Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Hollywood Classic
This film starts with the 1685 Duke of Monmouth rebellion. The battle of Sedgemoor rages in the background as Errol Flynn's character is wrongly accused of supporting the rebels. King James II is portrayed as an arrogant prince, something which most Protestants of the day would have agreed with, and which Hollywood does not seem to deny. James, while detached, was not the cold hearted fool we see here. But this is only a minor point. The film has historic interest, portraying England as it does during the 1680s, the reign of James II before the advent of the Glorious Revolution which sees him removed in favor of William III of Orange and Queen Mary. The movie only touches on these political developments, but its interesting to see them as factors in the background. The rest is pure Hollywood adventure with fiction playing havoc with fact! Still, the movie is so entertaining and classy that we don't mind a few historical gaffes. Flynn is elegant in his first major role, and Olivia Dehavland is strikingly beautiful. Hard to beleive she was only 18 when this film was made. The rest of the supporting cast may be a bit standard for a 1930s production, but they pull their weight well with all the cute touches of the day. The production value of the film appears more impressive than it actually was. The fast pace combined with clever plot makes for a classic of its kind. The French as perenial villins may strike a chord with today! For period swashbuckling, romance and class, you won't find better than here.
Rating:  - Good for a Swashbuckling fix
This movie was Errol Flynn's debut and one of the best swashbucklers of the golden era. Sadly, the genre has fallen out of favor although Hong Kong action is arguably its successor. This movie was based on the novel of the same name by Rafael Sabatini and for the most part stays close to the book. (some of the goofy dialogue was not from the book I am glad to say, the other goofy stuff just sounds odd because Blood is Irish being played by an Australian)The plot involves a Doctor who is railroaded into a treason conviction and subsequently sentenced to slave labor in Barbados. There he meets the lovely Arabella (played by Flynn's usual leading lady, Olivia deHavilland). Naturally, being the most photogenic people on the island, they fall in love. Then Blood escaps, becomes a pirate but never stops thinking about the girl he left behind. Flynn is more boyish here than he was in his later roles, he was only in his mid twenties. Both he and deHavilland are a decade younger than their counterparts in the book and act accordingly, they are both much less polite. This is a very fun movie and while VHS is dandy, I would love to see a DVD. There is a shocking lack of golden era action on DVD and I do hope the situation is corrected. Essential for a Flynn fan, pleasant for a lover of the classics and one of the better Sabatini adaptations (he wrote Scaramouche, the Sea Hawk and the Black Swan, FYI) this movie offers a solid return for your investment. Oh, and do try the book, it will make you understand the movie better.
Rating: - A great buccaneer epic.
I think that this is one of the greatest action - adventure films and perhaps the greatest adventure-epic film about pirates ,ever made in cinema's history. Adapted from Raffael Sabbatini's homonymous novel, "Captain Blood" introduced 26 years old Australian-born actor Errol Flynn, in Hollywood as a great star and it was the first of a movie-series that granted him the title of "swashbucklers's king".The film also created Flynn's image (solidified in the next years) as the dashing young romantic adventurer hero who always saves the day. Flynn plays the Irish doctor Peter Blood who becomes the handsome gentleman rogue pirate of the Caribbean with bravado and charisma ,appearing his great talent that made him a legend. But here we can locate some historical inaccuracy , (an inheritance of 19th century's romantic literature ) because the real pirates were quite repulsive, poor , illiterate and not fascinating and educated sea knights. The historical background on the contrary is quite accurate and very interesting. The film beggins in 1685 when Duke of Monmouth organised an unsuccessfull rebellion and portrays England during the 1680s, the reign of James II before the advent of the Glorious Revolution which sees him removed in favor of William III of Orange and Queen Mary. An other notable point is that the film portrays pro-catholic King James II as an evil and cruel tyrannical persona ,a fact that might be seen as a film's pro-protestant position on history, yet don't forget that this story is adapted from a novel and this was Sabbatini's view on historical facts.
Curtiz's direction is excellent and impressive,especially at the great terrific sea battle which is amazing. Olivia de Havilland is brilland and adorable as Flynn's sweet love interest ,with astonishing beauty. Even she is only 19 years old ,she plays her role with maturity and high professional capability. Basil Rathbone is perfect as the villain-fond of women French pirate Levasseur (and as swordfighter) using a peculiar french accent . Lionel Atwill as de Havilland's uncle is very convincing as a brutal plantation owner who finally reconciles with Captain Blood (Errol Flynn).You have also to notice the great performances by the actors who compose Captain Blood's crew. They're really charming.
A must-see high entertaining master piece epic. I give it all the stars I can . Enjoy it and love it.
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