TCM Spotlight: Errol Flynn Adventures (Desperate Journey / Edge of Darkness 1943 / Northern Pursuit / Uncertain Glory / Objective Burma)

I have been waiting for years for this collection! Next to John Wayne, Errol Flynn was probably the most iconic screen persona of the 'wartime hero', and the screen's greatest swashbuckler made an inspiring spokesperson of allied wartime heroism...until his infamous 1942 rape trial revealed a more flawed, less heroic carouser and womanizer. Warner studio boss Jack Warner would be shocked and pleased that ticket sales for Flynn films didn't decline after the revelations, but Flynn's public image (and personal self-esteem) never truly recovered. So, in a sense, these five films show Flynn at the pinnacle of fame and success, sliding into his tragic decline..."Desperate Journey" (1942): Aussie co-pilot Flynn's disregard to his captain's orders to remain at high altitude on a bombing mission over Poland gets the plane shot down, the captain killed, and Flynn and crewmates Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale, Arthur Kennedy, and Ronald Sinclair pursued across Europe by stereotypical Nazi villain Raymond Massey, and the most inept collection of German soldiers since "Hogan's Heroes"...This film is NOT to be taken seriously (in case you weren't sure), but to be enjoyed as one of the wildest, zaniest, most exciting adventure films of WWII. Director Raoul Walsh pulled out all the stops...and listen for Flynn's final line..."Now for Australia, and a crack at those Japs!", which had audiences in stitches, even in 1942! (4 1/2 stars, out of 5)"Edge of Darkness" (1943): If "Desperate Journey" was unabashed silliness, "Edge" was a strong, brooding ensemble drama, filmed with director Lewis Milestone's compassion and understanding. Framed with a "Beau Geste"-style opening (in a ruined, deserted Norwegian village), the tale is told in flashback, as the Germans hold the village under an iron thumb. Some villagers profit by the Nazi presence, some plot their destruction, but Milestone makes it clear...to be neutral is no safe haven; either you fight, or you are no better than the profiteers. The cast is simply superb, especially Walter Huston, as the pacifist village doctor, Ruth Gordon as his oblivious wife, and Judith Anderson, as a woman fighting an attraction to a sympathetic German soldier. Flynn gives a restrained, self-assured performance as the resistance leader...sadly, Flynn's rape trial occurred during filming, overshadowing a profoundly moving film...(5 stars, out of 5)"Northern Pursuit" (1943): Flynn's first post-trial film, this slow-moving adventure of Canadian Mountie Flynn infiltrating the spy ring supporting Nazi Helmut Dantine's deadly plans, lacks a spark of real enthusiasm from either Flynn or director Raoul Walsh. There are a few forced bits of 'humor' referring to the trial, and Flynn's character is already incorporating elements of the 'roue' that would redefine his screen persona, but as a whole, the film is indecisive as either action or drama, and a disappointment...(2 stars, out of 5)"Uncertain Glory" (1944): The most bizarre, least successful of Flynn's war films, Career criminal Flynn (here playing 'Jean Picard') is sentenced to the guillotine, but an explosion allows him to escape...only to be recaptured by wise Inspector Paul Lukas. While returning Flynn to be beheaded, the pair learn of an act of sabotage (a destroyed bridge) that has so infuriated the Nazis that they announce they will execute 100 innocent French citizens, unless the saboteur steps forward. Flynn offers to accept the blame, preferring a firing squad to a guillotine, but the question is, will he turn himself in, or try to escape, especially as he falls in love...This reworking of "A Tale of Two Cities" (with a touch of "Les Miserables" tossed in) simply doesn't work, at all...Flynn's usual charm seems forced, the drama slides into melodrama, and by film's end, I really didn't care WHAT Flynn would do...(1 1/2 stars, out of 5)."Objective, Burma!" (1945): A tremendous rebound, after "Uncertain Glory", this taut, exciting action/drama of a successful mission in occupied Burma going terribly wrong, should have been a worldwide hit, offering incredible battle sequences, and some of Raoul Walsh and Errol Flynn's best dramatic work together...but politics sank the film. The British government felt the American filmmakers snubbed their position as the major 'player' in the Burma campaign, implying the Americans "did it all", by themselves. This wasn't true (or even implied), and Warner's quickly added a preface to the movie, acknowledging British leadership and involvement...but the damage was done, and foreign distributers quickly yanked the film, as crowds booed Flynn and his squad off the screen. A great film never had a chance...Watch it, today, and you'll appreciate the film for the masterful work it actually was...(5 stars, out of 5).What a collection...Enjoy!

Here are the specifications of the extra features. Note the return of the Warner Night at the Movies that was last seen on the Warner Homefront Collection in late 2008. Also note that Objective Burma is a new release but that there are several new features on this new version.Desperate Journey (1942) - directed by Raoul WalshBONUS FEATURES:Warner Night at the Movies 1942 Short Subjects Gallery:Vintage NewsreelOscar-Nominated Patriotic Short The Tanks Are ComingMusical Shorts Borrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica School and The United States Army Air Force BandClassic Cartoon The Dover Boys at Pimento University or the Rivals of Roquefort HallTrailers of Desperate Journey and 1942's Murder in the Big HouseEdge of Darkness (1943)-directed by Lewis MilestoneBONUS FEATURES:Warner Night at the Movies 1943 Short Subjects Gallery:Vintage NewsreelMusical Short The United States Service BandsClassic Cartoons Hiss and Make Up and To Duck....or Not to DuckTrailers of Edge of Darkness and 1943's The Hard WayNorthern Pursuit (1943) - directed by Raoul WalshBONUS FEATURES:Warner Night at the Movies 1943 Short Subjects Gallery:Vintage NewsreelWartime Short The Rear GunnerMusical Short All-Star Melody MastersDrama Short Over the WallClassic Cartoon Hop and GoTrailers of Northern Pursuit and 1943's The Constant NymphUncertain Glory (1944) - directed by Raoul WalshBONUS FEATURES:Warner Night at the Movies 1944 Short Subjects Gallery:Vintage NewsreelMusical Short Unted States Coast Guard BandClassic Cartoons Brother Brat and Russian RhapsodyTrailers of Uncertain Glory and 1944's The Mask of DimitriosObjective, Burma! (1945) - directed by Raoul WalshBONUS FEATURES :2 Classic Warner Brothers Wartime Shorts1941's The Tanks are Coming With George Tobias, Richard Travis and Gig Young1943's The Rear Gunner with Burgess Meredith and Ronald ReaganRaoul Walsh Profile Theatrical TrailerCommentary by Historians Rudy Behlmer, Jon Burlingame and Frank ThompsonWarner Night at the Movies 1945 Short Subjects Gallery:Vintage NewsreelJoe McDoakes Comedy Short So You Think You're AllergicClassic Cartoon A Tale of Two MiceTrailers of Objective, Burma! and 1945's Pride of the MarinesAll of these films have a World War II theme and all five are very good with the exception of "Northern Pursuit" which is ridiculous and - worse for a Flynn film - painfully slow. There have been some disagreements on what I've seen for extra features on Objective Burma. Some show the commentary as present, some do not. Overall, I'd recommend this set as a buy, especially if you don't already own Objective Burma in some form.

I bought this set along with the TCM Errol Flynn 'Swashbuckler' set. While that shows off Flynn's great on screen presence as swashbuckler, orwitty archer of Sherwood Forest, this set is his WW2 efforts. "Desperate Journey", "Edge of Darkness", "Northern Pursuit", "Uncertain Glory",and "Objective, Burma". Yes, these were mainly propaganda movies that the era needed to keep the morale up.Now in hindsight we can see how ridiculous some of these seem. The chase across Canada in Northern Pursuit is pure dumbness. The heroic Norwegians of "Edge of Darkness" are cliche stereotyped. Desperate Journey, downed American flyers escaping across Germany, is problematic. But it has Raymond Massey in his most evil role and Alan Hale in a rare non-sidekick type role.Objective Burma is a good action film and well researched (for a Warner's Brothers film that says a lot).My favorite here is Uncertain Glory. A war picture only in that it is set in German Occupied France. Flynn plays a French thief, who escapes the Guillotine, during an air raid. He is pursued across France by French Inspector Paul Lukas, who gives one of his finest performances here. The two play off each other extremely well, and you feel bad for the Lukas character each time the Flynn character cons him, and you are still not sure of Flynn right up to the last scene. This was worth the set price.

Probably my favourite movie collection. Flynn in a (for the time), contemporary setting. Desperate Journey is a rollicking adventure. Suspend your disbelief and just go with it. Great Max Steiner score.Edge of Darkness is a movie that is surprisingly overlooked when rating Errol Flynn's movies. Flynn is at his most restrained in a fine ensemble piece. Also, for a 1940's Hollywood movie, I think it is unique in the way the director employs the use of a zoom lens. It's visually striking, very effective, and ahead of its time.Uncertain Glory is amazingly low key for an Errol Flynn Warner Bros. movie. The two leads are given space to really delineate and flesh out their characters. Flynn grabs his chance with both hands and gives one of his most subtle and measured performances.Northern Pursuit is probably the weakest movie in the collection. Helmut Dantine can't cut it as Flynn's adversary. He was strictly a one note actor. Julie Bishop is a bland leading lady, there is no spark there. But the movie is well photographed, Flynn is great, and Gene Lockhart plays the villain with his usual flair. Still enough there to entertain on a wet Sunday afternoon.Flynn was unfairly singled out for neglecting to acknowledge the British army's role in the Burma campaign. As he said, why blame the actor? Watching Objective Burma it does look like it was an all American affair. Having said that it's one of Flynn's best. Warner Brothers pulled out all the stops and produced a gripping adventure.The transfers are uniformly excellent and the set is well packaged. Thoroughly recommended.

I purchased this box set because of Errol Flynn as my favorite actor, this set of 5 movies is worth every cent of the cost , there is plenty of action in all movies and keep you interest all the way , Desperate Jurney is an excellent movie with a lovely music score by Max Steiner, all actors take a wonderful part , if you want a very good set of movies all you need is to say , its got to be good when Errol flynn is in them as no one takes the parts better , what other actor can Portray the part of Robin Hood as he did.this is a wonderful set and well worth keeping and add to any collection. its a must so go ahead and buy it you will never regret it and in for a wonderful show at any time of day or night . I just cant complain in anyway about this set of 5 good excellent movies, Just look for the name Errol Flynn and you cant go wrong,

this is a beautifully packaged set with pristine prints and clear soundtrack with a good choice of audio and subtitle options.all the discs played fine on my region 2 player.nice to see Errol being let stretch out a bit and show his range particularly on Uncertain Glory which unlike the other reviewers I thought was the pick of the bunch.

No self respecting Flynn fan should be without this splendid collection from TCM. All five movies come with Warner Night at the Movies special features and the movies themselves never looked better in crisp black & white.

Certainly Desperate Journey is one of Flynn's better movies and is the best on this collection.Of the others,only Uncertain Glory is disappointing.The other three are very good and are certainly better than average movies.The picture and sound on all are excellent.All in all,a collection well worth having.