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The Spanish Main (1945)Laurent van Horn is the leader of a band of Dutch refugees on a ship seeking freedom in the Carolinas, when the ship is wrecked on the coast of Cartagene. governed by Don Juan Alvardo, ... See full summary » Director:Frank Borzage |
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Title: The Spanish Main (1945)
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Nominated for 1 Oscar.
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Cast
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| Paul Henreid | ... |
Capt. Laurent Van Horn
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| Maureen O'Hara | ... |
Contessa Francesca
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Walter Slezak | ... |
Don Juan Alvarado
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Binnie Barnes | ... | |
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John Emery | ... |
Mario Du Billar
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| Barton MacLane | ... |
Capt. Benjamin Black
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J.M. Kerrigan | ... |
Pillery Gow
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Fritz Leiber | ... |
Bishop
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Nancy Gates | ... |
Lupita
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Jack La Rue | ... |
Lt. Escobar
(as Jack LaRue)
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| Mike Mazurki | ... |
Erik Swaine
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Ian Keith | ... |
Captain Lussan
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Victor Kilian | ... |
Santa Madre Captain
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Curt Bois | ... |
Paree
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| Antonio Moreno | ... |
Commandante
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Laurent van Horn is the leader of a band of Dutch refugees on a ship seeking freedom in the Carolinas, when the ship is wrecked on the coast of Cartagene. governed by Don Juan Alvardo, Spainish ruler. Alvarado has Laurent thrown in prison, but the latter escapes, and five-years later is a pirate leader. He poses as the navigator on a ship in which Contessa Francesca, daughter of a Mexican noble, is traveling on her way to marry Alvarado, whom she has never seen. Laurent's pirates capture the ship and Francesa, in order to save another ship, gives her hand-in-marriage to Laurent, who sails her to the pirate hideout. This irks the jealous Anne Bonney and,also, Captain Benjamin Black, who was already irked, anyway. They overpower Laurent and send Francesa to Alvarado, and then Mario du Billar, trusted right-hand man, makes a deal to deliver Laurent to Alvarado also. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
Taglines:
Loving her . . . taming her . . . called for all his reckless daring!Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
October 1945 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Die Seeteufel von Cartagena See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Mario Du Billar: 50,000 was the sum you mentioned, your excellency.
Don Juan Alvarado: 50 was the sum I mentioned, but 10,000 was what I had in mind.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The voice of Victor Kilian (Captain of the Santa Madre) is dubbed by a different actor. See more »Goofs
In the scene where Swain fights Captain Black, Captain van Horn watches with his hands tied behind his back. At the beginning of the fight van Horn is wearing a red jacket which disappears halfway through the fight. See more »Quotes
Don Juan Alvarado: I promised you 10,000 pieces of eight.Mario Du Billar: 50,000 was the sum you mentioned, your excellency.
Don Juan Alvarado: 50 was the sum I mentioned, but 10,000 was what I had in mind.
See more »
Paul Henreid apparently wanted his home studio Warner Brothers to make this, but in 1944, that studio was firmly committed to making large -scale war films, and besides, its number one star was Errol Flynn who was (and is) THE swashbuckler. So Henreid took it to RKO and, through a contractual sleight of hand, negotiated his release from Warners to make it at this normally low-budget studio. He should not have bothered.
The main problem with the film is that its central role is miscast. Henreid is both too effete and a bit too old for the part, and next to Miss O'Hara (who as usual, looks ravishing in colour) rather bland and lifeless. He is also clearly doubled in some of the duels.
The music score by Hanns Eisler (a surprising choice) is gestural note-spinning with not one memorable theme to sweep us along. He should have watched The Sea Hawk and listened to Korngold's thrilling score to see how this should be done.
As usual, Walter Slezak effortlessly steal every scene he is in and is a delight. When he is not on screen, the film sags. No wonder he was cast in so many similar roles in the 1940s.
This was RKO's first colour film but most prints I have seen are very poor - either faded, or overly gaudy as a result of the three-strip technicolor separations becoming unstable and running together. It is unlikely to be restored as I doubt the original elements survive.
The ingredients were all there but refused to gel somehow. Maybe if Jack Warner had said yes, it might have been better - and Korngold would have jumped at the chance I am sure! The supporting cast is full of familiar faces (J.M.Kerrigan, Jack La Rue, Curt Bois, Mike Mazurki, Antonio Moreno) and they provide some badly needed substance in this weak entry in the genre.