Two new hard to find Errol Flynn films have been announced for release by Warner Brothers on their Warner Archives label. And by hard to find we mean the “later” Flynn efforts. Neither is a gem, but both have their moments. The first stars Raymond Burr as well and the latter is oddly biographical of our favorite leading man. Both highly recommended!
Mara Maru (1952) Errol Flynn dives into danger in this hard-boiled South Seas adventure directed by action veteran Gordon Douglas and co-starring Ruth Roman and Raymond Burr. When his partner’s bumped off after bragging of treasure, salvage diver Gregory Mason (Flynn) sets out to make a killing of his own. The only one who knows where it’s buried, Mason’s scheme to recover the loot is dashed when a mysterious fire torches his ship. Coming to the rescue, however, is Brock Benedict (Burr), a sinister collector who offers his boat in exchange for a share. Charting a course into perilous waters, a wary Mason makes plans to recover the treasure, while the treacherous Benedict prepares to deep-six his new partner and keep the fortune all to himself.
Too Much, Too Soon (1958) When Errol Flynn was a young movie idol, he became a crony of aging star John Barrymore, whose rich talent was ravaged by an excess of booze and life. Years later, Flynn leaped at the chance to portray his old friend in this riveting and cautionary 1958 film based on the biography by Barrymore’s daughter Diana – and gave a triumphant performance that promised more dramatic greatness to come, if only Flynn hadn’t died at just 50 the next year. Dorothy Malone co-stars as Diana, who yearns for her famous father’s love. Barrymore tries, but is incapable of caring for or about himself, let alone his daughter…and Diana spirals into a vortex of failure and humiliation, too many drinks and too many men, all of it Too Much, Too Soon.
