Adventures of Don Juan

Errol Flynn was linked with a Don Juan project as early as the 1930s.[5] In March 1939, Warner Bros. announced The Adventures of Don Juan, starring Flynn, would be one of 48 films made from 1939 to 1940.[6] The studio assigned W. R. Burnett to write the picture after a John Dillinger movie he was working on was delayed. Warners stated Olivia de Havilland, Priscilla Lane, Margaret Lindsay, Ann Sheridan, and Lya Lys would appear in the film, along with five other actresses.[7] Filming would start once Flynn had completed work on The Knight and the Lady (which became The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex.)[8] Franciska Gaal was screen-tested for a role.[9] But filming was postponed again, so Flynn did The Sea Hawk (1940) instead.

With the advent of World War II, production of elaborate costume pictures dropped off due to the European market being closed, and Flynn was more commonly found in war films and Westerns.

The project was reactivated in 1944, with Jerry Wald attached as producer, Alan Le May as writer, and Robert Florey as director. Flynn was meant to make it after finishing San Antonio.[10]

In January 1945 Herbert Dalmas and Harry Goldman were reportedly working on the script. (The time period of this film would change from Italy of the Borgias in the 1926 Barrymore version to 1620 Spain under Philip III.)[11]

In March 1945 Raoul Walsh was announced as director.[12] Claudette Colbert was sought for the female lead.[13] The proposed cast at this time only included Flynn, Victor Francen (as the King), and Dorothy Malone from the eventual film.[14]

The film was to have started filming in early May 1945 with a budget of $2 million. The studio set for Mexico City used in Juarez (1939) was turned into Madrid. Flynn did fencing training with Fred Cravens, and George Coulouris (the intended main villain) did extensive dieting for the role. According to studio publicity, 54 ladies were auditioned to play Juan's eight love interests and the film would use 124 different sets and over 3,700 costumes.[15]

Filming was postponed due to difficulty in sourcing costumes (there was a general post-war shortage) and an industry strike that affected construction and painting of sets. On May 9, the decision was made to postpone the film indefinitely, and the actors were assigned to other films.[16][17] Flynn was put into Don't Ever Leave Me (which became Never Say Goodbye.[18])

In January 1946 Warners put the film back on the schedule.[19] Martha Vickers, Dorothy Malone, Peggy Knudsen, Joan Lorring and Joan Chandler were announced for support parts.[20] However filming continued to be delayed.

Warner Bros were encouraged to re-activate the film again by a successful 1947 reissue of Flynn's earlier starring vehicles, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Sea Hawk (1940).[17]

In February 1947 Jean Negulesco was announced as director.[21] Alexis Smith was to be his co star and filming was to take place after Flynn finished Silver River.[22]

Negulesco later recalled the film was "the most expensive and sought-after project on the Warner lot. I had unorthodox ideas about Don Juan: I thought he should have been a victim of women rather than their victimizer. Flynn didn't agree with me at all because he still wanted to be the wonderful guy who jumps out the window pursued by the irate husband saying 'You made love to my wife' and all that."[23]

After three months Flynn told Jack Warner he would not make the film with Negulesco. Warner told the director "Johnny I cannot make Don Juan without Errol Flynn but I can make it without you."[23] Negulesco agreed and Warner assigned him to producer Jerry Wald for Johnny Belinda.[23]

By September 1947 Vincent Sherman was to direct from a script by George Oppenheimer and Harry Kurnitz. Romney Brent who played the Dauphin in Joan of Lorraine was signed to play Philip III. In October Viveca Lindfors was given the female lead.[24][25]

The film was originally to be scored by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. However, production of the film was postponed until 1947, by which time Korngold had retired from scoring motion pictures. He was replaced by Max Steiner, who incorporated several Spanish songs into his score.

The score was adapted years later by composer Ian Fraser for the George Hamilton swashbuckling comedy film Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981).[33] A portion was also used in two scenes in the film The Goonies (1985), although in the first scene, it accompanied a TV broadcast of an earlier film, Captain Blood (1935).

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote: "Warner Brothers have generously contributed a production of rare magnificence. The sets and costumes are exquisite—there is no other word ... If for no other reason than to take a look at the splash, we suggest you see this picture. It is something to remember old Hollywood by."[34] Variety wrote that out of several recent swashbuckling films, "'Adventures of Don Juan' measures up among the best of them ... The loves and escapades of the fabulous Don Juan are particularly adapted to the screen abilities of Errol Flynn and he gives them a flair that pays off strongly."[35][36]

Harrison's Reports called the film "trite both in story and treatment", but "should go over pretty well with those who enjoy colorful pageantry with plenty of glittering swordplay and exciting chases."[37]

John McCarten of The New Yorker called it "a picture that demonstrates once again that Errol Flynn is muscular as all get out but quite innocent of any ability in the acting line."[38]

Filmink magazine called it "a magnificent return to form for Flynn and one of the best swashbucklers ever made. "[39]

The film was very successful in Europe, earning $2,607,000. It recorded admissions of 3,763,314 in France, making it the 7th most popular film in the country that year.[40]

However, in the US it made only $1.9 million in 1949[41] and $2,165,000 overall, meaning it struggled to recoup its large budget. From this point on, Warner Bros reduced the budgets of Flynn's films.[17][2]