User reviews

So many biographies stick to a ready-made and familiar pattern-- little more than a lame recital of movies and talking head interviews that do little to dig beneath the surface. A recently released American documentary about Errol Flynn was just that: predictable and lame Now from Australia, the homeland of the Tasmanian Devil himself, comes a much-more imaginative effort. This film is less about his film and much more about the man himself. And what a man! Flynn's amazing life was more extraordinary than any of his movie roles, and this film captures it with honesty, humour and not a little sadness.

Recently shown by the BBC and a feature of the 2007 Sydney Film Festival, director Nasht has complied another of his telling portraits of Australian icons. We can only wonder at the reaction it engendered from Flynn's surviving widow, Patricia Wymore, when she saw the rake's last girlfriend Beverley Aadland claim that she was the one true love of his life. Narrator Christopher Lee does a deft job of taking us through the often difficult life of his old friend and colleague. Despite Flynn's many faults, we can understand why so many of his contemporaries- and most of his many wives and girlfriends were so fond of the man.

Notable for some cheeky photographic montages (though it could have done with more)this is a fond but clear-eyed assessment of one of Hollywood's most fascinating characters- and a reminder of how anodyne most actors are today.

Interesting and entertaining. However, there is one significant error in regard to the sequence of events that were involved in Flynn's rise to stardom. Contrary to what's mentioned in the documentary, he did not go straight from New Guinea (or Sydney) to the US where he instantly became a Hollywood star. He, initially, went to England where he spent a year or so gaining experience in stage work. While he was there he also appeared in two movies that were produced at the Warner Bros. studios in Teddington and it was local studio head, Irving Asher, who signed Flynn to a contract for the company. Also, it's been reported that Asher described Flynn to the powers that be in Hollywood as being "Irish". Did he simply jump to an incorrect conclusion, based purely on Errol's surname or had Flynn decided to reinvent himself ? Neither of these points were raised in the documentary

I saw this film as part of the Sydney Film Festival, and I loved every minute of it. Christopher Lee's narration was excellent, and the stories and anecdotes were wildly entertaining. Errol Flynn was a fascinating person both on and off-screen, and this documentary explores the highs and lows of his life and career with a great deal of empathy. The film covers all stages of his life: including his childhood in Tasmania (and distaste for authority), his pirate-esquire exploits in New Guinea, his sudden and massive rise to fame, his turbulent relationships with women, his dubious relationship with the law and media (including unfounded accusations claiming he was a Nazi!), his battle with alcohol (among other things, well-hidden health problems, his revolutionary pro-peace stance and little-known friendship with Fidel Castro). This is a great tribute to a wonderful actor and Australian icon who lived a fascinating life.

I happened to watch the DVD of this 55-minute documentary last night at a friend's house - he happens to be a major Errol Flynn buff. Well, all I can say is "WOW" - I plan to buy the DVD of this one, asap! Having seen some pretty lame recent attempts to document Flynn on film - notably the British Channel 4's creepy "Errol Flynn: Secret Lives," not to mention another low-budgeter currently circulating on the internet - I was very pleasantly surprised by this thoughtful, well-mounted offering. It's a fresh, thoroughly-researched look at Flynn's life and film career that pulls no punches, cherishes Flynn for his unique talents, and avoids many of the common mistakes often made about Flynn. The Australian producers, Nasht and de Young (whom I had never heard of!) obviously did their homework - and then some. Wit, style, location shooting, and some recently pioneered GCI graphics enhance the proceedings considerably.

I must say that, having read a few books on Flynn, and seen most of his films, I've gotta love ANY film that de-stresses Flynn's films and accentuates his acute love of writing (something most people have no idea of), not to mention his political adventures. This includes his amazing involvement in the Spanish Civil War in 1937 and his strange support (initially, at least) of Castro's revolution in 1959. I also thought that the various "talking heads" - notably Meyers, Valenti, Sherman, Hurst, Beverly Aadland (Flynn's last love), and historian John Hammond Moore - not to mention both of Flynn's daughters Deirdre and Rory - did extremely well in providing thoughtful commentary at various critical points of the Flynn saga. It was likewise gratifying to see another convincing knock-down of the libelous exercise in imaginative fiction by one of Hollywood's best-known literary hucksters (who made a disgraceful fortune in 1980 by bogusly claiming that Flynn was a secret Nazi agent - a claim since thoroughly discredited).

But best of all, I think, is the presence of the wondrous Christopher Lee, who acts as narrator and occasional on-screen presence. With his luxuriantly rich, age-mellowed voice (there's none of its occasional past bombast here!), Lee discusses lovingly a man he clearly was wary of but still has great affection for (that in spite of Flynn's nearly severing one of his fingers while drunk during an on-screen fencing duel!).

"Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn" is in my view an altogether first- rate effort. While perhaps not as ultimately compelling as the recent TCM bio "The Adventures of Errol Flynn" (which accompanies Warner Home Video's first Errol Flynn DVD Collection), it worthily takes its place among the two or three best documentary treatments of Flynn. But be warned: it should probably be rated either PG or R. I, for one, wouldn't let my children watch it - largely because of the use of the "f" word, plus a rather unnecessary nude scene near the beginning (apparently lifted from a feature film, "Flynn," starring Guy Pearce; my advice is skip the feature, watch the documentary instead!)

This is one treatment of a glamor figure of the past that left me wanting more - I wish it could have been longer, say about 90 minutes. Nonetheless, it's a welcome, highly skilled piece of work - if you're an Errol Flynn fan, or even a fan of the golden age of Hollywood, you won't want to miss it!

The story of Tasmanian-born actor Errol Flynn whose short & flamboyant life, full of scandals, adventures, loves and excess was largely played out in front of the camera - either making movies or filling the newsreels and gossip magazines. Dead from the effects of drugs and alcohol by the time he was only 50 & the myths live on. But there is another side of Flynn that is less well known - his ambitions to be a serious writer and newspaper correspondent, his documentary films and his interest in the Spanish Civil War and Castro's Cuba.

I don't know much about Errol Flynn outside of the films themselves but then that is the point of this documentary because it suggests that his real life is much more interesting that his cinematic turns. Having seen the film I feel like perhaps this wasn't that well brought out because mostly I took away the impression of a tragedy rather than an adventure. At first there are a few things about his live that are unusual but quickly we move into the more sordid side of his life – the drinking and the womanising. That is not to say that it is no good because it is still interesting because it is both frank and affectionate in its portrayal.

The delivery style sort of suits this mixed approach but doesn't totally sell it. The use of animation (good photo montages) and light tone does rather jar with the dark material but it does make it a bit more accessible I suppose. As such I was quite held by it but did find myself wishing it would either have more fun or be a bit more serious and factual rather than trying to do both. Lee's narration is good of course although his distinctive voice does rather dominate the film in a way it probably shouldn't have.

Worth a look if you only know Flynn from his films and his reputation but too mixed and unsure of itself to really stand up as a great documentary.

Fantastic documentary. My father and me have been always enjoying to watch "Errol Flynn" movies in France. So, it is very emotional to understand his real life... He was a Fantastic actor. I think George Cloney could be the next Errol Flynn. Finally, one last important question: where could I find legal download for music we can hear at the end of this doc (music with guitar)? It seems this has been composed by Carlo Giacco. I just want to say i definitively agree with following article: "So many biographies stick to a ready-made and familiar pattern-- little more than a lame recital of movies and talking head interviews that do little to dig beneath the surface. A recently released American documentary about Errol Flynn was just that: predictable and lame Now from Australia, the homeland of the Tasmanian Devil himself, comes a much-more imaginative effort. This film is less about his film and much more about the man himself. And what a man! Flynn's amazing life was more extraordinary than any of his movie roles, and this film captures it with honesty, humor and not a little sadness. Recently shown by the BBC and a feature of the 2007 Sydney Film Festival, director Nasht has complied another of his telling portraits of Australian icons. We can only wonder at the reaction it engendered from Flynn's surviving widow, Patricia Wymore, when she saw the rake's last girlfriend Beverley Aadland claim that she was the one true love of his life. Narrator Christopher Lee does a deft job of taking us through the often difficult life of his old friend and colleague. Despite Flynn's many faults, we can understand why so many of his contemporaries- and most of his many wives and girlfriends were so fond of the man. Notable for some cheeky photographic montages (though it could have done with more)this is a fond but clear-eyed assessment of one of Hollywood's most fascinating characters- and a reminder of how anodyne most actors are today."

Thank you very much. Regards Stephane