Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone go at it in one of Hollywood’s greatest sword-fighting scenes (from the 1938 movie, Robin Hood). Interestingly, Basil Rathbone was, in fact, an accomplished swordsman, whereas Flynn was a simple hacker and slasher. After one-too-many near misses, Rathbone reportedly told the director that if Flynn didn’t acquire some technique, he was going to run him through.
Bonus video! Basil Rathbone takes on Tyrone Power in The Mark of Zorro (the audio is a little out of kilter; either that, or the actors had been inhaling helium before the scene was filmed).
Also: Robert Avrech at Seraphic Secret has an interesting recommendation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Part of Rathbone's problem with Flynn was that they shot a lot of the fights after Flynn finished drinking his lunch.
ReplyDeleteSo they actually developed two exclusive fencing techniques for Errol: the "flynn" and the "flynn feint." The "flynn" involves both fencers standing out of sword-reach of each other's bodies while one fencer simply beats the point of the other's sword back and forth.
The "flynn feint" involves one fencer standing either further back and just faking a series of lunges that come nowhere near his opponent.
The big advantage of both techniques was that they kept him out of Rathbone's reach, since Basil had promised the director he was going to run Flynn through if he felt like he was going to get hit again.
either = even, sorry
ReplyDeleteI love these little tidbits of insider movie history. Thanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteAh, Errol Flynn....and Basil Rathbone. Guaranteed fun.
ReplyDeleteOne Saturday afternoon, my Dad strolled through and asked what I was watching. "Sea Hawk", I replied with great glee. "Errol was a great guy", said Dad in a matter-of-fact way as he continued down the hall. "Errol was a great guy?! What?! Wait! What are you talking about?", I exclaimed. He returned to tell about how he gave a sworn statement that aided in clearing Errol Flynn in a paternity suit.
Will always remember Dad when Errol comes on screen.
My brush came years ago while having breakfast at the Hollywood Holiday Inn. I noticed a familiar, distinguished gentleman dining alone at the next table. It was hard not to stare because he was Hollywood royalty, and still so dashing for all his years. My mind raced between "Oh my God!" and "Who is that?!". My attempt to disguise the conundrum was in vain, for he noticed. But he smiled so sweetly, and a bit playfully with a twinkle in his eyes that assuaged any fears. After returning home, I was watching the "Mike Douglas Show". The guest answered the mystery. It turned out to be Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Ah, missed opportunities.
Deborah Leigh
Good stories, Deb! The only actor I ever saw in person was Darren McGavin.
ReplyDeleteIt says a lot of about how little film making has advanced despite technology that no one has ever done Robin Hood better than that 1938 version or ever will.
ReplyDeleteI actually have a somewhat tenuous Flynn link of my own. Among the various nic nacs my family has acquired over the years is a purple sash and purple feather. Apparently Flynn was in London filming (not sure what film) and was staying with a distant Aunt of mine in a posh sort of bed and breakfast place. The dour and respectable scots housekeeper took up "Dear Mr Flynn's breakfast " (apparently like all women between 15 and 90 she thought he was wonderful) to find the door opened by a stunningly beautful girl clad only in said sash and feather. She dropped the tray and gave notice on the spot.
Well shoot, living in WestLos for lo those many years we saw bunches of them. Pierce Brosnan once took liberties with my pipe tobacco in a tobacco store. Jane Wyatt used to visit the woman across the street quite often. Remember the identical twins who used to fight all the time(they were in Sands of Iwo Jima). Was on the same fishing boat off Malibu with one of them. There were two regular hangouts near me(Annas and Matteos) that I went by on my nightly walks. So there, just so there.
ReplyDeleteMan, you guys are famous (or at least, you got some fame on ya).
ReplyDeleteNothing fancy, just missed clocking Peter O'Toole in the head with my rifle.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Too bad you missed.
ReplyDeleteHey, I even filmed an Excederin commercial once while I was in college. Top that.:) It was one of those hidden camera thingies. Somebody made some noise behind the glass and they new then that I knew I was being filmed and I was toast. It was an honest commercial too since I really used, and liked the stuff. That was back in the day when they would run that same commercial over and over again on just about every channel for months. I think you got something like eighty bucks everytime that was shown. That was really good money back in the sixties!
ReplyDeleteSome advanced location scout wanted to look through the house for a movie shoot one time. I just told him no. He looked dumbfounded. I guess not too many people turn them down on that. That was funny, I really enjoyed that!:)
Oops! "Excedrin" Would have been nice having them pay my way through grad school instead of working my way through. Alas.
ReplyDeleteaahem...
ReplyDeleteWell there was my famous 1979 lunch with, ahem, Mel Gibson.
But here's a new twist I've uncovered on that: I can't prove it, but I am rather sure Mel's girlfriend at the time (maybe he had several though) was the lovely Dina Mann.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Mann
And I'm pretty sure Dina is Jewish.
They looked a perfect couple to me.