By 1953, Errol was already past decline. His career was in more of a freefall. He didn't have much swash left in his buckle, so it's surprising that The Master of Ballantrae is a fairly good movie. It's stuff that played well, and in some ways seems to have been made for "Family Classics" (necessary but obscure 1970s Chicago reference). Perhaps sticking close to the Robert Louis Stevenson story line helped. By 1953, Errol no longer looked like a young pup; however, he looked pretty good as middle-aged actor. There was also good chemistry between Errol and Robert Livesay, who played the Irish mercenary Burke. But Errol was pretty far down the chute by this time. Though still a Warner Brothers movie, the female lead was ... anyone, anyone, Ferris ... Beatrice Campbell, who made one more movie in her short career and then promptly retired from film making. Also of note, for a movie about Scotland, not a single Scottish actor in the film. The leads (all playing Scots) were English, Welsh, French, and (Errol) Australian. Sean Connery would not be amused.
Down side - whoever did costume design on this film should have been shot. Apparently, Flynn didn't want to wear a kilt, though he was playing a Scot. It seemed that way, anyway, as every other actor in the film who played a Scot wore a kilt at some time in the movie. For Errol, though, they outfitted him in this ridiculous tight fitting tartan tights. You can't help but think, "WTF?". Ditto on a 'skirt' made of strips of cloth worn by Gillian Lynne. Really bad ideas.
Robert Livesay's Irish Colonel Burke has the best lines (Errol's comic relief, or an Irish Alan Hale, in this one):
Col. Francis Burke: [Grabbing him from behind] Not a sound, if you don't want a dirk in your ribs.
Henry Durie: Is this how you usually meet people?
Col. Francis Burke: It cuts out the lengthy formalities.
Jamie Durie: Now, one of two things, Irishman. Either we fight on the spot, or we be comrades. Which is it to be?
Col. Francis Burke: Cut each other's throats or be friends for life - either way, is it?
Jamie Durie: It makes no difference to me.
Col. Francis Burke: And how do we make the decision?
Jamie Durie: Heads, we fight.
[He flips a coin]
Col. Francis Burke: Tails. Good. I'm a wee bit tired at the moment.
Jamie Durie: [Watching Burke being kissed by several girls] Burke, come on!
Col. Francis Burke: Would you have me leave these poor, lonesome bits of depravity? I'm about to enrich the lives and experience of them!
Oh, this one I watched on http://www.veoh.com, which really is free online movies, unlike several other sites, farging bastages that they are, that claim to offer free online movies to get you to register, and then give you a free five minute clip. You gotta pay to see the whole movie. Which I'll be reduced to later, I think, because there are one or two Errol movies too obscure to be seen anywhere else. But for now, we're rippin' through the free ones. And, oh, Veoh has excellent picture quality. Better to watch downloaded on my laptop than on cable TV.
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