In an interview, director Arthur Hiller recalls the time when he directed Errol Flynn in what he described as "a little western story." First encountering Flynn in rehearsal after checking his costume (and noting the scent of vodka), Hiller was enormously impressed when the actor gave a beautiful reading of his character in the read-through with the cast, but, when it came time to block the action out and begin filming, Flynn's self-confidence began to ebb away, prompting Hiller to try to boost his confidence. Despite the warmth between the actor and director, the next day Flynn called in sick.
According to Hiller, the production company brought Errol to work by limo after their doctor checked him out, and Hiller understood that Flynn was merely afraid. The once swashbuckling figure, who was clearly in pain, at one point faltered over a bit of business, laid his head on the bar in the saloon where the scene was set, breaking down in tears during filming, saying "I don't know what I'm doing." Hiller, who felt that the actor was well liked by most people was deeply moved by the whole experience, much of it too heartbreaking to witness.
The director describes the filming of "The Golden Shanty" in some detail during an interview found at the Archive of American Television, found below in Part 6 of his account of his career. The comments about Flynn begin at 6:06 below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-JQ_juHn0Vg