The Charge of the Light Brigade (Warner Bros.) (1936)

ee HARGE of the LIGHT BRIGADE i a ey Flynn Rides An Elephant To Shoot At A Leopard Hair Raising Scene Is Taken For ‘“The Charge Of The Light Brigade” A howdah sounds like a greeting, but it isn’t. It is an elephant saddle and unless you own an elephant you have no use for one. A howdah looks like a cross between a pack sad dle and a rumble seat but it isn’t as safe. Errol Flynn never saw a howdah until he went to work in Warner Bros.’ ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade, Gomerseto “thie a. iver sc: Theatre Onin eae as eee In his travels around the world he has ridden camels and horses but never elephants. The scene was a leopard hunt and it was filmed at Sherwood Lake. Michael Curtiz, the director, pointed to an elephant. He was a large elephant and he seemed docile enough. “You get on his back and ride him toward the camera and when I yell action, you shoot.” Curtiz was comfortably seated on a big rock, as he spoke. “What do I shoot?” Flynn asked. “A gun,” said Mr. Curtiz. “What do you think?” “fT mean, what do I shoot at?” asked Mr. Flynn, a trifle nettled. “At a leopard,” said Curtiz. “You sit in the howdah and when the leopard comes through the brush you shoot at him.” “You have my interests at heart, haven’t you?” Flynn observed. “It isn’t the least bit dangerous,” said Curtiz. “The gun is loaded with blanks and the leopard is tame. I think he hasn’t any teeth. The elephant won’t object, either.” “How do you know the eleplant won’t object?” Flynn wanted to know. “Look at him,’ said Curtiz. “Does he look like an elephant who would object to anything?” Flynn looked dubious. “How do I get on him?” Curtiz was puzzled. “Drive him up alongside a stump and climb on. That’s what you do with a horse,” he suggested. Assistant Director Jack Sullivan, however, had a better idea. He produced a ladder and Flynn climbed into the howdah. So did EK. E. Clive and David Niven. There were three other elephants with howdahs on them. George Regas and ©. Henry Gordon, wearing turbans because they are playing Hindus, got into the first howdah and some extras in native dress filled the other two. The two prop men, Limey Plews and Scotty Moore loaded a dozen rifles and handed them up to the men in the howdahs. It was a fine, bright day, just the right kind of a day for leopard hunting in Southern California although there isn’t much leopard hunting done. About the only thing one hunts in this part of the world are linnets and they are rather different from leopards. The animal men came through the brush lugging a cage with a leopard in it. Mr. Curtiz had been wrong. The leopard had teeth and he looked very mean. One of the men got too near the cage and the leopard growled. Jurtiz smiled. “Hear him?” he asked. “What?” Flynn called from his howdah. “The leopard,’ said Curtiz. “He’s purring.” “He’s got a healthy purr,” said Flynn. “Suppose we get this over with.” “Start the drums,” yelled Curtiz. Up on the hill a bunch of men began beating drums and yelling. The camera was turning, looking at the drummers as they came oe: which through the brush. The animal men turned the leopard loose and he came out of the cage, yawned, stretched and ambled toward Curtiz, who looked worried. The leopard rubbed his head against Curtiz’ leg and then moved into the brush and began rolling on his back. “Action!” Curtiz called. Flynn’s elephant seemed to understand. He started trumpeting and rocking from side to side and the howdah creaked and pitched. Flynn, Niven and Clive dropped their guns and grabbed the sides of the howdah. “Stop him!” Niven pleaded. “Ym getting seasick.” “Bring the ladder!” Clive. Flynn didn’t say anything. He was looking for a soft bush. The elephant trumpeted again and dropped on his knees. The yelled three actors almost left the how. dah. It began to disintegrate. “Jump!” yelled Sullivan, The elephant started to lie down and Flynn, Niven and Clive jumped. And they jumped not a minute too soon for the elephant not only did lie down but he rolled over on his howdah. The leopard came out of the bushes and looked at the proceedings with an inquiring eye. He moved to the prostrate Flynn and sniffed at him. Flynn seemed startled but didn’t run. Then the animal trainer came up with steel hooks. “Hurry up,” Curtiz called from a safe distance. “Fix the howdah and we'll do it again.” “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is a dynamic drama produced on a huge scale. Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland are starred and the support ineludes Patric Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, G. P. Huntley, Jr., and thousands of extra people. The screen play is by Michel Jacoby and Rowland Leigh, based on an original story by Jacoby. Gallant Soldier The charge that failed but became immortal because of the dauntless courage shown in the face of overwhelming odds, inspired Warner Bros. to make ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which is now UNE: Hawn a eee Theatre. Above is Errol Flynn who is costarred with Olivia de Havilland in the production. Mat No. 113—10e Errol Flynn and the two Colonials behind him have just sighted the enemy’s troops in this tense moment from ‘‘The Charge of the Light 2? Brigade, whichis now. showing at the <...2.....cccveceiscosecsss Theatre. From native skirmishes in Northern India the picture reaches a thrilling climax in the immortal charge of the ‘Light Brigade’ at the battle of Balaclava. Mat No. 214—20¢ Flynn And Bride Sign Contract To Prevent Divorce An actor and an actress can stay married and happy, in the opinion of Errol Flynn and Lili Damita, and they have decided to prove it. The dashing Irish actor, who is now starring in Warner Bros.’ ‘“‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which.comes to the .......... Fyreunetes eage: PheatreONesccse cis -<:5 has: drawn up a contract with his French bride which they contend will solve any of the common problems that arise between a husband and wife who are both professionals. Briefly, the contract provides as follows: ‘Never under any circumstances will acting or motion pictures be the subject of conversation between us except in the presence of others. ‘«Never under any circumstances will either of us interfere by suggestion or otherwise in the professional carreer of the other. Each shall lead his professional life as he or she sees fit.’’ Flynn and Miss Damita, whose airplane elopement to Yuma, Ariz., was the culmination of a whirlwind courtship, are convinced that no difficulties will arise between them if they abide strictly by the terms of the matrimonial contract. They feel that the cause of most Hollywood divorcees lies in the fact that married professionals are too prone to make suggestions or criticisms regarding each other’s work. ‘¢The Charge of the Light Brigade’’ is a mammoth production packed with dynamic drama and tender romance. There is an all star cast which—besides the stars, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland — includes Patrice Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, David Niven and over fifteen thousand additional players. The picture was directed by Machael Curtiz. Flynn’s Lancers Fight 100 Arabs At Mt. Whitney The first battle fought for Warner Bros.’ ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which comes to |) Oe eee eer nn Re Theatre on Sree ee » wasn’t the battle that Alfred, Lord Tennyson immortalized in his poem. The fight, a skirmish between a British cavalry unit, led by Errol Flynn, and a hundred Arabs was staged in the rocky, broken country under Mt. Whitney, seven miles from Lone Pine. Flynn and his company of lancers fought Arabs from sunrise until three o’clock in the afternoon. At that time Director Michael Curtiz ended film hostilities. The battle started when Flynn and his lancers, on a horse-buying expedition into Arabia, were attacked as they drove two hundred head of horses through a narrow canyon. From behind the rocks, the Arabs, recruited from Hollywood and Lone Pine, began firing on the cavalry. The lancers retreated to the mouth of the canyon and returned the fire. An icy wind from the snow banks blew during the entire skirmish and every half hour the horsemen and their enemies laid down their guns and sought the shelter of buses and cars. How Tennyson Wrote Famous Poem Hallam Tennyson, son of the famous poet said that his father wrote “The Charge of the Light Brigade” in a few minutes after reading reports in London papers of the mistaken order which led the heroic 27th Lancers to their death. Tennyson’s poem suggested to Warner Bros. the epic picture, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” which comes to the emer aeons Lav TRGATIE ON. a Sirtestccars co-starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Errol Flynn Sells Adventure Novel During the production of Warner Bros.’ “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” which comes to CHO a5 Sane Theatre on Bry eet icy je » Errol Flynn received word from his New Yorn agent that his novel, “Beam Ends” had been sold to Cosmopolitan magazine. The sale of the story was the second for Flynn in a month. Previously he had sold to Warner Bros. for a screen play, “White Rajah,” on which William Ullman, Jr., collaborated. “Beam Ends” is the story of one of Flynn’s experiences in the South Seas. It tells how he and three other men sailed in the tiny boat, Sirocco, from Australia to New Guinea and of the hardships encountered on the voyage which ended on a rocky reef in a storm, with one of the men drowned. Errol Flynn Cools Off In A Chabootra During the filming of “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” the Warner Bros. picture now showing at the... o0c.5.. fare Theatre, Errol Flynn learned how to keep cool during the hot summer nights. He has built a chabootra in the backyard of his home. It is similar to the one used in the British garrison square constructed for his current picture. A chabootra, invented by the East Indians centuries ago, is a raised stone platform about 25 feet in diameter, shaded by a large unbrella or tree. In the late afternoon the stones are wet down with cold water. At night it is always cool. Flynn is co-starred with Olivia de Havilland in “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” Errol Flynn Thrown From His Horse A forty mile gale, sweeping down from the snow clad slopes of Mount Whitney, forced the company filming the Werner Bros. picture, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” co-starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, now showing. a6 Tho: ..3..0. ec .sscstece Theatre, to halt operations while on location, at Lone Pine. Director Michael Curtiz stopped work after Errol Flynn, the star, was thrown from his horse during the filming of a scene seven miles from Lone Pine. Flynn’s horse shied at a bit of paper that was earried by the wind across his path, reared and threw the actor who was unin. jured. Boldly He Rode! ““Into the jaws of Hell’’ rides Errol Flynn in this scene from *“The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which is now showing ot VE <n See ee Theatre. Mat No. 104—10c Page Forty-three