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

Life Of Errol Flynn Is Filled With Adventure Star Of “The Charge Of The Light Brigade’? Has Realized The Dreams Of Every Small Boy Every once in a while a fellow is born on whom the fates smile. Things happen to them. They do everything every one else wants to do and can’t. The late Richard Harding Davis was one of these. Big, handsome, talented, he became the epitome of all that newspapermen think desirable. He was the real life embodiment of a reporter of romance. Jack London was another, the more glamorous because he had to fight for the opportunity to live all the adventures other authors wrote about. Broadway has not forgotten Wilson Mizner, who knew everybody, everywhere, and who lived a lifetime every year. Now consider Errol Flynn, the young Irishman who leads the dash to death in ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ the Warner Bros. dramatic screen story of war and love which was inspired by Lord Tennyson’s famous poem, which is now playing at the ...... A Ree Theatre. Flynn was born in the north of Ireland, June 20, 1909 and educated in Paris and London. His father was a professor of biology at Queen’s University, Belfast, and-also at Cambridge. English school boys are athletic as a rule, and Flynn became a sports enthusiast, specializing in boxing, swimming, rowing and Rugby football. In 1928 he was a member of England’s boxing team at the Olympic games in Amsterdam. Every litle boy in England and America, probably in the world, wants to be a policeman. This is usually just before they decide to become movie stars or famous athletes. So Errol Flynn, who had evidently determined to live all the lives about which other boys dream, having had his fill of boxing, became a ‘‘cop,’’? and was sent to New Guinea as a Territorial Constable, a job that, in the South Seas, is as honored as is a member of the Canadian Mounted Police in North America. Now it’s certain that every lad who reads sea stories wants to be captain of a vessel, particularly of an adventure ship. So Flynn became one. He bought a schooner and carried freight and passengers among the islands of the South Pacific. Naturally, he had to complete the story with a shipwreck and he and his crew were stranded on an uncharted island when his vessel hit a reef. Ever read Robinson Crusoe? There are other adventures which appeal to all boys. There is prospecting for gold, as an example. So Flynn prospected and actually uncovered a vein in the interior of New Guinea for which a syndicate paid him $50,000. Then came adventures in high finance—every boy reader wants to be a captain of finance—and this time his career-ship hit another reef. He went broke in Australia. Ask your small son what he would do in that case. Exactly! Flynn did it. He bought a small boat and set out alone for New Guinea to found another fortune. It took him several months, but he made the journey in safety. Then he turned pearl fisherman and was doing fairly well when he was engaged by a small company filmin ‘*Mutiny on the Bounty’’ to act as a guide in New Guinea, where incidentally he had to fight off head-hunters to protect the actors. Right now is a good time to state that he is a direct descendant of that Fletcher Christian who lead the mutiny, so— — We have said that every boy wants to be a movie star. Flynn doubled on his job as guide by Page Forty-eight They're At HARGE of the. of UW Bese Olivia de Havilland Wins Stardom At 19 The Charge of the Light Brigade,”’ Warner Bros.’ spectacular picturization of the heroic charge of the 27th Lancers at Balaclava in the Crimean War—is the vehicle used for starring two young people who have _ rapidly climbed by virtue of ability and hard work from the ranks of the unknown. Olivia de Havilland is but nineteen and her co-star Errol Flynn, twenty-seven years old. The Strand Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, co-stars of the Warner Bros. pic ture, ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which is now playing at the Sen eee ae ee Theatre, as they appeared to the staff artist of UNOS nae ee (newspaper) who made the above sketch of these famous young stars. Mat No. 201—20e role of Fletcher Christian, thus keeping the part playing the in the family. Returning to England he kept on acting, made a name for himcalled to Hollywood by Warner Bros., who self and finally was shortly gave him the leading role in ‘‘Captain Blood.’’ All books of adventure have their beautiful women. So Flynn got heroes marry singularly married to Lili Damita, whom every film fan agrees is one of the world’s best. Right now, at the ripe old age of 27, Flynn is enjoying his life as one of the screen’s most popular stars, but he admits that he hears the call for new adventure. Sometime he may read of another field to conquer—discover another universal longing and proceed to gratify it. In the meantime, he’s reached the high pinnacle of stardom in one of the greatest pictures ever to come out of Hollywood, ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which is based on Tennyson’s immortal poem. Co-starred with Olivia de Havilland, his film sweetheart in ‘‘Captain Blood,’’ Flynn goes gallantly to death at the head of the famous ‘‘600,’’? as the climax of a film story filled with adventure, action, romance and startling spectacles. A cast of more than 15,000 players and extras were employed under the direction of Michael Curtiz. Lounging Togs Now The Vogue Says Screen Star Winter’s a grand time for lounging — and there’s nothing more strengthening to the morale than attractive lounging togs, according to Olivia de Havilland, who is co-starred with Errol Flynn in ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ the Warner Bros. picture now showing at the .......... as Theatre. ““T think that a girl should pay as much attention to her looks when she’s going to spend the evening at home, as she would if she were going out to a party,’’ the young star avers. Olivia’s kind of at-home evening includes a new book, a bag of hard apples, and a comfortable chair. She likes to wear a smoky blue flannel robe fastened from chin to ankle with tiny blue buttons. For a festive touch, she ties a perky little blue bow to the side of her hair. For more formal lounging — satin pajamas. Her favorite pair are peach colored with thin bands of Chinese embroidery fer their only adornment. Worn with satin sandals—in green, to match the embroidery—they’re charming for entertaining a few intimate friends, or for a family evening. IGHT BRIGADE Lo ft FY No Wild Parties For Me, Says Olivia de Havilland Feminine Star Of “The Charge Of The Light Brigade’? Building For Future 5 Luck, the super brand that you have to have to win an Irish Sweepstakes prize or drive your flivver all the way downtown without once being stopped by a traffic light, started Olivia de Havilland on her meteoric career in films but she’s not going to depend upon it to guarantee her future. “‘In the two years I’ve been in pictures,’’ said Miss de Havilland, who is co-starred with Errol Flynn in Warner Bros.’ “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” now showing at the ............ Theatre, “I’ve seen to many of those who once were famous stars and now are extras to imagine that such luck as mine can last forever. “Many start in pictures, some as rapidly as I have, but it takes good common sense to last. I notice that the veterans who still get good roles and nice fat pay checks are the ones with wit enough to conserve their health and energy. You never see their names in the newspaper columns as being among those who danced until dawn at the Red Paint Cafe. “By that hour of the morning, they’ve had six or seven hours of restful sleep and when they report on the set at 9 o’clock they are fresh and alert and prepared to give their very best performarce.” Not that Olivia has any intention of buying a leopard skin and leasing a cave in preparation for the life of a hermit. “Ym young” — she’s just turned nineteen — “and I like a good time the same as other girls,” she says. “But fortunately for me I can enjoy myself without getting liquored up and spending my time in a night club foggy with cigarette smoke. That sort of relaxation seems to me to be tawdry and artificial. “I get fun from games and not too violent sports. I’d rather go for a swim than attend a swanky cocktail party given by the Princess de Kokomo. I know the instant I start to slip in pictures Vl be cut from her’s and other socialites’ invitation lists. “My sole interests are my family and my job and how I can continue to improve so that my work on the screen pleases theatre goers.” Miss de Havilland’s debut on the sereen was so startlingly unexpected that she still is breathless when she thinks about it. She was living with her mother and younger sister in Saratoga, Calif., having just been graduated from Los Gatos high school, when she was asked to play the role of Puck in a local amateur production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Preliminary plans were being made at that time by Max Reinhardt to produce the Shakespearean comedy on a grand scale in the famous Hollywood Bowl. A friend who knew a Reinhardt assistant told him of the amateur performance, and on the lookout for possible talent he journeyed to the little town. After the show, Miss de Havilland was introduced to the man and with the brash courage of youth asked if she would be permitted to see a rehearsal if she happened to be in Hollywood at. the time. The assistant thought it might be arranged, and that, to a school girl who worshipped Reinhardt for his great achievements on the stage, was the equivalent to an engraved invitation. She had won a scholarship at Mills College and intended to continue her education after the summer vacation, but persuaded her mother that a drive to Hollywood in the family car would provide a pleasant holiday for both of them. Once in the film capital, she sought out Reinhardt’s assistant and was introduced to the great director himself. He told her the way to learn to act was to become an understudy. Unfortunately for the small town girl, he had already signed Jeanne Rouveral as the understudy to Gloria Stuart, who had been cast in the leading role of Hermia. With no more encouragement than that, Olivia became an understudy to the understudy, helping Miss Rouveral with her lines and closely watching rehearsals. It’s always happening in fietion although seldom in real life, but the leading lady was suddenly unavailable. She had been offered a screen contract she felt she couldn’t afford to pass up, so Reinhardt graciously released Miss Stuart and put Miss Rouveral in her place. Miss de Havil land preempted the job of understudy. Then disaster stared Reinhardt in the face. With the opening performance only a few days away, Miss Rouveral fell ill. There was nothing to do but put the amateur actress, Olivia de Havilland, into the part until a professional substitute could be found. But as the vaudeville people used to say, the little girl “wowed” the first night audience and won herself a permanent job with Reinhardt. She completed the Hollywood engagement and then accompanied the troupe on tour, scoring a great success everywhere in the role of Hermia. She was recalled to Hollywood by plane when Reinhardt signed with Warner Bros. to produce “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the sereen, and when her film tests proved satisfactory she was given a long term contract. Her success as Hermia in pictures assured her immediate future, and she has gone from one leading role to another since then. Her pictures so far have been “Alibi Ike,” “The Irish in Us,” “Captain Blood,” “Anthony Adverse” and her current starring vehicle, “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” While she has become the darling of the studio and everyone is predicting quick stardom for her, the youngster has kept her feet on the ground and still wears the same sized hat. “Yd be a fool to trifle with such marvelous luck as I’ve had by going Hollywood,” she says. “Why I’ve seen girls just a few years older than I who once had just as bright prospects, in the extra line. I know how they got there, and I’m not going to look middle-aged by the time ’m twenty-five just for the sake of a few parties.”