As most modern 'movie folk' tend to do, Disney is ripping Douglas Fairbanks off. Of course they're too stupid to know it..."Doug who? I thought that was all Errol Flynn..." I guess some explanation is needed.
Feeling that their flapper-y 'slightly blacked Rudolph Valentino Prince' film "Princess and the Frog" (which was adorable, stupid songs though...Randy Newman just needs to go) wasn't 'Prince enough' (i.e. boys wouldn't see it) Disney is Prince-ing up their next animated film "Rapunzel". In fact its no longer called Rapunzel as that's too girly, now its titled "Tangled". Yeah thats much more manly. Worst.title.ever. Well...maybe slightly less worse than that new God awful 'time traveling Hot tub' movie. I refuse to link to it.
"Tangled" now focuses on an adventurer swashbuckler, complete with mustache, who meets an assumedly ball busting girl with long hair judging by the photo provided to the LA Times. Not only did they go out of their way to call him 'Errol Flynn' styled, they actually named the damn Prince Flynn!!!
Errol Flynn has pretty much, I doubt on purpose, erased the very handsome Douglas Fairbanks from history. Well talkies did most of it. Say "Robin Hood" to anyone familiar with classic cinema and they automatically go 'Errol Flynn'. I know many a lady in her 50s or older who still swoons just THINKING of Flynn.
Sure he was handsome, and his drinking and 'fuck anything that moves' attitude put Doug to shame...but still! It irritates me to no end just how 'anything before 1930 never happened', and unfortunately for Doug that's essentially his entire career. Doug originated/or made legendary roles like Zorro, Robin Hood, D'Artagnan (Three Musketeers), The Thief of Bagdad (or as kids today would call it 'Aladdin'), and The Black Pirate (or again kids would say 'Captain Jack'). Errol Flynn was essentially the talkie version of him, right down to the mustache. But since Flynn was a talkie actor he lives on...Doug remains woefully forgotten.
Shame on you Disney. Shame on you Hollywood.
4 comments:
Thanks for this great post, Hala!
It has long been a frustration of mine that Fairbanks is not accurately credited as the screen's original swashbuckler.
Flynn (despite his talent and charisma) was an imitator - Douglas Fairbanks was the ORIGINATOR.
Just want to thank you again for your support of our museum. As you know we're facing a tough struggle against mold infestation in our building and remain closed at the present time, but I hope we will soon be able to continue our work to educate the public as to the life and work of this amazing silent cinema pioneer!
Warmest Regards,
Keri Leigh
Curator
The Douglas Fairbanks Museum
Judging from the pic, Prince Flynn looks more like Ethan Hawke to me. I agree that it is regrettable that Fairbanks has largely been forgotten, but considering how crappy this movie is likely to be, I'm kind of glad it does not feature Prince Doug.
Disney may not give Doug any props but "NCIS" does. On the 3/16 episode the topic of pirates and swashbuckling comes up and Fairbanks gets prominently mentioned and at the end of the show a couple of characters watch "The Black Pirate."
Family Guy just mentioned Doug tonight too! Ah Hollywood I heart you when you do good...
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