Review of Adventures of Don Juan (1948) by Kevin R — 24 Feb 2011

The Adventures of Don Juan (1948) -- [8.0] -- Errol Flynn makes a triumphant return to the genre that made him a star (after Hollywood shelved period action flicks for the duration of WWII). "Adventures of Don Juan" is splashy, colorful, good-humored, and terrifically entertaining.

Despite public knowledge that Flynn's boozing and whoring were spiraling out of control by this point in his life, he delivers a quinissential Flynn performance - dashing, charming, magnetic. How many actors can command the screen while wearing tights? The supporting cast includes a wonderfully villainous Robert Douglass, returning sidekick Alan Hale (in the last of his 13 pairings with Flynn) and Swedish actress Viveca Lindfors as the latest object of Don Juan's affection -- none other than the Queen of Spain.

I particularly enjoyed the film's climax, where Don Juan sneaks into the caste with a troup of student swordsman to rescue the Queen from Douglass' dastardly Duke. The final swordfight on an epic-sized set of the palace staircase is among the finest moments in Flynn's filmography (though it's actually a stuntman who performs Don Juan's famous leap from the banister).

Rounding out the superlatives are another rousing score from Max Steiner and Oscar-winning costume design.