Reviews
John Chard

John Chard

March 18, 2019
9.0
What a creature must sit on the throne who lets a man like you deal out his justice! Captain Blood is directed by Michael Curtiz and adapted by Casey Robinson from the Rafael Sabatini novel. It stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland, Basil Rathbone, Ross Alexander and Lionel Atwill. Music is scored by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and photography is shared between Ernest Haller and Hal Mohr. 1685, England, and Dr. Peter Blood (Flynn) is unjustly convicted of treason against the King. Escaping the death penalty, Blood and the other supposed rebels are sold into slavery at the English colony of Port Royal. Bought by kindly Arabella Bishop (de Havilland), Blood settles down to work as physician to the local governor. But when the town comes under attack from the Spanish, Blood and his friends seize the opportunity to commandeer the Spanish ship and escape... And Thus Captain Blood Began His Career Of Piracy. . . With A Ship, A Handful Of Men, And A Brain. . . It could all have been so different had Robert Donat not turned down the role of Captain Blood. In came Flynn at the last minute, a swaggering superstar was born and classic cinema got a handful of truly rousing swashbucklers that continue to delight millions even today. Not to mention it also brought further notice of de Havilland's ability, with this picture the first of eight she would make with Flynn. Even though it was seen of something of a gamble for Warner Brothers at the time, the film actually isn't that big in budgetary terms, all the remarkable, then, that Curtiz and his team have fashioned such an entertainingly rousing picture. Although Flynn gleefully dominates proceedings, and in the process gives the film its only real flaw by rendering much of the other characters to being like awe-struck observers, much of the credit for Captain Blood's success is down to Robinson's screenplay. Running at just over two hours in length, film is chocked full of action, plot and asides to the British monarchy of the 17th century, deftly split into two halves by the wily Curtiz. First half establishes the major players and incidence, taking a good honest man in a hot political climate and forcing him to go rogue. This then fills the second part as Blood becomes the feared pirate of the high seas, and then ultimately his journey back to a life of normality and love flecked happiness. In amongst this journey to piracy and back, film is decked out with moments of spectacle. Be it Flynn swishing and swashing with blade, or swinging in on a rope, or the sight of cannons blasting away in tall ship duels, Curtiz ensures the pace is brisk and the adrenaline is often stirred. In the mix is the chemistry between Flynn and de Haviland, which obviously hits the ground running, and two deliciously shifty turns from Messrs Atwill and Rathbone. Stunts are aplenty and although the sets are at times at the bare minimum, Curtiz and his photographers get maximum impact by going for a near Expressionist style. All of which is scored with thunderous verve by master composer Korngold. Flynn would better this with both "The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)" and "The Sea Hawk (1940)", but Captain Blood is undeniably the influential template. 9/10

Recommendation Movies

7.2
Romance
View
7.2
Only Angels Have Wings
Only Angels Have Wings1939
6.9
Adventure
View
6.9
The Crimson Pirate
The Crimson Pirate1952
6.9
Adventure
View
6.9
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.1951
6.4
Music
View
6.4
The Pirate
The Pirate1948
7.2
Adventure
View
7.2
The Sea Hawk
The Sea Hawk1940
6.9
Western
View
6.9
Dodge City
Dodge City1939
6.9
Drama
View
6.9
The Scarlet Empress
The Scarlet Empress1934
6.5
Mystery
View
6.5
Dressed to Kill
Dressed to Kill1946
7.4
Drama
View
7.4
Abandon Ship
Abandon Ship1957
7.1
War
View
7.1
Action in the North Atlantic
Action in the North Atlantic1943
7.8
Documentary
View
7.8
The Mole Agent
The Mole Agent2020
8
Drama
View
8
Late Spring
Late Spring1949
7.3
Horror
View
7.3
Dracula
Dracula1958
6.5
Comedy
View
6.5
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask1972
6.8
Comedy
View
6.8
Overboard
Overboard1987
6.4
Adventure
View
6.4
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc1999
6.5
Comedy
View
6.5
The Whole Nine Yards
The Whole Nine Yards2000
7.3
Mystery
View
7.3
To Catch a Thief
To Catch a Thief1955
5.8
Adventure
View
5.8
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers2011
7.9
History
View
7.9
Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur1959
© 2025 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt