Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

The Adventures of Don Juan (1948)

In his last costume drama, Errol Flynn plays a legendary lover who is also a formidable swordsman. No doubt the double entendre is intentional as Don Juan is full of self deprecating humor and asides to the audience. Sort of an intimate little laugh between Errol Flynn and his adoring fans, it seems to say "I know I'm not the man I used to be, but let's go through this once again for old time's sake."

Even if Flynn is a little overripe at age 39, his excesses beginning to show in his face, mainly, he is still the king of swashbucklers and I've noticed that the more times I view this film, the better I like it, so there is good repeat viewability.

The story is pretty much the same as any of the Flynn swashbuckling romances, with one fatal flaw: there is no romance. Where the other Flynn vehicles had a lady fair like Olivia DeHavilland or Brenda Marshall, this one has Flynn paired with her Most Catholic Majesty Queen Margaret as an opposite, who, even though her husband is a joke, is too good a wife to stray off the path. Despite that almost impenetrable script conundrum, Flynn manages to charm and swagger his way through in nearly as good form as we are accustomed to from his brilliant portrayals of Robin Hood and George Armstrong Custer.

The movie immediately begins to establish its broadly humorous tone with some spectacular drawings of progress then switching to Flynn (Don Juan) climbing a vine into a balcony for a new conquest. After a few pleasantries are exchanged, they are confronted with the returned husband, clutching a grouse in one hand and a rapier in the other. Flynn disarms the cuckold in an instant and then disarms him again when he recovers his sword. After giving him a lecture to love his wife better, he looks at the wife, picks up the grouse and hands it to the husband. Leaping from the balcony, he and his squire (Alan Hale) gallop off, hotly pursued by the palace guards. Juan is soon captured masquerading as a Spanish ambassador and sent back to Spain to face the ire of the monarch.

On arrival he is presented before the Queen (Viveca Lindfors) who is not amused by the legendary lover's exploits. She is pleased, however, when he gives a sharp retort to the Duke de Lorca (Robert Douglas) whom he has immediately pegged as a usurper, with the impotent king (Romney Brent) under his thumb. The Duke leaves the audience in frustration and the Queen appoints Flynn to be fencing instructor to the guards, cautioning him to confine his energies to that activity. Flynn undergoes a remarkable change of character and does just that.

I must confess that that change is a little unbelievable, given the established character of Don Juan. Of course, that radical a change can only last so long and Juan is trapped when a lady lures him to her boudoir. Don Juan discovers that his friend the Spanish ambassador is imprisoned by the evil Duke de Lorca, he undertakes to rescue him, is captured, rescued, then leads the swordsmen he trained to thwart the Duke's usurpation of the throne. He earns the (platonic) love of a grateful queen - The End; except for a final postscript.

For what Don Juan lacks in story it makes up for in lavish sets and costuming shown in glowing Technicolor. The sets are spectacular with a palace interior with gigantic stairway on which the final swordplay takes place. The costumes are of all hues and cut to flatter the actors. Flynn has a remarkably trim figure yet not quite as limber as he once was. Viveca Lindfors, with raven black tresses, looks every inch a queen, but cold and distant, despite her delightful beauty. Robert Douglas is made up to look like Satan himself in his role as villain. Along with frequent Flynn co-star Alan Hale, the movie features an early Raymond Burr appearance as one of De Lorca's henchmen. You'll probably recognize many other familiar faces from the Warner Bros stable of character actors. The Max Steiner score is very recognizable and gives the movie a galloping pace.

The Warner Bros DVD is available as part of the Errol Flynn Signature Collection, Vol 2, or separately. The well preserved video is in 1.33:1 theatrical format in absolutely glowing Technicolor and runs 110 minutes. The DVD is in "Warner Night at the Movies" format with newsreels, previews, cartoon, short subject, and everything else that would be shown with the feature when it was shown in theaters in 1948. In addition, there is a full length commentary by director Victor Sherman and film historian Rudy Behlmer.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV