Reviews

The story is well outlined in another review, so I will relay a fascinating and true prelude. Coral Browne was a very dear friend and we would often go to early movies, enjoy a dinner and sometimes chat until the wee hours. On one particular evening we ended up in the garden and she said she had a story to tell and she also had great hopes to see it made into a film. Well, she proceeded to relate ( as only she could) this amazing saga. We were spellbound. She then said she wanted Alan Bennett to write the screenplay, Alan Bates to play Burgess and, of course, John Schlesinger to direct. Naturally, she would play herself. Typically, Coral had done it all in her mind and was ready to go. There developed one hitch, Bates was tied up for another film, so the fine actor, Dirk Bogarde, was considered; but as time passed, Bates was free and eagerly joined the project. Coral had her first choices and this group of brilliant film makers turned out a masterpiece... a must see film.

I first saw this wonderful movie as a young boy in 1938. I don't know how many times I've seen it since then, but it always gives my heart a lift and I leave the theatre (it must be seen on a large screen)with a happy face. Above all else, there is the master of charm and grace, Errol Flynn, who gives, probably, his best performance. Close behind comes the superb, Warner Bros. regulars - lovely Olivia de Havilland, the evil Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains, and, of course, the Merry Men, with Alan Hale, Patrick Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin leading the list. The story is well known and is told in a respectful and loving fashion, with perfect direction by William Keighly and Michael Curtiz. The cinematography, by Tony Gaudio and Sol Polito, is in glorious, three strip Technicolor and the famous score by Maestro Erich Wolfgang Korngold is outstanding and won him an Oscar. This is a movie for all ages; they will all be happy to have seen it. +