Errol Flynn's career was in gentle decline after WW2, his films getting less distinguished, but a successful re-release of Robin Hood and The Sea Hawk prompted Warners to splurge on an old style swashbuckler.They put up a healthy budget, brought back some old faces (Alan Hale as a side kick, Una O'Connor as a lady in waiting) and created a script that beautifully incorporates the damage time has done to Errol - he's a little bit old and weary now, has done a lot of hard living, but that's totally appropriate for Don Juan (Errol wouldn't have been as good playing this ten years earlier when he was all shiny teeth and healthy limbs).
There are some hilarious lines in the script, mostly involving Don Juan seducing women (presumably the work of Harry Kurnitz, one of the writers, who specialised in comedy), and the transition of Don from irresponsible playboy to patriot is well done. There is some decent historical background (its set at the court of Phillip II and Margaret, with Don trying to stop an evil count creating war against England - we couldn't have had Errol fighting the Poms), a wisecracking dwarf and weak king (which he was). Robert Douglas is a villain worthy of Henry Daniell and he and Flynn have a spectacular final duel; Raymond Burr is also good value as Douglas' nasty sidekick. Lots of comedy, colour and costumes, Max Steiner's score is among his most rousing.
The major drawback is Viveca Lindfors as the Queen; she tries hard but there's no magic there. Better value are the other Don Juan-hungry women: Ann Rutherford (Andy Hardy's old sweetheart), Helen Westcott and Nora Eddington (Flynn's wife, who is in the final scene). Another drawback is the fact Don Juan is fighting for peace rather than freedom from oppression - it's a lot harder to get excited about maintaining the status quo.
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