On paper, Captain Kidd looks quite presentable. Laughton, Scott, Owen, Carradine, Daniell in a scenario by Norman Reilly Raine (Emile Zola, Robin Hood, Elizabeth and Essex, Fighting 69th, Captains of the Clouds, A Bell for Adano, etc), directed by Rowland V. Lee (Son of Frankenstein, Tower of London, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, etc.).
However, in actual fact the script is awful, the direction pedestrian and excitement somewhat meager. The acting is atrocious too - but at least it's entertaining. Laughton must have signed for the film without first reading the shooting script. Certainly it's great to see him in the star part (the hero played by Randolph Scott is definitely subsidiary, while the heroine doesn't even come on till the halfway mark), but handed such impoverished lines and woeful business! However much this assignment would have defeated a lesser actor, Laughton sets to with a will, hamming up the part with such lively gusto and infectious enthusiasm as to turn the bird-droppings of an almost featherless screenplay into a veritable feast of robust entertainment.
Laughton is greatly helped in his endeavors by Reginald Owen, another seasoned performer who knows all the tricks of inflection and demeanor to strike sparks of histrionic excitement from the driest pasture. John Carradine also has a nicely insinuating way with words, but the rest of the players are far less able to spin their spidery lines into threads of gold. Henry Daniell is miscast as good King William. Gilbert Roland tries hard and does most of his own fencing (while an obvious double substitutes for our hero) but misses the ingratiating charisma of a true-born villain. Mr Scott's resourceful hero signally lacks a tongue in his cheek. Miss Britton is a bland and featureless heroine.
As for the production itself, it sweeps high on promise but considerably short in actual achievement. A few of the sets are remarkably lavish, but a general air of cheese-paring pervades. The pacing is slow, the action spots few and far between, the direction flat and the photography colorless. In short the film bears every sign of being soldered together in budget-conscious haste.
For Laughton fans who are oblivious to all else, Captain Kidd offers a reasonably entertaining romp through the pages of piracy. For the rest of us, it's a definite disappointment.
However, in actual fact the script is awful, the direction pedestrian and excitement somewhat meager. The acting is atrocious too - but at least it's entertaining. Laughton must have signed for the film without first reading the shooting script. Certainly it's great to see him in the star part (the hero played by Randolph Scott is definitely subsidiary, while the heroine doesn't even come on till the halfway mark), but handed such impoverished lines and woeful business! However much this assignment would have defeated a lesser actor, Laughton sets to with a will, hamming up the part with such lively gusto and infectious enthusiasm as to turn the bird-droppings of an almost featherless screenplay into a veritable feast of robust entertainment.
Laughton is greatly helped in his endeavors by Reginald Owen, another seasoned performer who knows all the tricks of inflection and demeanor to strike sparks of histrionic excitement from the driest pasture. John Carradine also has a nicely insinuating way with words, but the rest of the players are far less able to spin their spidery lines into threads of gold. Henry Daniell is miscast as good King William. Gilbert Roland tries hard and does most of his own fencing (while an obvious double substitutes for our hero) but misses the ingratiating charisma of a true-born villain. Mr Scott's resourceful hero signally lacks a tongue in his cheek. Miss Britton is a bland and featureless heroine.
As for the production itself, it sweeps high on promise but considerably short in actual achievement. A few of the sets are remarkably lavish, but a general air of cheese-paring pervades. The pacing is slow, the action spots few and far between, the direction flat and the photography colorless. In short the film bears every sign of being soldered together in budget-conscious haste.
For Laughton fans who are oblivious to all else, Captain Kidd offers a reasonably entertaining romp through the pages of piracy. For the rest of us, it's a definite disappointment.