Against All Flags (1952)

Brian Hawke of the Royal Navy versus the pirates of Madagascar.

Director:

George Sherman

Writers:

Æneas MacKenzie (screenplay), Joseph Hoffman (screenplay),

Stars:

Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Errol Flynn	...	Brian Hawke
Maureen O'Hara	...	Prudence 'Spitfire' Stevens
Anthony Quinn	...	Capt. Roc Brasiliano
Alice Kelley	...	Princess Patma
Mildred Natwick	...	Molvina MacGregor
Robert Warwick	...	Capt. Kidd
Harry Cording	...	Gow
John Alderson	...	Jonathan Harris
Phil Tully	...	Jones
Lester Matthews	...	Sir Cloudsley
Tudor Owen	...	Williams
Maurice Marsac	...	Capt. Moisson
James Craven	...	Capt. Hornsby
James Fairfax	...	Cruikshank - Barber

Storyline

In 1700, the pirates of Madagascar menace the India trade; British officer Brian Hawke has himself cashiered, flogged, and set adrift to infiltrate the pirate "republic." There, Hawke meets lovely Spitfire Stevens, a pirate captain in her own right, and the sparks begin to fly; but wooing a pirate poses unique problems. Especially after he rescues adoring young Princess Patma from a captured ship. Meanwhile, Hawke's secret mission proceeds to an action-packed climax.

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Plot Keywords:

pirate | princess | captain | madagascar | pirate captain | 

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Taglines:

Thundering Guns and Clahing Steel bring you the greatest adventure of them all!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1953 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

De arend van Madagascar

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though Errol Flynn did most of his own stunts, he balked at the one involving sliding down through a sail on a rapier blade, which was originated by Douglas Fairbanks in The Black Pirate. The stunt was performed by a double.

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Goofs

In the last battle aboard the ship Hawke climbs one of the masts. The crow's nest at the top has a modern looking wire mesh guard around it, instead of the rope netting one would expect in an 18th century vessel.

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Quotes

Capt. Roc Brasiliano: [to Hawke] I don't like the cut of your sail.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Errol Flynn (1961)

User Reviews

Silly, Rollicking Fun

A featherweight plot and dubious characterizations don't make any difference when a movie is as fun to watch as this one is. Lively action and spectacular stunts - for their day - give this movie some real zip. And there's some actual comedy from the ripping chemistry between the two leads. Quinn makes a good villain also, although his role is completely overshadowed.

But don't be fooled by Maureen O'Hara's tough broad role, this is as sexist as any Hollywood movie of this era. You might be able to forgive that because of the time in which it was made, but it's still hard to get past. For all the heroism and gruesomely adult off-screen situations, this is still little more than an adolescent good time.