Is this an IMDB error? IMDB says it was Budlong who died by accidentially falling on his sword. However, in Errol Flynn's autobiography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways," Flynn states that it was Bill Meade who actually died. Anyone know?
shareThe IMDB for Budlong says he died in 1941 in an accident on the set of "They Died..." I wouldn't put too much faith in the accuracy of these autobiographies, since they can be pretty self-serving. Flynn probably had no idea who Budlong was, just that someone had died during filming.
shareFlynn allegedly called the hospital every day inquiring about Budlong's condition, but given Flynn's impaired (gin-soaked) memory, it's not surprising that he got the name wrong in later years.
Still, it does add insult to injury as far as Budlong's family is concerned, that no one, neither Flynn nor his editor, could be bothered to recheck the name of the stuntman before going to press.
In publishing "My Wicked, Wicked Ways", several names were fictionalized in order to avoid legal troubles [see Earl Conrad's account of co-writing with Flynn]. This is not to say such was the case with Mr Budlong, but it certainly applies to other instances in the text of Flynn's autobiography.
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