An unpublished diary of Australian-born movie legend Errol Flynn will be auctioned along with other memorabilia of the Hollywood star in Los Angeles next month, the auctioneers said Monday.
Written in pencil by Flynn in 1937, when he made a mysterious visit to the front line in the Spanish Civil War, the diary will be put on sale by his daughter Dierdre.
The leather-bound diary, expected to fetch more than 6,000 US dollars illustrates Flynn's reputation for an adventurous life.
In a brief excerpt released in Sydney by Christie's auction house, Flynn describes riding first class on a bullet-riddled train in a scene that could have been made for a Hollywood movie.
"Everyone is armed -- some with large knives plus revolvers, but all with revolvers," the diary entry reads.
"The train is stopped. Plane has been heard ... we are crowded with young loyalists all armed and with oddest assortment of uniforms.
"More soldiers, all kids, get on at every station. We are like sardines and smell like bad ones ... two hours late getting to Barcelona ... haven't eaten for 24 hours."
In another passage Flynn writes: "Beautiful spring day, warm sunshine, country beautiful. How can people fight a war in this lovely weather? Four hours train journey from here the most savage cruel patricidal war is being waged ..."
Flynn, who was accused of being a Nazi spy in the discredited 1980 biography 'Errol Flynn, the Untold Story', reveals in his diary that he actually addressed a group of communists in Spain and was saluted by them.
"Have to give short speech and am cheered when I finish with clenched fist communist salute and the word "Salute" ... great reception! Erben reminded me afterward I said 'God bless you all' - heresy here naturally as religion has been abolished. Lucky they didn't understand."
The reason for Flynn's visit to the war and the identity of his companion, Erben, remain unclear.
Christie's declines to reveal further diary details: "There is a great deal more of even greater interest but in deference to the purchaser the full text of this entirely unpublished original account will remain so."
Two years before writing the diary, Flynn made the hit pirate film Captain Blood and began his rapid rise from swashbuckling lead actor to one of the biggest stars of the golden age of Hollywood.
Deirdre Flynn is also offering nine autographed letters and one heavily inscribed photo of her father at the November 15 Christie's auction in Los Angeles.
On one postcard Flynn laments the downside of movie making in exotic locations: "Am waiting word from MGM when I go to India. Meanwhile am having so many anti-plague, anti this and that my fanny looks like a dart board."
The letter collection is likely to sell for around 3,000 US dollars -- SYDNEY (AFP)
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