Errol Flynn could really act!!! Who knew????

Respectfully disagree. Olivier wasn't tough enough for the part the way it was written, whereas Flynn was the tough guy with a refined veneer. Betty only wanted Olivier bacause he wasn't well known in the Untied States yet, and she didn't want to have to share the spotlight with another major star.

He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good... St. Matthew 5:45

Olivier was a great actor to be sure, but he never struck me as a NATURAL actor. Flynn played his Essex in a very credible fashion. I am a big fan of his work, but this film required a few viewings because I made the mistake of believing others who reviewed it and said his acting showed alot of petulence, and lack of commitment. THEY WERE WRONG!!!

I thought that Errol Flynn was good in the Michael Curtiz film "Elizabeth and Essex". There is a lengthy stretch of scene dialogue close to the end of the film which really makes one really wish, however, that the role had been acted by Laurence Olivier (I believe it is just before Essex goes to Ireland) as Olivier had the better acting ability than did Flynn. It was, alas, not to be.

Flynn, who was perfect for this role, was an underrated natural who was never given his due simply because he also happened to be incredibly handsome. No matter how talented, the exceptionally good-looking are rarely taken seriously, and Errol Flynn was a perfect example of this mindset. Early in his career, he was stereotyped as someone who could swash a buckle and little else, but his portrayals in films such as this showed that there was much more to this lust-inspiring man than a nice sword. Even the scenery-chewing Davis recognized his talent, albeit too late. Because they were so similar as people, Davis knew that she had met her match in Flynn, and it's usually those who are similar to each other who clash the most.

If Olivier has co-starred with her in this or any film, Bette -- not "Betty" to the supposedly big fans of hers who misspelled it at this board -- would have chewed him UP, spit him OUT, and stomped ON him like one of her trademark cigarettes. Olivier was an overrated, overinflated ham who would have brought nothing to this role except weakness, affectation, and an extra large (spoiled) ham. When I think of Essex, I think of Errol Flynn. If Olivier had played the role, I'd be thinking of someone who's mainly adept at recitation...while holding a 20 lb. ham. Granted, Olivier had a handful of memorable roles, but Flynn had his share as well and Essex is one of them. He proved his talent and held his own in a number of films, and comparing him to Olivier as far as which one would have been the better Essex is pointless and snobbish.