Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Errol Flynn was born on June 20, 1909 in Tasmania. He was an actor known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films and for his playboy lifestyle. After leaving Australia, Flynn spent time in England, seeking acting roles. He traveled to the United States in 1934 and signed with Warner Brothers Studio. He became an instant celebrity after the release of his first American film, Captain Blood. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1942. The actor had many health problems including chronic back pain, tuberculosis, malaria and verereal diseases, and was not eligible to join the armed services during World War II. Warner Brothers decided to conceal his health issues and Flynn was criticised for not serving, which caused his popularity to decline. In 1942, two underage girls, Betty Hansen and Peggy Satterlee, accused Flynn of statutory rape. The scandal was a major story and many of Flynn's movie fans refused to accept that the charges were true. The trial took place in January and February 1943, and Flynn was acquitted after the defense lawyer attacked the girls' morals and characters. Even though he was acquitted, the trial's scandalous nature permanently damaged his screen image as a romantic leading man, especially with female moviegoers. His failure to join the military, the scandal, and the changing taste of filmgoers after the war effectively ended Flynn's career. He was released from his contract with Warner Brothers in 1950. During the 1950s, in financial ruin, Flynn traveled and acted sporadically, mostly in England. His career had a brief flare-up with an appearance in "The Sun Also Rises" in 1957, but his career was not revived. He died on October 14, 1959 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Photograph caption dated January 27, 1943 reads "Flynn's call to the stand was the 'big moment' of the trial, for the audience, mostly women, had waited anxiously for the occasion. The star is shown above in another character study." Flynn is shown seated on the witness stand.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Flynn, Errol,--1909-1959 Flynn, Errol,--1909-1959--Trials, litigation, etc Trials (Statutory rape)--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Witnesses--California--Los Angeles Courtrooms--California--Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Portrait photographs Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
