
Notes and Sources      333
Bibliography      345
Index      355

“the best biography on the actor…so refreshing—and sorely needed…it’s NOT just another Flynn book…the most well thought out volume on Flynn…research is quite good…there’s some outstanding material here…the most balanced take on him ever achieved by an author….the book’s photos, 85 in all, are to die for”—Classic Images; “excellent”—Film & History; “excellent…comprehensive filmography”—Penguin Comics; “long awaited…very informative”—Western Mail; “illustrated with rare and previously unpublished photographs, this objective text illuminates the life and work of a complex, ultimately self-destructive idol”—The Society of Midland Authors; “it is good…very well written, extensively researched, and lovingly created book…wonderful flow of words, that makes disconnected information sources come alive…this book is absolutely BRILLIANT…very thorough yet not overburdened with detail…reads well and easily…McNulty has artistically crafted one fascinating and elegant read”—maskiflynn.co.uk; “the best single book on Errol Flynn yet to be written…a straight-from-the-shoulder account…long, thoughtful and satisfying book…a window into three of the most crucial decades of the twentieth century…research that went into the making of this book is impressive, to say the least…useful…photos are excellent…among the book’s most impressive qualities is its accuracy…meticulously written and just as meticulously documented. The style throughout is a joy to read…the final effect of McNulty’s treatment is overwhelmingly positive…McNulty has gifted the world with an encyclopedic account that provides the first fully documented, carefully composed, and ultimately sympathetic reflection on Flynn’s life and work…the evident care and love that went into it will more than repay the reader, who will come back to it again and again in the countless hours of future delight that lie ahead”—WarriorFilmmakers.com; “as compelling as a great novel…an affectionate yet unflinching look at the life and films of a real-life swashbuckler”—Max Allan Collins, author of Road to Perdition.