My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn

My Wicked, Wicked Ways is a 1985 American TV movie based on My Wicked, Wicked Ways, the best selling memoir of Errol Flynn.

My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn
GenreBiopic
Written byDoris Keating
Jill Trump
James Lee
Don Taylor
Directed byDon Taylor
StarringDuncan Regehr
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerDoris Keating
CinematographyJames Glennon
Release
Original networkCBS
Original release21 January 1985 (1985-01-21)

Plot

In 1935 Errol Flynn arrives in Los Angeles to take up a contract with Warner Bros. He plays a corpse in The Case of the Curious Bride, which impresses Jack Warner enough to cast Flynn in the lead of Captain Blood. He falls in love with fading film star Lily Damita.

Cast

Background

Doris Keating, daughter of Barry Mahon, Flynn's one time business manager, optioned the book in 1977. It took her several years to find finance.

"Some people at the networks felt maybe he just wasn't likable enough," Miss Keating said, "But I persisted. I felt I owed it to him to present his story the way he wrote it. The film is my valentine to him."[1]

She managed to get up the film as a TV movie for CBS. The project deliberately steered clear of any political controversies.[1]

The lead role went to Canadian actor, Duncan Regehr. He said he "didn`t want to do an imitation of Flynn or mimic him in any way I chose to do an interpretation, an attempt to capture his elegance and charm, the soul of the man."[2]

The film focuses on the years 1935 to 1943, ending with trial for statutory rape. Regehr later said "the movie does dribble away. But we chose to do it that way. He wanted to have a good time. He didn`t understand why people didn`t want him to do that. He never looked before he leaped. We leave him feeling terribly sad, in a state of confusion. Then again, he only wanted to live the first half of his life anyway."[2]

Keating said if the film was successful she wanted to do a prequel about Flynn's life in New Guinea, but this did not eventuate.[3]

Reception

Critical

The New York Times said the events of Flynn's life "are woodenly re-enacted without a trace of the passion, adventure or sexiness that blurred the lines between the star's movie roles and off-screen personalities" and said Regehr "lacks Errol Flynn's edge of steel. The restless, amused predator, always poised for action, has become in Mr. Regehr's performance a smirking, doe-eyed lounge lizard - imperturbably polite and languid."[4]

The Los Angeles Times called it "flat, clichéd, silly" which "reveals the veneer beneath the veneer."[5]

Ratings

The film screened in January which was traditionally a low rating month leading some observers to believe that CBS were "burying" it.[6] The film did not rate well being the 40th highest rated show of its week. It was beaten by ABC's Scandal Sheet which came 12th.[7]

References
  1. "Errol Flynn TV Docudrama Raises Complaints", Farber, Stephen. New York Times 16 January 1985: C.22.
  2. Anderson, Jon (January 20, 1985). "`WICKED WAYS` HAS REGEHR IN LIKE FLYNN". Chicago Tribune.
  3. "TV 'Tribute to Flynn' Won't Be That Wicked: Flynn TV Bio", Richard, Julie. Los Angeles Times 27 December 1983: g1.
  4. Holden, Stephen (21 January 1985). "ERROL FLYNN'S STORY, FROM HIS OWN BOOK". New York Times. p. Section C, Page 25.
  5. TV REVIEW `WICKED WAYS' IS A STICKY WICKET: [Home Edition] Rosenberg, Howard. Los Angeles Times 21 Jan 1985: 8.
  6. CBS ADDS MORE MYSTERY TO SUNDAY NIGHT LINEUP BYKOFSKY, STUART D. Philadelphia Daily News 29 Dec 1984: 23.
  7. KENNEDY' MINISERIES IS NO WINNER: [SUN-SENTINEL Edition] Kelley, Bill. Sun Sentinel 31 Jan 1985: 8.D.
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