Is The Above From Hello, God?

Errol Flynn Behind Scenes on MGM's Kim

Reader Brian commented earlier today and mentioned that he had what may be a still from Hello, God, Errol Flynn's so-far missing feature referenced in Part Two of Greenbriar's Against All Flagspost. I invited Brian to send the image along, and here it is. Time, then, for Flynn authorities to step up and educate us. Was this photo taken during the Hello, God shoot? If so, it's the first I've ever seen. Per Brian in his comment, Errol sports the Kim beard from that just-finished show, and we know Hello, God followed Kim on the actor's schedule. Varietysays Flynn and William Marshall partnered to do Hello, God, and that "Flynn was making Kim at Metro ... on loanout from WB." Variety also reported the Flynn/Marshall lawsuit dating their initial Hello, God agreement to 2-15-50. According to The American Film Institute Catalog, Kim was filmed between December 1949 (beginning with location in India) and late February (and possibly into March) 1950, back at Culver City.

Flynn Cultivates Kim Goatee and Short-Lived Fiancée Princess Irene Ghika

Errol Does Kim Publicity with "Harem Beauty" Laurette Luez

Also understood is that much of Flynn's Hello, God action takes place on a beach. I'm tilting toward Brian's still being the McCoy, andErrol Flynn Slept Here/Errol and Olivia author Robert Matzen agrees: The fact that he's wearing his 1949 goatee authenticates the still rather than casting doubt about it. The Films of Errol Flynn also talks about a stop-off in Italyfor Hello God on the way back to MGM to finish Kim. Fascinating stuff! To what Bob Matzen writes, I'd add Variety's reportage that beach scenes with Flynn were made at Santa Barbara. Could these have been in addition to footage shot during his sojourn in Italy, or was it true that, as some claim, William Marshall shot Italian scenes with a double, then matched these with material later done with Flynn in the US?Whatever the details, it would appear that, thanks to Brian, we now have an actual Hello, God image to reflect upon, and debate over.

Life High Up: Errol and Princess Irene Taking To The Air Again

7-12-12: More from Robert Matzen re Errol Flynn and Hello, God:

To answer your original question, John, I have never seen any image published anywhere on Hello God. Flynn fans have never had a point of reference to even imagine what this motion picture would have looked like.

On and Off Planes: Flynn and Betrothed Patrice Arrive in Paris (9-27-50)

For the record, I’m not buying that EF participated in Hello God to break a lucrative contract he had just recently signed and desperately needed so that he could maintain a lifestyle that included Mulholland Farm and Zaca. True, he had scaled back the luxuries of Mulholland by this time, but keeping a 118-foot schooner manned, seaworthy, and stocked with provisions was enough for Flynn to contend with—and then you add in alimony to two ex-wives with children. If you look at this photo and if we agree that this is indeed a Hello God still that was shot on the coast of Italyearly in 1950, you see a sober, focused performer at work and not a self-destructive force of nature. Flynn the chameleon could clean up his act when motivated and arrive on set as a charming professional. There’s lots of evidence available in his post-war pictures.

Flynn with Caddies at the Rome Golf Club During Italian Stopover

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9-30-50: Errol Gifts Patrice Wymore With Sapphire Ring as
 Monte Carlo Wedding Date Approaches

Hello God was a small, independent production that Flynn apparently did on a whim at a time when he was really feeling his oats— courting Princess Irene, having just worked for MGM on two splashy productions in a row. The first surrounded him with major Metro stars and the second took him around the world in luxury. Now here was a juicy little picture that would allow him to really act, without a horse or a sword in sight, and he was big on showing his craft in this second half of his career. Yes, it was an anti-war vehicle, and he’d done one of those already, The Dawn Patrol, and it had been a big hit. So he stopped and made Hello God figuring this would be his one outside picture a year (1951) allowed in the Warner Bros. contract. What makes sense to me is that, by the time Hello God was ready for release, somebody had advised that he would soon be consumed in the HUAC witch hunts if this thing saw light of day. The Red Scare and the rise of Joe McCarthy were the wildcards here, it stands to reason, and caused Flynn to panic and turn on William Marshall. It wasn’t like Flynn to turn on a friend, so the scare must have been big indeed, and he thought he was fighting for his very survival.

Many thanks to Robert Matzen for the foregoing --- and be sure to check out hisChasing Legends blog for lots more about Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland.