Customer Reviews (1)

Freedland's "Flynn" is quick, unsatisfying
When one reads "The Two Lives of Errol Flynn," one gets the sensation that it was written in a very great hurry. Indeed, the writing is stilted and, in a number of instances, grammatically incorrect; the chapter titles -- all taken from Flynn's films -- seem forced; and an overwhelming portion of the text seems lifted straight from the pages of Flynn's pseudo-autobiography, "My Wicked, Wicked Ways" (Flynn did not write the book -- ghost writer Earl Conrad did). It is unfortunate that Freedland, who apparently interviewed a number of the people in Errol Flynn's life, could not have pieced together a better written and more comprehensive look at this legendary screen swashbuckler. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

not worth the time to read it
For a much better book get Inherited Risk by Jeffrey Meyers. Freedland's book is not worth the time to read it and the only redeeming qualities are the pictures. This should be under fiction, rather than autobiography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

My Days With Errol Flynn
Buster wiles was certainly a man one calls "Most Extraordinaire".He had every talent in world one could imagine. Most people would be extremely happy just to possess a fraction of it. This book is funny with lots of laugh and an entertainment on its own! Very succinct, easy reading and clearing up many mysteries about Errol Flynn!

His book is very enlightening and valuable as it also contains a very large light shedding section of many pages, written by William Donati, with proof to clear Errol Flynn's name of slanderous accusations written by Charles Higham. A book full of lies and slanderous accusations of which he has no proof, none what so ever! A book solely designed to take a world famous name and smear it on purpose with extreme false allegations by twisting words into ugly meanings with an outstanding imagination. This book is solely written to make money in a most polluted way on the expense of an innocent person by dragging them through the mud. A most foul method to provide sensationalism to an unsuspecting public.

"My Days With Errol Flynn" is a book very worthwhile to have and read of a man whose name is enshrined in the Hall of Fame of Hollywood Stuntman, who risk their lives on a daily basis for our enjoyment when we watch a movie. Buster Wiles was a living sensation! Happy Reading!

I nice little trip back in time.
I had the pleasure of meeting Buster Wiles in the mid-1970s. I was working as a waitress in downtown Seattle. He was without a doubt the most dapper gentleman I had ever met, and since. He always came into the restaurant singing, and told fabulous stories about the Old Hollywood stars he knew. I am thrilled I found this book.

Buy This Book, But Impossible To Rate
My Days With Errol Flynn, by Buster Wiles with William Donati (Roundtable Publishing, 1988):

Buy It!Buster Wiles scored a lit hat-trick with his as-told-to autobiography.I can't recommend it highly enough.The only disappointment was that he glossed over the part of his life as a jockey agent and horse racing steward.

He easily could have amplified the already amazing story of his life with more true stories about the world of horse racing into which he jumped wholeheartedly after his career as a stunt man had come to an end.

(He certainly would have done a better job than the majority of the professional racing writers, whose work simply stinks.)

Warning: Donati, however, had a problem.What he stated in his appendage (which had nothing to do with Wiles' charming, robust commentary) is absolutely true.

But his appalling histrionics in defending Errol from the absurd charges that he had been a Nazi spy backfired - in fact, it ruined the end of the book.

This was a shame, because he spared no expense traveling around the world and dealt with innumerable bureaucratic morons unearthing proof that the charges were false - and in this respect, he cannot be given enough credit for his good works. His sincerity & integrity is beyond reproach.

If Wiles - the non-writer - had had the foresight and access to edit his author's comments ("Bill, cut the soap box speeches - it will drive my readers NUTS!"), we all would have been better off.

I'd like to rate it; No Can Do.Amazon's rating system is impossible to understand.Which star do you "click"?There's no legend that the star to the left represents "one" on a scale of five, or "five" on a scale of five (and for the star all the way to the right, the same).

Maybe their patent for a new traffic stop light - where red can mean green, or green means green, or yellow appearing at the top of the three-color lighting scheme signals that you should come to a halt 500 feet after you've cleared the intersection - is still pending, and until then, an explanation cannot be furnished.

Maybe I should just click 'em all.Why not?

A SWASHBUCKLER'S PAL SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT!
If anyone really knew Errol Flynn, well besides the women in his life that is; it would have to be someone like his close friend stuntman Buster Wiles. Buster's book co-written with William Donati, takes the reader on a rare "behind the scenes" journey of what it was like working on those great Errol Flynn Warner Brother's movies -THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON and numerous others. How did Flynn always look so at ease doing all those daring and adventurous scenes? Well of course he had a lot of help, specially from the stunt profession. Wiles didn't double Flynn all the time, but he was always close by him doing all kinds of stunts from fights to horse falls to spectacular jumps.

The book is primarily about Buster's life story from his humble beginnings in the south, to his "riding the rails" in search of work. To his eventual arriving in Hollywood and becoming a stuntman by accident so to speak. His becoming one of Flynn's best friends covers the middle or Act 2 of his life. The final Act covers his many years as a placing judge at the Longacres Race Track in Seattle. There's plenty of humor to Buster's narrative but really I think one of his main purposes was to dispel the highly controversial and damning remarks made against his famous friend. In 1980 author Charles Higham claimed in his book "Errol Flynn: The Untold Story", that Flynn was a bi-sexual Nazi spy and a total fascist. Buster knew better and deeply felt the truth should be told. I for one agree. Of course having Errol Flynn in the title of any book really helps to sell it. Meaning no disrespect to Buster, it's still the iconic legendary swashbuckler himself that still fascinates us to this day. And I think this book has finally allowed him to rest a little easier.

The Autobiography of a Stuntman
Vernon "Buster" Wiles was born in Missouri, raised in Tennessee, and worked as a Hollywood stuntman for twenty years. Young Buster worked as a newsboy and a caddy, and enjoyed sports especially football and boxing. He tells of his job at the Bank of Commerce (pp.20-21). Buster traveled around the country doing various jobs which prepared him to become a stuntman. He had other jobs and businesses; people learned never to cross him (p.37).

Part II tells of his work as a stuntman in Hollywood pictures, and scenes off-camera. Her worked with Errol Flynn and became friends due to their sports interests. Errol's father was a Professor of Marine Biology at Queen's College in Belfast Ireland. Buster tells of his work in "High Sierra" where he played the rifleman who shot "Roy Earle", then doubled for Bogart to fall down the mountain (p.90). His main training was to run seven miles a day. After Pearl Harbor Errol Flynn was deferred due to heart murmur and tuberculosis (kept secret). Flynn did work for British intelligence (pp.112-113). Flynn sold War Bonds, and visited Alaska to entertain soldiers.

Part III tells of his life after quitting the movie business; aches and pains took longer to heal. Buster worked as an agent for jockeys, and traveled up and down the Pacific Coast. His advice for betting on horses is on page 175. Buster loved the excitement of gambling, but his winnings often disappeared as fast as he got them. Buster was shocked to hear of Errol Flynn's death, but he knew he lived fast. The legends about Flynn aren't all true (p.185). Buster wrote this autobiography to correct the misinformation in the CBS film that fictionalized Flynn's life (p.202). He sets the record straight.

The important part of this book is the Appendix by William Donati, who checked the sources for Higham's biography. Wiles told of the lies in that book (p.208). Those who knew Flynn, like David Niven, didn't believe that book (p.210). The declassified documents show that it was not Errol Flynn but Dr. Hermann Erben who was the subject of investigation. There was nothing to Higham's story (pp.211-212). Dr. Erben first met Flynn in 1933 before Flynn began acting in Britain. Higham modified an official document to support his story (p.221)! Donati interviewed Dr. Erben (pp.229-237). Other examples of Higham's errors are given (pp.249-260). If Charles Higham can't be trusted (p.261) how reliable is his story? Does this controversy arise from the uncorroborated writings of Dr. Erben (p.264).

... Read more

Product Description
" The showgirls and I would get to know Errol Flynn at a time when he was virtually alone". ... Read more

Product Description
The life story of one of Hollywood's most dashing swashbucklers reveals how his wild offscreen behavior--drinking, womanizing, and carousing with David Niven--contrasted with his on-screen charm. (Biography). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Additional Insight by someone working with Errol
This is a great book written by someone who actually new and worked with Errol Flynn.
The author Earl Conrad was the ghost writer for Errol's book "......Wicked Wicked Ways".

Mr. Conrad practically lived with Errol for a time working on Errol's book and remained friends with Errol.Conrad continued a friendship with Errol's parents after his death.The content is great.Conrad writes about when he first met Errol, the time they spent in Jamaica working on the book and even Errol's under aged female companion who was in Jamaica with them.

This book covers what Mr. Flynn could not include in his autobiography for obvious reasons.There's even a medical emergency.Conrad describes in detail a kind of seizure Errol suffered (which seems to have been brought on by drugs).He describes Errol's continued involvement with women even while the under aged female is with him.

There are some rare photos of Errol as a child, Errol in uniform working in New Guinea and a home Errol had built there, etc. Most of the photos were supplied by Errol's parents.

Earl Conrad clearly cared for Errol in the way he writes this book.He never paints any kind of bad picture of our star.Conrad only writes what he sees during work and leisure time personally spent with Mr. Flynn.

This happens to be one of the few books besides Errol's own autobiography and other books written by Errol I've found of value.It gives additional insight into this great man.

I paid $9.95 for a copy (the sticker price) about 3 year ago on Amazon.The current price has ballooned due to the re-sellers greed and rarity.It's a pretty short and small book.I wouldn't even pay $50.00 for it and I'm a stone cold Flynn fan.
A great read but not for $100.00, you may feel cheated........

If your really interested in Mr. Flynn, I'd suggest reading his autobigrapy, "My Wicked Wicked Ways by Errol Flynn".If you've conquered that I can suggest "Errol and Me by Nora Eddington Flynn".
This book is written by one of his ex-wives, his second.
I find a lot of insight into this book as well.The drug use is cooberated by Conrads book.

The only thing that my upset you is Nora claims Flynn beat her on about 2 occasions.On 1 Nora writes Mr. Flynn senior was present(I beleive Flynn's father was a live at the release of this book").The circimstances are that of taking drugs from a drug addict.Clearly she loved and I think still loved Flynn during the writting of this book. This book is only going for $20.00 bucks too.

Errol Flynn, a memoir
Excellent account of Earl Conrad's time spent with Errol Flynn gathering material for Flynn's biography.Gives an epic account of Flynn's latter years in Jamaica.....

Text book perfect example of non fiction writing
Having read "My Wicked, Wicked Ways" several years ago this book adds another dimension to our understanding of Errol Flynn. It tells the story behind the creation of Flynn's controversial biography which caused quite a stir when it first hit the shelves all those years ago. Earl Conrad was a writer of exceptional ability who was able to create some wonderfully descriptive images of Flynn's crumbling glory as he moved into his final days. This is neither a sensationalist expo-zay nor a flowery tribute. Rather, it is an extremely eloquent, articulate and thought provoking epitaph to the life a Tasmanian schoolboy who went on to become one of the most significant and highly publicized personalities of the 20th century. As a literary work it is a text book perfect example of non fiction writing.

Best written book ever written about Errol Flynn
'Errol Flynn: A Memoir' by gifted writer Earl Conrad is the finest book ever written on the life of movie great Errol Flynn. Conrad was originally hired by Flynn in 1958 to ghost-write his autobiography 'My Wicked,Wicked,Ways'.That book was published within weeks of Flynn's death in 1959, and became a runaway national bestseller. This volume is about the year and a half Earl Conrad spent with Flynn at his Jamaican hotel, writing the first book, and is a genuine page-turner with Conrad giving first-hand accounts of his adventures with Errol Flynn.The reader will find himself pulled into the story, and probably wind up finishing the book in a single sitting!Conrad shows us that Errol Flynn was more than a swashbuckling movie star, world famous philanderer, mean practical joker, as well as self-indulgent drunk and sometimes drug addict.Yes, he was all of this, but he was also much more, including a naturally talented writer, self-taught marine biologist, voracious reader, seasoned sailor, and in time a superb dramatic actor.
Readers, climb aboard this ship as it sails into high adventure!

An up-close look at the last days of Errol Flynn.
If you have any interest at all in the life and times of Errol Flynn then you will enjoy Earl Conrad's book.He depicts Flynn in his near last days living at Flynn's Jamacia hideaway and writing what will become"Wicked, Wicked Ways..". The relationship with Adland, the Flynnsense of humor and the decline of Flynn are all directly portrayed,accurately, yet with kindness.A must read for Flynn fans. ... Read more

Product Description
Peter Valenti presents an objective evaluation of Flynn's impact on both American popular culture and the development of motion pictures. The book begins with a brief biography of the actor, followed by a complete history of his screen, radio, and television career, an annotated guide to popular and scholarly materials on Flynn, and a bibliography of his own writings and the publications in which they appeared. Valenti ends with a series of personal interviews held with Flynn at various points in his often infamous career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A BIOBIBLIOGRAPHY BY PETER VALENTI
This is a superb comprehensive publication, an a-z of many facts about Flynn- a who's who of many articles written about one of Hollywood's most charismatic stars.The book demonstrates the time and research the authorconducted for the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Alcohol-Related Deaths in Canada, Drug-Related Suicides in Canada, Errol Flynn, Chögyam Trungpa, Ed Delahanty, John Kordic, Dwayne Goettel, John Thompson, Willy Rey. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 31. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: John "Rambo" Kordic (Croatian: Ivan Kordi) (March 22, 1965 August 8, 1992) was a hockey player in the National Hockey League. He was of Croatian descent. Kordic played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, and Quebec Nordiques, for a total of seven seasons in the NHL. He won the Calder Cup with Sherbrooke Canadiens in 1985, and a Stanley Cup with Montreal Canadiens in 1986. While playing for Toronto Maple Leafs, he wore #27, formerly worn by Leaf players Darryl Sittler and Frank Mahovlich. On August 8, 1992, after overdosing on drugs and being involved in a struggle with police at his hotel, Kordic died. At his time of death, Kordic was 27 years old. John's brother, Dan, played for the Philadelphia Flyers organization in the 1990s. ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=608302 ... Read more

Product Description
Charismatic film director Dan Ryan is planning to make 'The Errol Flynn Movie' and Jake is the struggling actor he wants in the role of the famous swashbuckler and seducer. Initially dubious, Jake soon becomes immersed in the details of Flynn's life and realises they have more in common than he'd care to admit. But as fascination veers towards obsession, Jake finds himself in a nightmare of epic proportions. Wildly funny, sexy and compelling The Errol Flynn Novel casts new light on one of Hollywood's most ambiguous icons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Tale of a Flynn Completist
"However, if you are a Flynn completist, and you happen to stumble upon a used copy for no more than 50 cents, you might go ahead and add it to your collection - if only to keep it out of the hands of someone else.. Or it might make a useful thing to start the logs burning in your fireplace on a cold winter night. Or still again, it might be worth keeping in one of your drawers for its limited curiosity value, as yet one more piece of garbage about Errol Flynn that has no redeeming value, and is about as bad a book as it could possibly be." Lincoln Hurst

It appears that there is a love/hate relationship with this novel. And it looks as if hate is on the fast-track. Not for me, I found it a bizarre fascinating read. Geoff Nicholson is known as a farcical writer, and I can see some of that exhibited in this novel, but it needs more. This was no laugh out loud novel, sort of a hehehe under your breath. Some of the story is so far fetched that I can envision a movie screen with the characters looking at each other in confusion.

Jake is a down at the heels wanna-be actor, working in a photo shop when one day a former classmate, Sacha, appears, and within a day Jake has been hired to appear in a film about Errol Flynn. Dan Ryan, the director starts sending reams of paper, books about Flynn, music and what not. Jake has difficulty keeping up with all of the info flying at his feet. And then he realizes that he wants to play Errol Flynn. This seems to have been the plan all along and off he goes to make a movie. Nothing is ever as it seems we are told, and that is true here. The film is strange, Errol Flynn is shown as the sexually explicit man he was, warts and all are fully filmed. Dan Ryan, the director becomes more unhinged and the dark side of movie making is exposed. Dan Ryan's, wife Tina, seems to be made of sterner stuff but is that really true?The novel moves from London to Hollywood to Las Vegas and the desert in-between. The charcters are more outlandish and overdone as the story moves on, but that is when the fun really begins.The novel bogs down at times, but at the same time I needed to know the ending of this strangely elusive novel. The sex talk is explicit, but there is nothing here that has not been said time and time again.

This is a novel of obsession, the dark side of Hollywood with a twist. Not enough of a twist to keep Errol Flynn intact, but this was entertaining in a bizarre sort of way. Would Errol Flynn approve? No idea, but why should we care?

Recommended. prisrob 01-01-08

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Bedlam Burning

errol flynn by nicholson
This is not a book about Flynn - but a sleazy novel using Flynn's name-notfor flynn fans ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

THE TASMANIAN STORY
Author was a school contempory of Flynn- the book is the most factual account of his early school days in Hobart, Tasmania ... Read more