Captain John Smith and Pocahontas (1953)

Captain John Smith overcomes the treachery of some of his men and resentment of the local Native Americans to establish the colony of Jamestown.

Director:

Lew Landers

Writers:

Aubrey Wisberg (original screenplay), Jack Pollexfen (original screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Dexter, Jody Lawrance, Alan Hale Jr.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anthony Dexter	...	Capt. John Smith
Jody Lawrance	...	Pocahontas (as Jody Lawrence)
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Fleming
Robert Clarke	...	Rolfe
Stuart Randall	...	Opechanco
James Seay	...	Wingfield
Philip Van Zandt	...	Davis
Shepard Menken	...	Nantaquas
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Powhatan (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Anthony Eustrel	...	King James
Henry Rowland	...	Turnbull
Eric Colmar	...	Kemp

Storyline

Captain John Smith (Anthony Dexter), returned fom the Jamestown colony, is telling his story before the Court of King James I (Anthony Eustral.) He tells of the unrest in the colony and how he set out to make peace with the Indians. He is captured and sentenced to death, but Pocahontas (Jody Lawrence) makes her celebrated intervention and, instead of a slaying, there is a wedding. Back at Jamestown, Smith makes efforts to keep the colony united and the Indians from attacking, in spite of the efforts of some in the colony who stir up trouble for their own gain. He exposes them and returns to England to give his report. He stays because Pocahontas, thinking he is dead, has remarried.

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Plot Keywords:

colony | pocahontas | native american | king james i | treachery | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brandende pijlen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is highly unlikely that Smith's version of his relationship with Pocahontas is true. When he first retold the events of 1608 in 1616, the Indian princess was, by his account, ten years old. On later retelling of those same events, she grew to twelve or thirteen. It was later discovered that Smith had told another, extremely similar story of being rescued by a young Turkish girl in 1602. Smith's stories about his relationship did not begin until 1616, when Pocahontas traveled to London with husband John Rolfe and was celebrated as Indian royalty.

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Goofs

Pocahantas was only 11 years old when she supposedly saved Smith from execution.

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Quotes

Rolfe: [Referring to Nantaquas] This rogue means to kill you.
Capt. John Smith: It's plain he has no love for me.

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Connections

Version of The New World (2005)

User Reviews

Lean treatment of the Pocahontas legend...

ANTHONY DEXTER (he played "Valentino", the silent screen matinée idol), is the nominal star of CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND POCAHONTAS but his wooden performance suffers by comparison to the just as attractive ROBERT CLARKE who plays John Rolfe.

JODY LAWRENCE makes a pretty Pocahontas but is somewhat unbelievable as the Indian maiden who saves Smith's life. ALAN HALE, JR. stands out in the supporting cast and DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE is effective as Powhatan

The Pathe color is weaker than Technicolor but the photography is still visually arresting and so are the sets and costumes. All of the familiar ingredients are here--the Indian attacks, the treacherous conspirators, etc.--but there is little character development between a series of Indian skirmishes with relentless attacks on the fort.

Trivia note: Has anyone noticed that JAMES SEAY, as a bad colonist who sells guns to the Indians, looks more like Alan Hale than Alan Hale, Jr.?

Action fans should get their money's worth. There's a final attack on the fort that is staged for maximum effect.

Summing up: A lean, sketchy, less inspired treatment of the story than many other versions that followed, including the Disney animated film, but pleasing enough in a simplistic sort of way.