The Story of William Tell (Unfinished 1953 Errol Flynn Film)

In 1953, Errol Flynn was riding high with his popular acting career. The Italian-American celebrity started getting more and more ambitious with his work and decided to start producing as well. He made a deal with Jack Cardiff to make a movie based off of William Tell.

Flynn had a set built as a model ski resort just off Mont Blanc. The set was known for its ellaborite location and building designs. The cost of the set was so high that by the time Flynn got shooting he barely had enough money to pay his actors. He could only afford to to film 30 minutes worth of footage before having to halt production.

He showed the film at a few film festivals to try to get some investors interested. Bouts of dysentery kept him in the bathroom, unable to meet with them and discuss a deal. He then attempted to fake an injury to make an insurance claim, which also blew up in his face. Flynn never got the opportunity to complete his dream project,

None of the 30 minutes of footage has surfaced. Nobody knows where any copies can be found, as Flynn's estates have chosen to remain silent about it. The footage is now considered entirely lost, with not even any production stills remaining. The only proof of the film's existence is the model ski resort, which is now a real ski resort that uses the film's production to lure tourists in every year.