Adventures of Don Juan ****(1948, Errol Flynn, Viveca Lindfors, Robert Douglas) – Classic Movie Review 7973

Director Vincent Sherman’s 1948 romantic action adventure Adventures of Don Juan, the Warner Bros studio’s final super-production for its waning star Errol Flynn, is a thrilling, splendidly good-humoured spectacular.

Flynn is on top form as the 17th-century Spanish philanderer Don Juan de Maraña, with many admirers, including Queen Margaret of Spain (Swedish star Viveca Lindfors in an early US outing) whom he rescues from the wiles of plotting politicians (especially British actor Robert Douglas in a career-high turn as the wicked Duke de Lorca). Of course, Flynn’s role as the great lover was perfectly tailored for him, given his buccaneering image and reputation.

Warner Bros lavished money and care on it – and it shows up there on screen – and the costumes won an Oscar as Best Costume Design, Color for Leah Rhodes, Travilla and Marjorie Best. Real-life buddies Flynn and Douglas enjoy a striking staircase climactic duel in the best swashbuckling tradition, a classic of its kind, which made a new record for the duration of a film sword fight. Elwood Bredell’s Technicolor cinematography, Edward Carrere’s set designs, Lyle B Reifsnider’s set decoration and Max Steiner’s score are further enormous assets.

Also in the cast Alan Hale Sr, Ann Rutherford, Raymond Burr, Una O’Connor, Aubrey Mather, Romney Brent, Robert Warwick, Jerry Austin, Douglas Kennedy, Helen Westcott, Fortunio Bonanova, Aubrey Mather and Tim Huntley.

Lindfors was brought over to be a rival to Ingrid Bergman but that did not quite happen. Her first Hollywood film was To the Victor (1948).

George Oppenheimer and Harry Kurnitz’s screenplay is based on the story by Herbert Dalmas.

Errol Flynn may have been a waning star but Adventures of Don Juan was a hit, costing $3,500,000 and earning a worldwide gross of $5,000,000.

Steiner’s score was re-used in Zorro: The Gay Blade.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7973

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