The Master of Thornfield

Last updated

The Master of Thornfield is a 1954 play by Huntington Hartford, which is an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's 1847 novel Jane Eyre . [1] It was later rewritten by John F. Matthews. [2]

Contents

The play marked Errol Flynn's return to the stage after many years. [3]

US Production

Errol Flynn

In 1957 it was announced Errol Flynn would star in a production in the US opposite Jan Brooks directed by Peter Ashmore. [4]

Flynn had not appeared on stage since the 1930s. He was enticed to do so by a large salary, including free accommodation at one of Hartford's houses, and the writer's promise to produce a play that Flynn had written, an adaptation of the 1839 play Richelieu by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton. [3] Flynn was reportedly paid a flat fee of $100,000 plus $1,000 a week expenses. [5]

The play opened in Detroit with a view of bringing it to New York. Variety reported response was "dismal". [6]

Flynn struggled with the show, often forgetting lines. [7] He quit the play in Cincinnati claiming that the play was "no more fit for Broadway than Jack and the Beanstalk ... I can't do much with the way it's written." Hartford responded that, "In my defence, I'd like to say that I have as yet to hear my play, from Mr Flynn, as it was written." [8] Flynn was replaced by John Emery and Demetrios Vilain replaced Ashmore as director. [5]

Hedda Hopper later wrote that she heard Flynn "just wouldn't study" only rehearsing nine hours in four weeks, and thinking Flynn instead simply wanted to accept a role in The Roots of Heaven . [9]

Post-Flynn

Eric Portman took over the role of Rochester and the production was renamed Jane Eyre. [10] The production debut in New York on 1 May 1958 and ran for 52 performances.

Related Research Articles

<i>Edge of Darkness</i> (1943 film) 1943 film by Lewis Milestone

Edge of Darkness is a 1943 World War II film directed by Lewis Milestone that features Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, and Walter Huston. The feature is based on a script written by Robert Rossen which was adapted from the 1942 novel The Edge of Darkness by William Woods.

<i>The Roots of Heaven</i> (film) 1958 film by John Huston

The Roots of Heaven is a 1958 American adventure film made for 20th Century Fox, directed by John Huston and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. The screenplay by Romain Gary and Patrick Leigh Fermor is based on Romain Gary's 1956 Prix Goncourt-winning novel of the same name. The film stars Errol Flynn, Juliette Gréco, Trevor Howard, Eddie Albert, Orson Welles, Paul Lukas, Herbert Lom and Grégoire Aslan. Huston later said that Roots of Heaven "could have been a very fine film. And largely owing to me was not a good film at all."

<i>Jane Eyre</i> (musical) Musical by Paul Gordon

Jane Eyre is a musical drama with music and lyrics by composer-lyricist Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird, based on the 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2000.

<i>Who Was That Lady?</i> 1960 film by George Sidney

Who Was That Lady? is a 1960 black and white American comedy film directed by George Sidney and starring Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, and Janet Leigh.

<i>Against All Flags</i> 1952 film by George Sherman

Against All Flags is a 1952 American pirate film directed by George Sherman, with uncredited assist from Douglas Sirk. It features Errol Flynn as Lt. Brian Hawke, Maureen O'Hara as Prudence "Spitfire" Stevens, and Anthony Quinn as Roc Brasiliano. The film is set in 1700, on the coast of Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Errol Flynn filmography</span>

The film appearances of movie actor Errol Flynn (1909–1959) are listed here, including his short films and one unfinished feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Rochester</span> Character in the 1847 novel Jane Eyre

Edward Fairfax Rochester is a character in Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre. The brooding master of Thornfield Hall, Rochester is the employer and eventual husband of the novel's titular protagonist, Jane Eyre. He is regarded as an archetypal Byronic hero.

<i>The Wayward Bus</i> (film) 1957 film directed by Victor Vicas

The Wayward Bus is a 1957 American drama film directed by Victor Vicas and starring Joan Collins, Jayne Mansfield, Dan Dailey and Rick Jason. Released by 20th Century-Fox, the film was based on the 1947 novel of the same name by John Steinbeck.

<i>The Sun Also Rises</i> (1957 film) 1957 film by Henry King

The Sun Also Rises is a 1957 American drama film adaptation of the 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel of the same name directed by Henry King. The screenplay was written by Peter Viertel and it starred Tyrone Power, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer, and Errol Flynn. Much of it was filmed on location in France and Spain as well as Mexico in Cinemascope and color by Deluxe. A highlight of the film is the famous "running of the bulls" in Pamplona, Spain and two bullfights.

<i>Cry Wolf</i> (1947 film) 1947 film by Peter Godfrey

Cry Wolf is a 1947 American mystery film noir directed by Peter Godfrey and starring Errol Flynn, Barbara Stanwyck and Geraldine Brooks. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. It is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Marjorie Carleton.

<i>Silver River</i> (film) 1948 film by Raoul Walsh

Silver River is a 1948 American western film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan and Thomas Mitchell. The film is based on a Stephen Longstreet story that was turned into a novel. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Friend</span> British actor (1915–1987)

Philip Wyndham Friend was a British film and television actor.

<i>Lydia Bailey</i> 1952 American film directed by Jean Negulesco

Lydia Bailey is a 1952 American historical adventure film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Dale Robertson, Anne Francis and Charles Korvin. It was made by 20th Century Fox and based on the 1947 novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts.

<i>Adventures of Captain Fabian</i> 1951 film by Robert Florey

Adventures of Captain Fabian or Adventure in New Orleans is a 1951 American adventure film directed by William Marshall and starring Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Victor Francen.

<i>Crossed Swords</i> (1954 film) 1954 film by Milton Krims

Crossed Swords or The Teacher of Don Juan is a 1954 historical swashbuckling adventure film directed by Milton Krims and starring Errol Flynn, Gina Lollobrigida and Nadia Gray. It was co-production between Italy and the United States. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The film's sets were designed by the art director Arrigo Equini.

<i>The Big Boodle</i> 1957 film by Richard Wilson

The Big Boodle is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed by Richard Wilson, and starring Errol Flynn, Pedro Armendáriz, Rossana Rory, and Gia Scala, filmed in Cuba.

The Errol Flynn Theatre is an anthology series presented by Errol Flynn, who would also play the lead in every fourth show. His wife Patrice Wymore and son Sean also made appearances.

<i>The Story of William Tell</i> Unfinished film directed by Jack Cardiff

The Story of William Tell is an unfinished film about William Tell. It starred and was produced by Errol Flynn. It commenced filming in Italy in 1953 and was meant to be the directorial debut of Jack Cardiff. It was filmed in CinemaScope. A £10,000 model town set was built near Mont Blanc.

"The Golden Shandy" is a 1959 episode of the TV series Goodyear Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Ashmore (director)</span> British theatre director and actor

Peter Ashmore was a theatre director and actor. He was the son of William Oliver Ashmore, undertaker, and his wife Marie Cavaliero. Between the years 1946 and 1956 Ashmore's career as a director saw one success after another. He drew from such players as Peggy Ashcroft, Alec Guinness, Wendy Hiller, Mai Zetterling, Robert Morley, Brenda Bruce, Frederick Valk, and Harcourt Williams performances which are memorable.

References

  1. ↑ LONDON WILL SEE A NEW 'JANE EYRE': Chaney to Put On Hartford's Version, 'The Master of Thornfield,' in June By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 14 Apr 1954: 25.
  2. ↑ New Film to Costar McCrea and Stevens Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 8 Dec 1956: B2.
  3. 1 2 Vagg, Stephen (15 December 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 6 – The Final Adventures". Filmink.
  4. ↑ 'SPIRIT IS WILLING' TO BECOME A SHOW: Musical Version of 'Ghost Goes West' Prepared-- Jan Brooks 'Discovered' British Actress Signed 'Back to Methuselah' By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 5 Nov 1957: 37.
  5. 1 2 "Jane Eyre Cost at 500G So Far". Variety. 7 May 1958. pp. 71, 76.
  6. ↑ "Errol Flynn NG $12,200". Variety. 19 February 1958. p.  58.
  7. ↑ Dorothy Kilgallen: 'Master of Thornfield' Full of Thorns The Washington Post and Times-Herald 19 Feb 1958: B6.
  8. ↑ FLYNN IS QUITTING PLAY ON THE ROAD: Calls Dramatization of 'Jane Eyre' Unfit for Broadway -- Canadian Troupe Plans By LOUIS CALTA. New York Times 20 Feb 1958: 28.
  9. ↑ Lana, Yul Brynner in Faulkner Story Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 22 Feb 1958: B2.
  10. ↑ 'Jane Eyre' At the Shubert By Richard L. Coe. The Washington Post and Times-Herald (1954-1959) [Washington, D.C] 17 Apr 1958: C10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.