Captain Blood (1935)

Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland

'Captain Blood' is a swashbuckling adventure film, one of the first true action-adventure films of the sound era, made in 1935, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill and Basil Rathbone. It was Flynn's first lead role in a feature film and it made him a star overnight. The film also marks the first of eight romantic costume pictures in which he would co-star with Olivia de Havilland whose refined prettiness was the perfect foil for his athletic exuberance.

The screenplay was written by Casey Robinson, and is based on the Rafael Sabatini's novel of the same name. The plot is solid and carefully constructed, full of action, thrilling swordfights, sea battles and romance and is matched by a wonderful musical score from one of Hollywood's greatest composers, Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

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Flynn plays Irish doctor Peter Blood, unjustly convicted of treason and shipped off to slavery in the Caribbean. He escapes and turns pirate and is pursued by his former slave owner whose daughter, Arabella, is romanced by Flynn. He also falls out with an evil French buccaneer faultlessy played by Basil Rathbone which leads to a remarkably satisfying swordfight to the death.

'Captain Blood' was well received on release, by both critics and public. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture but lost to 'Mutiny on the Bounty', and was also nominated unsuccsessfully for Best Sound Recording. It nevertheless holds up admirably after so many years and is still one of the best pirate films ever made.