Errol Flynn Books

This is a great book written by someone who actually new and worked with Errol Flynn.
The author Earl Conrad was the ghost writer for Errol's book "......Wicked Wicked Ways".

Mr. Conrad practically lived with Errol for a time working on Errol's book and remained friends with Errol. Conrad continued a friendship with Errol's parents after his death. The content is great. Conrad writes about when he first met Errol, the time they spent in Jamaica working on the book and even Errol's under aged female companion who was in Jamaica with them.

This book covers what Mr. Flynn could not include in his autobiography for obvious reasons. There's even a medical emergency. Conrad describes in detail a kind of seizure Errol suffered (which seems to have been brought on by drugs). He describes Errol's continued involvement with women even while the under aged female is with him.

There are some rare photos of Errol as a child, Errol in uniform working in New Guinea and a home Errol had built there, etc. Most of the photos were supplied by Errol's parents.

Earl Conrad clearly cared for Errol in the way he writes this book. He never paints any kind of bad picture of our star. Conrad only writes what he sees during work and leisure time personally spent with Mr. Flynn.

This happens to be one of the few books besides Errol's own autobiography and other books written by Errol I've found of value. It gives additional insight into this great man.

I paid $9.95 for a copy (the sticker price) about 3 year ago on Amazon. The current price has ballooned due to the re-sellers greed and rarity. It's a pretty short and small book. I wouldn't even pay $50.00 for it and I'm a stone cold Flynn fan.
A great read but not for $100.00, you may feel cheated........

If your really interested in Mr. Flynn, I'd suggest reading his autobigrapy, "My Wicked Wicked Ways by Errol Flynn". If you've conquered that I can suggest "Errol and Me by Nora Eddington Flynn".
This book is written by one of his ex-wives, his second.
I find a lot of insight into this book as well. The drug use is cooberated by Conrads book.

The only thing that my upset you is Nora claims Flynn beat her on about 2 occasions. On 1 Nora writes Mr. Flynn senior was present(I beleive Flynn's father was a live at the release of this book"). The circimstances are that of taking drugs from a drug addict. Clearly she loved and I think still loved Flynn during the writting of this book. This book is only going for $20.00 bucks too.

Excellent account of Earl Conrad's time spent with Errol Flynn gathering material for Flynn's biography. Gives an epic account of Flynn's latter years in Jamaica.....

If you have any interest at all in the life and times of Errol Flynn then you will enjoy Earl Conrad's book. He depicts Flynn in his near last days living at Flynn's Jamacia hideaway and writing what will become "Wicked, Wicked Ways..". The relationship with Adland, the Flynn sense of humor and the decline of Flynn are all directly portrayed, accurately, yet with kindness. A must read for Flynn fans.

Having read "My Wicked, Wicked Ways" several years ago this book adds another dimension to our understanding of Errol Flynn. It tells the story behind the creation of Flynn's controversial biography which caused quite a stir when it first hit the shelves all those years ago. Earl Conrad was a writer of exceptional ability who was able to create some wonderfully descriptive images of Flynn's crumbling glory as he moved into his final days. This is neither a sensationalist expo-zay nor a flowery tribute. Rather, it is an extremely eloquent, articulate and thought provoking epitaph to the life a Tasmanian schoolboy who went on to become one of the most significant and highly publicized personalities of the 20th century. As a literary work it is a text book perfect example of non fiction writing.

'Errol Flynn: A Memoir' by gifted writer Earl Conrad is the finest book ever written on the life of movie great Errol Flynn. Conrad was originally hired by Flynn in 1958 to ghost-write his autobiography 'My Wicked,Wicked,Ways'. That book was published within weeks of Flynn's death in 1959, and became a runaway national bestseller. This volume is about the year and a half Earl Conrad spent with Flynn at his Jamaican hotel, writing the first book, and is a genuine page-turner with Conrad giving first-hand accounts of his adventures with Errol Flynn. The reader will find himself pulled into the story, and probably wind up finishing the book in a single sitting! Conrad shows us that Errol Flynn was more than a swashbuckling movie star, world famous philanderer, mean practical joker, as well as self-indulgent drunk and sometimes drug addict. Yes, he was all of this, but he was also much more, including a naturally talented writer, self-taught marine biologist, voracious reader, seasoned sailor, and in time a superb dramatic actor.
Readers, climb aboard this ship as it sails into high adventure!

There are only two ways you can look at the lives of these legendary "bad boy" actors and comedians. First is head-on, which this book offers in abundance. And second, philosophically, as suggested by one of the most poignant passages in the book, "They all saw the joke of life, and they teach us not to be scared. There is no bogeyman. Get the essence of love and happiness and joy, and share it with people. All that matters is to leave a legacy of happiness, and to give someone else an inspiration--like they gave us." (Rita Saiz, clairvoyant?)

John Barrymore, W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn, and John Decker were among the most talented individuals of their day, and seemingly, among the most tragic, each drowning his pain in alcohol and prematurely snuffing-out their abilities and lives. But they did so in good company: John Carradine, Alan Mowbray, Ben Hecht, and Thomas Mitchell, to name a few. And best of all, there was Gene Fowler, the writer whom they trusted to keep the record straight. And worst of all, there was Sadakichi Hartmann, a pre-counter-culture beatnik/hippie who seemed to be consumed by his worst impulses, and was kept afloat by Barrymore.

But to concentrate on the tragic is to lose sight of the legacy that includes Barrymore's "Svengali" and "Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde," Fields's trenchant satires of American family life, and the transcendent magic of Flynn's swashbuckling heroes. Authors Mank, Heard, and Nelson offer no apologies for these artists, nor do they cast judgement. This is a book that is both repulsive and yet mesmerizing. In the end, we are left not so much mourning the shortened careers of these men, but marveling that their genius allowed them to perform a weird alchemy that transformed so much personal squalor into artistic brilliance.

This is High-Gothic Hollywood storytelling, and maybe it's about time.

I was a bit nervous when I ordered "Hollywood's Hellfire Club" by Gregory Mank, Charles Heard and Bill Nelson.

I love old Hollywood and the stars of its golden age and although I was not looking for a whitewash of their lives, I was worried it might be a book that just trashed them. And yes, the book shows their lives warts and all, but it was clearly written by people who love these guys and the period of Hollywood they lived in.

The interwoven stories of these friends has the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, but all told in an engrossing way that really wraps you up in the tale. I was familiar with W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn, John Carradine, John Barrymore, Ben Hecht and Gene Fowler but I did not know much about John Decker and Sadakichi Hartmann but reading about their exploits and insanity was funny and fascinating (W.C. Fields as Queen Victoria? And who in their right mind would ever think of a perfume concert?!?)

The book is a very enjoyable read, it grabs you with each persons story and pulls the group together as it tells the tale. Organized by decades, the book is lavishly illustrated and although most of the cast of characters had a lot of sadness in their lives, the book does not get morbid, it more looks at the absurdity and fun these people brought each other, and through their work they brought each of us.

These guys personified perfection in their chosen fields, were perfectly decadent in their private lives and the way "Hollywood's Hellfire Club" is presented makes for a perfectly fascinating story.

Greg Mank has left the haunted mansion of golden age horror film critiques and heads into Hollywood Babylon territory with his newest book; and what he finds would have Kenneth Anger gasping for breath. Mank, with his coauthors Charles Heard and Bill Nelson, tells the tale of the Bundy Drive Boys, a collective of fast living and hard drinking Hollywood actors, writers and artists--- all committed to their friendship and the right to destroy their careers, their families and themselves by any means necessary. Among the hell-raisers are John Barrymore, W.C. Fields, Errol Flynn, John Decker, William Fowler, John Carradine, Ben Hecht and Sadakichi Hartmann; and their stories of childhood tragedy, incest, rape, cannibalism (in a POW camp), drunken brawls, sexual conquests, and even an art forgery scam, will have your jaw hitting the floor.

I read HOLLYWOOD HELLFIRE CLUB in one sitting. My morbid curiosity (wondering just how much worse can things get for the Bundy Drive boys) simply would not let me put this book down. If you are a fan of Hollywood's Golden Age... or the last person to leave the scene of a train wreck, this book will surely entertain and/or horrify you!

This is a prestigious classy book and it's handsomely put together. The book will be a great collector's item.

Errol Flynn is Hollywood's greatest legend because he is a nostalgic, handsome, dashing, daring action hero.

Although this large-scale art book focuses on Errol Flynn's movie posters, it manages to be the best book out there on Flynn's career. There is an evocative introduction by Stewart Granger, good essays on Flynn's bio and on the Warner Bros. poster style (which was, sadly, the weakest of the major U.S. studios in the movies' golden age). There are beautiful reproductions of the posters and lobby cards themselves, from an impressively detailed collection (with samples of other swashbuckling movie posters for comparison). And finally, there are essays on each of Flynn's films that are fond, witty, and succinct. Beyond all this, though, it's the best Flynn book because it provides a clear and objective look at the trajectory of a remarkable career. It's amazing to see Flynn's image placed front and center on the poster of his first starring film, "Captain Blood," and it's both hilarious and heartbreaking to see the Dorian Grey-like image on his last, "Cuban Rebel Girls." Bassoff is that rare thing: a committed fan who loves his subject and gives him his due, but is far from star-struck. A great book.

I have been a Flynn star for years and have read most of the books except the lousy rush to print books. I read Higham and his forte is to denigrate falsely major stars once they are dead. He is a self loathing old gay queen who lashes out his venom. Errol Flynn was not a Nazi. He was too much a hedonist to be a nazi. He thought in fun not politics. I once met Cary Grant and as he said numerous times re: Flynn - he was not a nazi traitor at all- he just enjoyed life. He also said Errol never had to rape any woman- they raped him!!!

This book is very good, detailed and correct. If his biographer Mr. Conrad was alive he would write the same thing. I talked with Mt. Conrad and he was adamant that Flynn was not a nazi spy.This started because actor George Brent was mad at Flynn for bedding down Ann Sheridan. He also was envious of Flynn for his career and his larger ship the Zaca.He was pissed that Flynn pulled strings to allow himself to use the ship and for it not to be confiscated for the war effort.

Its time that writers like Higham and his low ilk were drum out of the writing profession and publishers stop printing lies and crap.

Note- Flynn and Howard Hughes were not lovers - Hughes number one man said so.

Great book on Flynn by Mr. Thomas. Read a must.

Like a lot of other people, Tony Thomas grew up in the 1940s fixated on the dashing, magnetic screen idol Errol Flynn. In the 1950s -- when Thomas was a writer and Flynn a washed up, dissipated shadow of his former self -- Thomas got to know Flynn and conducted several interviews with him. One of those still exists in audio form, but it very hard to find. In the 1960s, Thomas co-authored the landmark work "The Complete Films of Errol Flynn," and went on to serve as a consultant on the actor's life for a number of documentaries. His last book, "Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was," is one of the most fascinating looks at Errol Flynn ever committed to print -- it contains much never-published information on the actor -- and dismantles in detail Charles Higham's poorly-researched assertion that Flynn was a Nazi spy. Tony Thomas died last July after suffering a stroke; while those of us who had contact with him will miss him, we can be thankful of this last work, in which the great swashbuckler is finally defended. If you can find it, "Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was," is a must-read.

This is a comic materpiece and a must read for everyone. It also was made into an excellent under-rated Broadway play.

This is the first in the Toby Peters books and it is excellent. And, the Blackstone Audio Books version is both well read and faithful to the original book. The breaks on the cassettes are handy. Do yourself a favor and check out the later titles Blackstone offers. You'll be glad.

Very indepth view of the flamboyant life and films of the greatest swashbuckler of all time. His personal life was as adventurous as his screen portrayals. Lots of great photos and information on this great star of the silver screen.

I got this book at a used bookstore several years ago. I could not put it down. It is sad and juicy. Ms. Flynn told a warts and all story about her famed former husband whom was recently deceased at the time of publication. She writes of his drug abuse and his constant cheating and beatings he gave her. Its an odd story in a way because you wonder why she stayed with him as long as she did. It is riveting reader, but not very incisive. I would recommend this book to people whom like scandalous tales.

Author was a school contempory of Flynn- the book is the most factual account of his early school days in Hobart, Tasmania

This is a superb comprehensive publication, an a-z of many facts about Flynn- a who's who of many articles written about one of Hollywood's most charismatic stars. The book demonstrates the time and research the author conducted for the book.