Gentleman hellraiser

David Bret (JR Books, £8.99)

This straightforward and largely non-judgemental account of Errol Flynn’s life is based on the star’s own writings and the reminiscences of his contemporaries.

Born in Australia, but educated for a time in an English public school, Flynn spent time as a young man in New Guinea, searching for gold and, less successfully, trading in slaves. While there, he appeared almost by accident in a documentary, and it was that appearance which secured his first role, as Fletcher Christian in an Australian film about the Bounty. Having returned to England to pursue an acting career, he worked for the Northampton Repertory Company, and had a disappointing stint at the Malvern Festival before being successfully auditioned by Warner Brothers. In Hollywood, his good looks, abundant personality and modest ability made him a movie star, best known for his swashbuckling in such films as Captain Blood and Robin Hood. This screen image was at odds with his real physique, which was so poor that he was unfit for war service.

Life outside work was a hectic non-stop search for adventure and pleasure. He steadily abused his famous body with drugs, dying young, and in financial difficulties, aged only 50. Sadly, although he had hundreds of sexual partners and three wives, he seems to have been incapable of loving anyone.

He comes across as a thoroughly dislikeable man, not at all the Gentleman Hellraiser of the book’s subtitle, which I assume can only be ironic. Nevertheless, Errol Flynn’s story is a fascinating one.