"Cuban Rebel Girls"
In the late 1950's Errol Flynn and Victor Pahlen owned a theater in Cuba. They were there when the Castro Revolution began in the streets of Havana. Flynn was a huge supporter of Castro at the time. Although I have read that Castro was not too thrilled with Flynn. Flynn was really down and out by this time, and his hardcore lifestyle was really beginning to take it toll physically on him. He no longer looked like Captain Blood or The Seahawk by this time. Errol Flynn had already made a movie in 1957 called "Night In Havana" or "The Big Boodle" that was also filmed in Cuba. As luck would have it the Castro Revolution began right in front of Errol Flynn and his friends.
They made a film which has just recently become available to the public called "Cuban Story." Flynn narrates and has bit parts in the film. All of this excitement of revolution brings us to the no so classic "Cuban Rebel Girls." It is also know as "Assault Of The Rebel Girls." This film was produced and directed by Barry Mahon. He was also Flynn's agent at the time. The only point of watching this film for some people is Errol's 17 year old girlfriend, Beverly Aadland who plays one of the Rebel Girls. Of course the movie poster called her Flynn's protege! The rest of the cast includes Marie Edmund, Jackie Jackler, and John MacKay.
Errol Flynn plays himself and along with his 17 year old girlfriend they help the Castro rebels overthrow the Batista Government by smuggling arms to outposts in the Cuban countryside. The advertisement for the film also stated that it contained "actual footage shot during the star's real life adventures with Cuban rebels!" The movie is almost unwatchable, and the acting is terrible. Errol Flynn looks like a zombie. He is very swollen and bloated. He died before the film was released. That was probably a good thing for him. He was ailing physically, and had already had a heart attack. It was said during his last years he drank almost 4 quarts of Vodka daily. It is however a very important film in the respect that Errol was really there when the revolution started. The film "Cuban Story" is probably the better of the two films.
This is a true candidate for a midnight cult classic. To see Errol Flynn trying to help the young Cuban Rebel Girls across a stream with arms for the rebels is priceless. They all look really out of place. At the end of the film Errol Flynn wishes us luck in whatever revolution or cause we believe in fighting for. I could never figure out if he was pro communism or not. Errol Flynn died in 1959 of a heart attack in Vancouver at the age of 50. He was trying to sell his yacht, The Zacca. He was tired and broke. Not to mention breaking the law with an underage girlfriend. Flynn lost most everything he had on the unfinished "William Tell." I have a copy of this film I bought from a dealer a long time ago. It was a copy of a copy. "Cuban Rebel Girls" is not easy to find, and it is not too easy to sit through. A sad farewell for the world's greatest swashbuckler
They made a film which has just recently become available to the public called "Cuban Story." Flynn narrates and has bit parts in the film. All of this excitement of revolution brings us to the no so classic "Cuban Rebel Girls." It is also know as "Assault Of The Rebel Girls." This film was produced and directed by Barry Mahon. He was also Flynn's agent at the time. The only point of watching this film for some people is Errol's 17 year old girlfriend, Beverly Aadland who plays one of the Rebel Girls. Of course the movie poster called her Flynn's protege! The rest of the cast includes Marie Edmund, Jackie Jackler, and John MacKay.
Errol Flynn plays himself and along with his 17 year old girlfriend they help the Castro rebels overthrow the Batista Government by smuggling arms to outposts in the Cuban countryside. The advertisement for the film also stated that it contained "actual footage shot during the star's real life adventures with Cuban rebels!" The movie is almost unwatchable, and the acting is terrible. Errol Flynn looks like a zombie. He is very swollen and bloated. He died before the film was released. That was probably a good thing for him. He was ailing physically, and had already had a heart attack. It was said during his last years he drank almost 4 quarts of Vodka daily. It is however a very important film in the respect that Errol was really there when the revolution started. The film "Cuban Story" is probably the better of the two films.
This is a true candidate for a midnight cult classic. To see Errol Flynn trying to help the young Cuban Rebel Girls across a stream with arms for the rebels is priceless. They all look really out of place. At the end of the film Errol Flynn wishes us luck in whatever revolution or cause we believe in fighting for. I could never figure out if he was pro communism or not. Errol Flynn died in 1959 of a heart attack in Vancouver at the age of 50. He was trying to sell his yacht, The Zacca. He was tired and broke. Not to mention breaking the law with an underage girlfriend. Flynn lost most everything he had on the unfinished "William Tell." I have a copy of this film I bought from a dealer a long time ago. It was a copy of a copy. "Cuban Rebel Girls" is not easy to find, and it is not too easy to sit through. A sad farewell for the world's greatest swashbuckler
posted by Sam at 8:08 AM
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