The vogue for "pirate films" and Caribbean and "South Seas" adventures that was maintained from the 1930s through the early 1960s was undoubtedly catalyzed more by "Captain Blood" than by any other film.in Hollywood history. This film was developed from a Rafel Sabbattini novel, by Casey Robinson. The storyline was also a bit unusual I suggest because its educated chief character was a medical man, not a soldier by profession, although he has learned weaponry at some time in his life. Because he gives aid to a rebel against the king, on medical grounds if no other, he is then sentenced to be sold as a slave to British imperial colonists in the New World. He is eloquent in his damning of the authorities at his trumped-up trial; but his arguments avail him nothing. His new owner proves to be young, rich, beautiful and somewhat unenlightened--a female. Over time, as he grows to admire the person behind the conventional attitudes, he wins the run of the island of Jamaica where he has been sent; and soon he is able to work some good. He also busies himself winning allies among the others sentenced there and in time escapes and captures a Spanish ship. It is then Peter Blood becomes "Captain Blood", professional pirate. He takes his ship and with some difficulty is allowed to join the pirate brotherhood run by notorious Captain Levasseur. At first he acknowledges the other as his master as a pirate; but gradually the two become bitter rivals. So when Levasseur captures Arabella, his former owner, with whom Blood is now in love himself, he cannot permit the act. He faces Levasseur in a prodigious sword fight and emerges victorious. this would be enough of a plot for many pirate films, but not this one. Because no sooner has he rescued Arabella than he learns elements of the French fleet are going to attack Jamaica. Rushing to the island's defense, he repels the enemy. then news arrives; a new king has replaced the old, and all the enemies of his predecessor have been pardoned. Because of his gallantry, Blood is made Governor of Jamaica; and the rest of the happy ending can be guessed by any viewer. The film has a luminous B/W cinematography. It was directed by Michael Curtiz as his first Hollywood major effort; it was also a first for the two young stars, who were later starred together by Warner Brothers, the studio whose heads championed out-laws of all stripes, on more than half a dozen occasions. The same cast--Erroll Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, the same composer--Erich Wolfgang Korngold--and the same director helped to make "The Adventures of Robin Hood" a classic fictionalized biography. Cinematography by Ernest Haller and Hal Mohr and art direction by Anton Grot contributed greatly to the stylish quality of this handsome production; it may have been shot in Southern California, but it looks clean, spacious and very Caribbean at at nearly every moment. Milo Anderson did Miss de Havilland's gowns; and the lighting throughout needs to be noted as being exceptional, by any many's standards. In the cast apart from the three headlined actors, all of whom are adequate or better, the viewer can find Guy Kibbe and many of Hollywood's British colony, plus Ross Alexander, Donald Meek, J. Carroll Naish, Pedro de Cordoba, Halliwell Hobbes, E.E. Clive, Jessie Ralph and Henry Stephenson. The story-line is clearly developed; the film's segments are each realized in above-average dialogue and actions segments. This is a film that is popular because perhaps of its attractive young leads and high style; it is not a great film, by my lights, but it is great fun.
Review of Captain Blood
