Inherited Risk: Errol and Sean Flynn in Hollywood and Vietnam

by Jeffrey Meyers

A dual portrait of the Hollywood actor and his son identifies the similarities in their personalities, chronicling first the life of Errol, including the reckless behavior that led to his early demise, and continuing with Sean's experiences, from his obsession about his father to his capture by the Vietcong.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Film

368 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2002

About the author

Jeffrey Meyers, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, has recently been given an Award in Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Thirty of his books have been translated into fourteen languages and seven alphabets, and published on six continents. He lives in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Laura Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very depressing book.

Having recently read Errol Flynn's autobiography, I was more interested in Sean's story. I would have preferred a book focused more on him, but guess from the passages here that there is not enough to carry a full-length biography.

There are definite disparities between the truth here and Errol's autobiography. Such as Errol only seeing Sean about 15 times during his life and seemingly content to be uninvolved with his son, a contrast to Errol's claims. From the quotes Sean made at various points during his life, I think Errol embellished his role in his son's life. Also, Errol's father is not as upstanding as he appears in the autobiography. He was a drunk and a womanizer. I'm not defending Errol's mother because she was a bad parent at best, but Flynn acts the typical, hypocritical male when he condemns her sexual infidelity. It doesn't seem to matter when he or his father do the cheating.

As volatile, vindictive and selfish as Lili Damita acted, I believe she tried her best to be a good mother to her son. I felt sorry for her when Sean went missing. Imagine spending decades not knowing what happened to your child. I guess Errol got belated payback because she must have been miserable and heartbroken until the day she died.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE Errol Flynn and the story of his son, Sean, is so tragic.

[Judith Squires · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've long been fascinated with the disappearance of Sean Flynn when he was working as a war photographer and he and fellow photographer Dana Stone rode their motorcycles into Cambodia against the advice of so many. This story also tells the story of his famous, totally reckless father, Errol and his early life in Tasmania and subsequent career in Hollywood. It focuses more on the father because of his longer life, although he only lived to the age of 50. Sean was only in his late 20's when last seen. It is believed he either died of disease while being held prisoner or was executed by the Khmer Rouge. Sean's British reporter friend, Tim Page, made an excellent documentary about Sean's disappearance called "Danger at the Edge of Town" which I highly recommend. I particularly liked the last words of this book "Sean rejected the Hollywood life that had helped destroy his father. But he went to war as if he were still acting in a move, fulfilling his own tragic destiny. In Hollywood, Errol could ride into an enemy roadblock and survive, in Vietnam, Sean could not.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is essentially a biography of Errol Flynn,violence by a couple of chapters about his son Sean.The section about Errol is well written though it doesn't tell us anything new about him.Though one question the author's taste when he states that Operation Burma was one of Flynns best films.It still leaves a bad taste here in the UKbecause of its falsifying American involvement in Burma.
The section about Sean actually contains more information about the Vietnam war than it does about Sean.He appeared to want to outdo his father and to have a death wish.Rather sad really,as I suppose his parents must take some of the blame.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow - what a life, for both of them. Very hedonistic lifestyles and tragic endings for both, but fascinating to compare father and son side by side.

[Huguette Larochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the book, i see many of his movie ,

[Denali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this were excellent but the book didn't land with its intended effect b/c of a few major tone/organization issues. Sean and Errol Flynn both loved risk, had thwarted bouts with introspection and went interesting places and did interesting things, and on those counts the book does well. Meyers does little to build up a strong connection between the actions and motivations of the two Flynns. In the Errol part of the story (most of the book) Meyers often loses his theme preferring to tell Hollywood stories The places where he displays indignation or contempt for various characters are by far the weakest.

Overall an interesting concept but it gives the impression that it's source material (especially the Sean Flynn-related material) might be a better investment of time.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Grandmother used to call me a young Errol Flynn. This, for whatever reason, specifically reminds me of a time my Grandmother used the word Sexy maybe 8 times in the space of 30 seconds...which is uncomfortable for any 16 year old kid. Now, I cannot be sure how much of a compliment that is but regardless...this book puts his life into an incredible context. Errol Flynn was always one of my favorite actors growing up (Robin Hood and Captain Blood still are two of my favorites), and this book makes me feel like I know the man behind the movies, regardless of how much I really wanted to know. His son clearly was influenced by the life of his charismatic father. A good book and very interesting. I bought a copy with the intent of reading it again, so that must say something.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Sean Flynn was basically a kid who lived in the long shadow of his legendary father, until he picked up a camera and went to the hell that was southeast Asia. He turn out to be a very,very good photojournalist who met a unfortunate,tragic fate. This book also sheds light on Errol who's own life saw it's share of adventures & tragedies.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good and I don't normally read biographies. It was a good look at 2 very self-destructive people and I enjoyed the stories of early Hollywood.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good bio of the father and son that shows how much alike they were even though they had not spent much time together.