Former Hollywood heartthrob, Errol Flynn, has once again captured the attention of audiences as I indulged in a marathon of his movies last Saturday night.
From “Gentleman Jim” to “Dawn Patrol” and “Dodge City,” these films brought back memories of a local story I covered involving his teenage girlfriend, Beverly Aadland, and their highly publicized romance that spanned two years.
Recently, Beverly Aadland Fisher reached out to me, offering an exclusive opportunity to share her side of the story.
This was a significant breakthrough for the Antelope Valley Press, shedding new light on a scandal that rocked the 1950s.
At the time, Beverly had become a resident of Palmdale, having married Ronald Fisher and starting a family with their daughter.
During our meeting in her suburban home, she graciously shared keepsakes from her time with Flynn and even posed for photographs.
She spoke candidly about the glamorous affair she had with the charming and popular movie star.
When news of their relationship initially broke, it made headlines across the nation.
Beverly's mother later penned a book titled “The Big Love,” revealing that her daughter and Flynn had a s**ual relationship that began when Beverly was just 15, although Flynn believed she was 18.
The story was adapted into a film called “The Last of Robin Hood,” with Dakota Fanning portraying Beverly.
Kevin Kline took on the role of Flynn, and Susan Sarandon portrayed Beverly's stage mother.
Filmmakers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland visited Beverly in Palmdale to gather her recollections of the May-December romance, which they incorporated into the movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
Beverly herself had a brief acting career, appearing in films such as “South Pacific” and co-starring with Flynn in “Cuban Rebel Girls” during her teenage years.
In a one-woman show, Tracey Ullman portrayed Beverly's mother, Florence, in a New York stage production titled “The Big Love.”
The book also provided insight into Florence's role as a pushy stage mother, orchestrating Beverly's involvement with an older fading star.
Beverly's husband, Ron, and their daughter Aadlanda even made appearances as extras in “The Last of Robin Hood,” which was released in 2013.
Interestingly, Beverly had already made a name for herself in the entertainment industry by the age of 7 when she starred in an industrial film called “The Story of Nylon” under the name Beverly Adlund.
She was also featured on the BBC radio series “Hollywood Charmers,” which celebrated Flynn's illustrious film career among four charming leading men.
Tragically, Beverly was by Flynn's side when he passed away at the age of 50 in Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 14, 1959.
She herself passed away on January 5, 2010, at the Lancaster Community Hospital, having lived a life filled with both triumphs and tribulations.
She was 67 years old.
As I immersed myself in Flynn's movies, I witnessed his impeccable portrayal of James J. Corbett, a skillful boxer, in “Gentleman Jim.”
In “Dawn Patrol,” he flawlessly captured the intensity of American pilots trained too hastily in World War I, often enduring the loss of
