Let's watch.. ..Errol Flynn

For this will be my last review of an Errol Flynn film this month – I chose one of my favourite Western - please forgive me the following Schwärmerei!:

SAN ANTONIO (1945)

San Antonio, 1877: Saloon owners Roy Stuart (Paul Kelly) and his partner Legare (Victor Francen) have betrayed some ranchers - and stolen their cattle. Clay Hardin (Errol Flynn) - who is attracted to new singer of the saloon Jeanne Starr (Alexis Smith) - and Charlie Bell (John Litel - he is one of my favourites. Please watch out for him!) are going to straighten things up..

Jeanne Starr: "This town looks as if it's full of men who step on baby chickens."

In this film S.Z. Sakall mentioned about two times "empty horses" - which might be a side blow to director Michael Curtiz who during the filming of THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936) demanded "empty horses" when he wanted to have stray horses for some battle scenes - David Niven and Errol Flynn found that most amusing. So much that David Niven later named his autobiography BRING ON THE EMPTY HORSES.. Anyway: SAN ANTONIO was directed by David Butler - and (without credit) by Raoul Walsh and Robert Florey.

This film (again) was done in beautiful Technicolor. And if you look at Alexis Smith in this film you'll know: this was a great decision! Have a look - Perfectly stunning, isn't it?

Jeanne Starr: "Are they going to arrest you?"

Clay Hardin: "I hope not. That would spoil our whole evening."

You may have noticed now that I have a soft spot for Alexis Smith.. But it's not "only" her - the film is partly that kind of beautiful that you are reminded of 1940s Disney films - it's hard at the frontier to kitsch.. Pure eye candy.. Even the first five - ten minutes of the film will prove that to you..

I love not only the looks of this film but also the story: I think that the "bad guys" Legare and Stuart are fighting each other as well makes it very exciting to watch. The show down in El Alamo is another very beautifully done scene..

Just because it is one of my alltime favourite film dresses - Alexis Smith again in an utterly wonderful white gown - My sincere thanks to Milo Anderson who was in charge for the costumes here:

Hope you're still enjoying the show!

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene

Let's watch.. ..Errol Flynn

As much as I love black & white films - I am really grateful for Technicolor!

There are several beautiful examples for the effect of this technique - and one you can find right here in the film which was filmed in 1948 but released in 1950 and which I will present now

MONTANA (1950)

In 19th century Montana is ruled by cattle ranchers who are not amused when Australian Morgan Lane (Errol Flynn) and his men arrive - with a giant herd of sheep. Especially Rod Ackroyd (Douglas Kennedy) and Maria Singleton (Alexis Smith) are very upset. But Morgan Lane won't back out - especially because he considers Maria more appealing than menacing..

It was the 4th and last film Alexis Smith and Errol Flynn did together. They also appeared together in DIVE BOMBER (1941), GENTLEMAN JIM (1942) and SAN ANTONIO (1945).

Ray Enright did the direction for this film - and so did Raoul Walsh - though he didn't get credit for that. This is just a small western - you might consider it a B movie - but three things make it special enough (for me that is..) to talk about it:

1. Alexis Smith in Technicolor - especially when she is wearing a lightblue evening gown and a brightblue and sparkling pendant on her necklace - perfectly matching her iceblue eyes.. (just love it - but wasn't able to find a pic for you - believe me: It's beautiful! - though Miss Smith has a waistline that makes me think: "Oh - I am fat!! I'll never eat again.." - of course I will melancholy nibble some cookies while thinking that..)

2. A girl threatening Errol Flynn with a gun? Count me in - have to watch that! What does a classic gentlemen when the person who is pointing at him with a weapon is female??

3. What can I say - Look (and listen!!) for your own:

I hope you're enjoying the show!

Yours

Irene