Cuban Story

Rating:
Summary: This is NOT "Cuban Rebel Girls," it is a far better movie.
Review: ...I would give it four stars. It is an odd, but fascinating look at the Cuban revolution, and, I think, accurately reflects the attitudes of the time in regards to Castro, before he alligned himself with the Soviet Union. It was made at about the same time as Flynn's notoriously bad "Cuban Rebel Girls, and I would say that it is kind of a sister film to that picture. It is a fairly serious documentary about the revolution, whereas "Rebel Girls" is a silly sort of docudrama (with emphasis on "silly" and "drama"). When I finished watching "Cuban Story," I watched "Cuban Rebel Girls" again, for comparison. They have some things in common. I have a feeling they may have shared documentary footage for both films, and some of the music is the same- particularly a rebel marching song that is played extensively in both films. Flynn has more to do in "Rebel Girls"- in "Cuban Story," he merely introduces the film, and then appears again in the middle (following two still photos of him with Castro), and then at the end, when he makes the comments the former reviewer alluded to. He can also be seen in footage near the beginning, when he arrives at George Raft's nightclub in Havana. He pulls up in a late '50s White Cadillac- one of the bathtub jobs with the tail fins, and then enters the club, along with Beverly Aadland, his teenage flame, and some others. He is quite frisky in these scenes, and seemingly charms a couple of young women he meets in the club. They play roulette and blackjack, and watch a show. Interestingly, Flynn appears sans mustache in these nightclub scenes (though not in the intro), and looks somewhat younger than usual for this period. For Flynn fans, these scenes are well worth seeing. They are kind of depressing, though, as he looks like hell, and seems to have trouble focusing on the subject at hand, appearing to lose his train of thought at times. The office set used in the intro is pretty cheesy, and it looks like his scenes were filmed in an hour or two.
I would say that for students of history, and for Flynn fans, the film is well worth buying. It has its quirks, but contains footage of Cuba, Castro and the revolution that are unique. The narration is apparently by Victor Pahlen, but is occasionally written to imply that it is Flynn who is speaking, as when he refers to "my colleague George Raft." It is a much better film than "Cuban Rebel Girls," and makes interesting comparison. My only gripe is with the liner notes. I would give them 0 stars. Whoever wrote them obviously used Charles Higham's terrible book about Flynn as source material, and repeats Higham's untrue, and illogical, assertions about Flynn. That he was a lifelong fascist; that at one point he was part of a plot to assassinate Castro; that the film crew had to flee Cuba in fear for their lives; that Flynn abandoned his girlfriend, Beverly, and that she had to ask Raft for help to get out. These are outrageous fabrications, and detract from what is otherwise an interesting film. But forget the notes, and buy the DVD. It is an amazing thing to find after all these years.

Rating:
Summary: A QUIRKY LOOK AT A FAILED PROMISE
Review: By the late 50s, a clean-shaven Fidel Castro was considered a hero by most Americans when he challenged the corrupt Batista regime. And the once dashing and beautiful (there's no other word) Errol Flynn was a burned out, drug-addled alcoholic has-been actor who was in Cuba with his 15 year old girlfriend Beverly Aadland making a grade Z flick called "Cuban Rebel Girls."

Flynn ingratiated himself with Castro to get needed help to complete his guerilla girl flick. Somewhere along the way, Havana theater owner Victor Phalen and Flynn made "Cuban Story."

It appears there's shared footage and music between the two films. Flynn, with mustache, introduces the documentary and later is seen, without mustache but with Aadland -- arriving at George Raft's Havana nightclub in a white, big-finned Caddy.

Phalen narrates the reasonably tight 50 minute film that purports to document the revolution and charismatic Castro's promise of a return to democracy. But whoa, 43 years later Castro still rules -- much like Batista -- and there's yet a free election.

Near the end of of the movie, Flynn reads a telegram from Castro welcoming Americans to visit Cuba, the land of "freedom and liberty."

This odd, pro Castro film was supposedly kept in a British vault for the last 40 odd years. The suspect liner notes seem to reflect biographer Charles Higham's false view that Flynn was a traitor.

But in time's clear eyed rear view, this bizarre film is a highly entertaining new genre -- cinema irony. Off-beat and weirdly meaningful.

Rating:
Summary: Used car salesman
Review: In a way an interesting film, more due to the circumstances when it was shot. I have never seen any Errol Flynn movie, but it is clear that he should have stayed away from doing anything else than rephrasing manuscripts prepared by the more gifted. The scenes might be of some historical interest, but similar (scenes) can be seen in other movies, with competent analyses.
The movie doesn't explain anything whatsoever about the revolution and doesn't provide any insights - it is obviously made by people not up to the task. Like a used car salesman explaining the functionality of a Boing 747.

Take your hard earned money and spend it on something else like the film "Fidel". I can only recommend it for nostalgia. The only thing possible to learn is about the dubious character Flynn himself.

Rating:
Summary: A lost gem...
Review: Lost for many years this short film, just over one hour, is great for students of Cuban history and Flynn fans. Loads of long lost footage of the revolution in Havana and beyond. As a journalist resident in Havana from 1993-1999 it hold special interest to me as I can see my old apartment building there!
A great buy for those interested in the subject or the film maker - less so for the general viewer.

Rating:
Summary: Errol Flynn's lost movie a treasure!
Review: The 'Cuban Story' (1959) hosted by movie great Errol Flynn, is a surprisingly, well-made, fascinating documentary on Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba. Do not confuse this handsome, professional production with Errol Flynn's swan song, 'Cuban Rebel Girls' also made in 1959, which was a complete bomb. Picture and sound quality range from good to excellant and are generally first-rate.
Flynn appears as our host but the film is narrated by producer and Havana theater owner Victor Pahlen. There is no wasted footage or padding in this feature's tight 50 minute running time.
The 'Cuban Story' documents the fall of the brutal, corrupt dictator Battista, and the rise of the charismatic Fidel Castro. It ends in early 1959, when both the Cuban people and the world believed that Castro would restore democracy to Cuba. After 43 years in 2002, Cuba still has had no free elections and Castro rules Cuba much the same as Battista.
Since the 'Cuban Story' is truly a Valentine to Fidel Castro, the film became a political 'hot potato' during the 'Cold War'. It went unseen except for a Moscow film festival, and was hidden in the vaults at Pinewood studios in Britain.
At the end of 'Cuban Story' Errol Flynn reads a telegram he receives from Fidel Castro welcoming the American audiences to visit 'Cuba, the land of freedom and liberty.' Flynn says 'You know I believe that, and so should you. Goodnight.' Errol Flynn was charmed, seduced and duped by Fidel Castro. Just remember in May 2002, Castro did it again when he wined, dined and snowed former president Jimmy Carter!

Rating:
Summary: Errol Flynn's lost movie a treasure!
Review: The 'Cuban Story' (1959) hosted by movie great Errol Flynn, is a surprisingly, well-made, fascinating documentary on Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba. Do not confuse this handsome, professional production with Errol Flynn's swan song, 'Cuban Rebel Girls' also made in 1959, which was a complete bomb. Picture and sound quality range from good to excellant and are generally first-rate.
Flynn appears as our host but the film is narrated by producer and Havana theater owner Victor Pahlen. There is no wasted footage or padding in this feature's tight 50 minute running time.
The 'Cuban Story' documents the fall of the brutal, corrupt dictator Battista, and the rise of the charismatic Fidel Castro. It ends in early 1959, when both the Cuban people and the world believed that Castro would restore democracy to Cuba. After 43 years in 2002, Cuba still has had no free elections and Castro rules Cuba much the same as Battista.
Since the 'Cuban Story' is truly a Valentine to Fidel Castro, the film became a political 'hot potato' during the 'Cold War'. It went unseen except for a Moscow film festival, and was hidden in the vaults at Pinewood studios in Britain.
At the end of 'Cuban Story' Errol Flynn reads a telegram he receives from Fidel Castro welcoming the American audiences to visit 'Cuba, the land of freedom and liberty.' Flynn says 'You know I believe that, and so should you. Goodnight.' Errol Flynn was charmed, seduced and duped by Fidel Castro. Just remember in May 2002, Castro did it again when he wined, dined and snowed former president Jimmy Carter!

Rating:
Summary: Better Later than Sooner
Review: The expression "Better late than never" is a truism about the discovery of forgotten films. But in the case of the discovery of "Cuban Story" one could defensibly assert "Better later than sooner."

Errol Flynn had been a frequent visitor to Cuba during the last years of the Batista regime, his primary interest being Cuba's then notorious nightlife. Flynn acknowledges as much in the film and even provides us with samples of scenes from casinos. But he also provides us with scenes from the "other Cuba," the Cuba that was the experience of most Cubans at the time: the Cuba of extreme hardship, poverty, illiteracy, and rampant worker exploitation. All these scenes are fittingly coupled with scenes of Batista military reviews and parades.

But Castro, the revolutionary challenging the regime in the mountains, captures Flynn's imagination and he travels at some personal risk to meet Castro and to film him. It is at this point that Cuba becomes for Flynn more than an opportunity for wild nights in Havana. It becomes the story of the struggle for justice and Castro becomes its quintessential expression. From there the film records the early victories of the revolutionaries in Cuba and their eventual triumphal march into Havana after Batista's abdication.

Of course, that Cuba story is well known and much discussed. Yet Flynn provides us with information that is not nearly as well known--in some cases nearly forgotten--which makes the discovery of Flynn's film now arguably better than if it had been discovered sooner. Flynn's film offers some information that corrects some of the disinformation we have heard about the revolution for years:

1. Contrary to the revisionist claim that the Cuban people didn't consider Batista a tyrant at the time of the revolution, Flynn shows us the wounds of Batista's torture victims and the bones of some of the murdered 40,000 discovered in unmarked graves.

2. Although we often we read of the exodus of Cuban elites and Batista human rights abusers after the revolution, we have heard next to nothing about the numerous Cubans returned from exile to Cuba after Batista had been deposed. Flynn shows them to us disembarking from planes.

3. Flynn attended and recorded many of the notorious trials of the former Batista regime criminals. The trials come off less unsavory than as they have been depicted in the past. The trials were open to the public and the international press, they were broadcast on television, the defendants were afforded free defense attorneys, and defendants could appeal decisions based on the discovery of new evidence.

But these are not the only gems this movie affords. Others include footage never seen before of the early days of the revolution, making the film definitely worth the purchase.