Errol and Olivia:Ego and Obsession in Golden Era Hollywood by Robert Matzen
We usually don’t write book reviews here at the corner but film buffs will be delighted at this just released coffee table sized book about two of Hollywood’s biggest stars; Errol Flynn and Olivia De Haviland, still going strong in her 90’s. The author Robert Matzen, is no stranger to Hollywood or Flynn: he wrote a previous book about the infamous house Flynn built in Hollywood,, entitled “Errol Flynn Slept Here”.
The book delves deeply into both stars backgrounds and their encounters both on and off the screen; carefully examining their personal and professional relationships in all their films together, from Flynn’s first starring role in Captain Blood to their last, touching scene in “They Died With Their Boots On” an historically inaccurate accounting of Custer’s Last Stand. Along the way, we are treated to some of the best stories surrounding both stars, their squabbles, and how De Haviland has since gone on to become the Grand Dame of cinema. Continue reading
The Brothers Warner
“The Brothers Warner” is a well done documentary about the four brothers that started the famous studio as told by friends and family. With lots of archival footage, Cass Warner , the granddaughter of Harry Warner, narrates this fascinating look at the brothers who started back in nickelodeon days and built it into a powerful empire in Hollywood. Each brother is carefully examined and family difficulties are not smoothed over by Warner, along with interviews from famous Warner aquaintances Debbie Reynolds, Dennis Hopper, Norman Lear, Sherry Lansing and others. Family members are also interviewed in this 94 minutes documentary. Excerpts from famous Warner films are also featured, as Warner Studios took risks; they introduced a lot of genres (gangster films)and political ideas(the first studio to produce an anti Nazi film) into film even though it wasn’t popular at the time. Other studios actually pressured Warner not to put out “Confessions Of A Nazi Spy” because they didn’t want to lose Germany’s box office funds.
This high interest documentary kept me riveted to my chair as it will for most film buffs. Recommended viewing. This DVD will be released March 9, 2010.
Share This Blog
Robert Ham
dmanderson
Andrea
nicklyons1
DVD Corner 