BEFORE: Stepping into the Wayback Machine tonight for a look at how this whole crazy thing started - I've never seen any of Errol Flynn's films before, but he sort of set the tone for the pirate movies that followed, right? Linking from last night's film, Johnny Depp was also in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Christopher Lee, who was also in "The Dark Avenger" with Errol Flynn (thanks again to the Oracle of Bacon).
THE PLOT: An enslaved doctor and his comrades in chains escape and become pirates.
AFTER: Like last night's film, this one begins with a trial, where justice is not being served very well. Flynn's title character is a doctor who's sold into slavery after giving medical treatment to an enemy of the realm. After escaping and commandeering a ship, he splits all treasure among the men with extra shares going to the injured, thus accidentally inventing Workmen's Compensation.
His ship enjoys a brief partnership with a group of French pirates, but their leader finds Capt. Blood's articles of piracy too difficult to follow, particularly the one about not molesting women prisoners - well, he is French after all. The highlight of the film for me was probably the fencing match after the two captains can't resolve their differences.
By contrast, the set backdrops look very fake - the cloud patterns never seem to change behind the ship. And once the sea battles begin, the long shots of the ship are clearly that of miniatures. I guess that's just the way it was done back in the 1930's. It's also laughable how many times Errol Flynn is seen framed perfectly, from just the right angle, gazing off into the distance, allowing the camera to catch his profile. All that's missing is the little gleam on his teeth.
Blood's ship pulls a fast one by sailing under a number of different flags, which enables it to approach enemy ships. I always wondered why ships flew such blatant identifying markers - doesn't it just tip everyone off as to who is friend and who is foe? Why fly any flag at all, other than for national pride, of course...
NITPICK POINT: Blood seems surprised to learn that England and France are at war. But weren't they always at war back in the 1600's?
NITPICK POINT #2: Blood sees two French ships attacking Port Royal, so he brings his ship in between them, and takes out the one to the right, er, starboard. But what was the other ship's crew doing during this time? Just watching? Wouldn't they attack from the port side?
Also starring Olivia De Havilland, Basil Rathbone.
RATING: 4 out of 10 cannonballs
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