Flynn was indeed under the impression that Beverly was 18. Ah, but once he found out that she was barely out of pigtails?it was full steam ahead?
?I like my whisky old and my women young.??Errol Flynn
It was his performance as Captain Blood that skyrocketed handsome and devilish Errol Flynn to stardom in 1935 and The Adventures of Robin Hood that made him a superstar three years later. His leading lady in both films was orchidaceous Olivia de Havilland, who celebrated her 99th birthday this July 1.
Flynn was a good amateur boxer who, under former Junior Welterweight Champion of the World Mushy Callahan?s training and guidance (?Next to Cagney, Errol Flynn is the best fighter on the Warner lot?), turned in an excellent performance as the man who dethroned John L. Sullivan in 1942?s Gentleman Jim.
By the 1950s, however, Flynn was a bloated shadow of his former self. But, regardless of how washed-up and forgotten, he still had an eye for the ladies. Or, in any event, for the girls. And I do mean girls.
Fifteen-year-old Beverly Aadland was dancing in Marjorie Morningstar when spotted by the jowly 48-year-old rou?. There was initially but small reaction on her part when told of Flynn?s interest, as ?Errol?s reputation had sunk so far,? writes Charles Higham in his rumor-ridden biography of the swashbuckler, ?that Beverly, who was not a movie buff, scarcely knew who he was.?
In fairness to Flynn, he was indeed under the impression that Beverly was 18. Ah, but once he found out that she was barely out of pigtails?it was full steam ahead. This, despite narrowly escaping conviction on two statutory rape charges several years before. ?Lawyer to the Stars? Jerry Giesler wouldn?t have gotten him off this time, but with the blessing of Beverly?s one-legged and open-minded (anyway, self-serving) mother, ?The affair of this fifteen-year-old girl and forty-eight-year-old man began that same week.?
Adventures ensued. Once, Errol took Beverly to a lesbian nightclub in Paris, where he strenuously objected when ?a powerful, leather-clad dyke seized Beverly and began dancing with her cheek-to-cheek.? Smacked on the chin by the mighty Mytilenian, Flynn ?flew out the door and landed in the gutter.?
But the fun and games couldn?t last. Though a comparatively young man, Flynn?s body was worn out by drinking and womanizing. He was barely 50 when he suffered what was not his first heart attack while visiting Vancouver with Beverly on October 14, 1959. ?Take me, please, Lord, not him,? the 17-year-old cried. Her prayer wasn?t answered.
Errol Flynn?s mother was never a fan of her roguish son, but another mother was. She must have been, otherwise she wouldn?t have insisted on naming her son after the dashing Captain Blood himself. Born in Newport, Wales, on October 4, 1940, junior bantamweight Errol Flynn turned pro on October 1, 1959, drawing against Charlie Jiminez at Wembley Town Hall in Wembley, London. His second fight took place just two days after the movie star?s death. An ill omen, perhaps, as he lost by fifth-round TKO to Billy Walker at Bognor Regis Pavilion in Sussex. He last fought in Treorchy, Wales, losing by first-round KO to Johnny Brown on June 22, 1962. Flynn had 16 bouts in his three-year career (though he didn?t fight at all in 1961 and only once in 1962), winning eight, four by knockout, losing seven, five by knockout, and drawing once.
On one or two occasions, I?ve dropped, with a rakish stroke of the ?stache, the matin?e idol?s name in the presence of a comely young lady, expecting (or at least hoping for), ?Oh, yes, I see the resemblance!? A blank stare, if I was lucky. On one occasion, an exceptionally bruising bouncer was signaled, a vigorous ?Unhand me, sir!? availing me nothing. On another, I was coldly and contemptuously dismissed with, ?I don?t do threesomes, especially not with another man. My God, what a creep!? To my dismay, I didn?t even have time to let fly with an outraged ?How dare you!? before the impertinent imp stormed off to whisper of my supposed insidious interests.
Let?s face it, one of the most dynamic and charismatic stars of Hollywood?s Golden Age is largely unknown today, while his pugilistic namesake isn?t known at all. And never was.
That?s show biz.
And boxing.
