This article reviews Patricia O’Brien’s biography of Australian Hollywood star Errol Flynn, situating his life within the cultural and racial assumptions of the early to mid-20th century.

Flynn, one of the biggest stars of Hollywood’s golden age, became famous for swashbuckling roles in films such as The Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood.

Despite his enduring popularity and reputation as a charismatic leading man, the biography presents a more critical interpretation of his legacy, emphasising the racism and sexual misconduct associated with both his personal life and the broader Hollywood culture of his time.

O’Brien examines Flynn’s upbringing in Tasmania, his early years in New Guinea during the colonial gold rush, and how British imperial attitudes shaped his worldview.

The book argues that Flynn’s behaviour reflected entrenched colonial racism and privilege, particularly in his relationships with local women during his time in the Pacific.It also discusses his complex family background and repeated expulsions from school, suggesting a pattern of rebelliousness and entitlement.A significant portion of the review focuses on Flynn’s sexual reputation, including multiple marriages, affairs, and rape allegations.

The author notes a 1943 Los Angeles trial in which Flynn was acquitted, while also drawing parallels between Hollywood’s sexual culture and modern discussions of exploitation.

The biography also touches on Flynn’s war reporting experiences in Spain, his political sympathies, and his later involvement in Cuba during the rise of Fidel Castro.

While the reviewer acknowledges O’Brien’s effort to place Flynn within a broader historical and cultural framework, they also criticise certain interpretative choices and omissions, particularly around rumours of bisexuality and comparisons with other Hollywood stars.

Overall, the biography is described as compelling but contentious, offering a darker reassessment of Flynn’s legacy as both a cinematic icon and a product of his era’s prejudices.