Adventures of Captain Fabian
Adventures of Captain Fabian is a 1951 American adventure film directed by William Marshall and starring Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Victor Francen
| Adventures of Captain Fabian | |
|---|---|
 1951 theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | William Marshall Uncredited: Robert Florey |
| Produced by | Robert Dorfmann |
| Written by | Errol Flynn (screenplay) Robert T. Shannon (novel) |
| Starring | Errol Flynn Micheline Presle Vincent Price Agnes Moorehead Victor Francen |
| Music by | René Cloërec |
| Cinematography | Marcel Grignon |
| Edited by | Henri Taverna |
Production company | Les Films Corona Silver Films |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | 1,505,518 admissions (France)[1] |
The plot is about the travails of a French Creole maid in a household of 1860 New Orleans and her romantic involvement with Captain Fabian. As with many later Flynn features, the tangled production history is arguably more interesting: Marshall, the co-producer and husband of Micheline Presle, began shooting in France with no experience as a director and without realizing that French law required a parallel French-language version. Robert Florey, who had directed Flynn in his last bit part in 1935, was hired as an uncredited "consultant". The same year Marshall and Flynn also produced the unreleased Hello God.
Premise
An ambitious girl (Micheline Presle) uses a sea captain (Errol Flynn) to climb the social ladder in old New Orleans.
Cast
- Errol Flynn as Captain Fabian
- Micheline Presle as Lea Mariotte
- Vincent Price as George Brissac
- Agnes Moorehead as Aunt Jezebel
- Victor Francen as Henri Brissac
- Jim Gérald as Commissioner Germain
- Héléna Manson as Josephine
- Howard Vernon as Emile
- Roger Blin as Philippe
Production
The film was originally known as The Bargain and was based on a script by Errol Flynn himself. Flynn entered into a multi-picture deal with William Marshall to produce the film, among others, in July 1949.[2][3] It was to be produced independently with a distributor sought later.[4] Micheline Presle was borrowed from 20th Century Fox to play the female lead.[5] Gérard Philipe was to be in the cast but did not appear in the end.[6] (Presle and Marshall later married.[7])
At one stage the film was also known as Bloodline and New Orleans Adventure.[8] Filming started on July 15, 1950 in Paris under the title of The Bargain. Exteriors representing New Orleans were recreated in the city of Villefranche with studio scenes shot at the Victorine Studios in Nice and the Billancourt Studios in Paris.
The film was meant to be shot in French and English versions but Marshall persuaded the French government to allow it to be made in English only. Robert Florey started the English production but not long after shooting began Marshall took over.[9]
Under Errol Flynn's contract with Warner Bros, he was allowed to make one "outside" film a year until 1962, provided it had a major distributor. Flynn later claimed that during filming, William Marshall "secretly" committed the film to being released by Republic Pictures, one of the smaller studios. Both Warner Bros and MGM, who had films starring Flynn awaiting release, were unhappy with this. Flynn worried that Warner Bros would use this as an excuse to cancel their contract with him on the basis that Republic was not a major. On 18 December 1950 he filed suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court asking them to stop Republic from releasing the film and to stop Warner Bros from cancelling the contract until the court could determine that Republic was a "major" distributor.[10][11]
Release
Box Office
The film was reasonably successful at the box office in France.[1]
Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times said that the film "is much in need of both editing and shortening. It will draw approval for the colourfulness of its settings and interesting costuming. The audience seemed to enjoy it though there was a tendency towards laughter for scenes not especially designed for comedy... One cannot conclude that this picture in its present shape hangs together satisfactorily."[12]
Filmink magazine wrote that " It's not a terribly accomplished screenplay – it constantly changes protagonists, not in an interesting way... and is confusing – but at least it has ambition" adding that "the quality of the cast is high" and "there's always something happening on screen, the production values are decent (costumes, sets), and its ambition is endearing. "[13]
Proposed sequels
The movie was meant to be the first of two films from Flynn and Marshall, the second which was to be The Man Who Cried, a psychological thriller about the perfect crime set over a four-hour period, but this wasn't made due to a dispute between Marshall and Flynn over Hello God.[14][15]
Lawsuits
In November 1951, Charles Gross, an associate of Flynn's, sued claiming payments due for working on the screenplay.[9]
In January 1952, Flynn asked a court to formally end the partnership with Marshall.[16]
In 1954, Vincent Price sued Flynn and Marshall for $15,000 in unpaid wages, claiming he had been promised a fee of $35,000. A court awarded in his favour in 1957.[17]
References
- 1951 Box Office Figures at Box Office Story
- Schallert, Edwin (Dec 13, 1949). "James Mitchell Wins Musical Role at Metro; Pal Turns to Realism". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
- Parsons, Louella. (Feb 18, 1960). "Errol Flynn Treasure Turns Up". The Washington Post. p. C27.
- THOMAS F. BRADY (Jan 7, 1950). "FLYNN TO APPEAR IN HIS OWN MOVIE: Will Produce 'Bargain' With Co-Author, William Marshall, in France This Summer Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 20.
- Hopper, Hedda (Dec 28, 1949). "Looking at Hollywood". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 19.
- HEDDA HOPPER (Dec 28, 1949). "Deborah Kerr Will Star in 'Ivanhoe'". Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
- Marshall, William (25 June 1994). "Smooth voice of Poverty Row". The Guardian. London (UK). p. 28.
- Schallert, Edwin (Sep 27, 1950). "Trevor Howard Signed for Allen Film; Ladd Again Hero of Outdoors". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
- Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer & Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 174-175
- THOMAS F. BRADY. (Dec 24, 1950). "HOLLYWOOD UNREST: Refusal of Cost-of-Living Wage Increase Draws Union Fire--Other Studio Items No Rebuttal Question Slightly Involved Wash Day FROM FRANCE". New York Times. p. 43.
- THOMAS F. BRADY (Dec 19, 1950). "ERROL FLYNN SUES OVER FILM RELEASE: Wants Picture He Made With William Marshall Abroad Handled by Major Studio". New York Times. p. 48.
- Schallert, Edwin (Sep 22, 1951). "Prelle Best in 'Fabian'; 'Sea Hornet' Creditable". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
- Vagg, Stephen (November 30, 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 5 – On the Bum, 1950–1955". Filmink.
- Schallert, Edwin (May 11, 1950). "Drama: Crime Thriller Slated for Flynn; Cobb Deal Looms for Wexley Film". Los Angeles Times. p. A15.
- THOMAS F. BRADY (Apr 22, 1951). "GROWING CONCERN: Hollywood Reacts Uneasily to Red Probe Findings--Flynn and Marshall Feud Reaction Disgruntled Partners Mayer and TV HOUR OF RECKONING IN THE OLD SOUTH". New York Times. p. 97.
- "Errol Flynn Asks Court to End Film Partnership". Los Angeles Times. Jan 18, 1952. p. A7.
- THOMAS M. PRYOR (Mar 15, 1957). "FAULKNER NOVEL BOUGHT FOR FILM: Jerry Wald Will Produce 'The Long Hot Summer,' Based on 'The Hamlet'". New York Times. p. 21.