Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Errol Flynn | ... | Peter Blood | |
Olivia de Havilland | ... | Arabella Bishop | |
Lionel Atwill | ... | Colonel Bishop | |
Basil Rathbone | ... | Levasseur | |
Ross Alexander | ... | Jeremy Pitt | |
Guy Kibbee | ... | Hagthorpe | |
Henry Stephenson | ... | Lord Willoughby | |
Robert Barrat | ... | Wolverstone | |
Hobart Cavanaugh | ... | Dr. Bronson | |
Donald Meek | ... | Dr. Whacker | |
Jessie Ralph | ... | Mrs. Barlow | |
Forrester Harvey | ... | Honesty Nuttall | |
Frank McGlynn Sr. | ... | Rev. Ogle | |
Holmes Herbert | ... | Capt. Gardner | |
David Torrence | ... | Andrew Baynes |
Arrested during the Monmouth Rebellion and falsely convicted of treason, Dr. Peter Blood is banished to the West Indies and sold into slavery. In Port Royal, Jamaica the Governor's daughter Arabella Bishop buys him for £10 to spite her uncle, Col. Bishop who owns a major plantation. Life is hard for the men and for Blood as well. By chance he treats the Governor's gout and is soon part of the medical service. He dreams of freedom and when the opportunity strikes, he and his friends rebel taking over a Spanish ship that has attacked the city. Soon, they are the most feared pirates on the seas, men without a country attacking all ships. When Arabella is prisoner, Blood decides to return her to Port Royal only to find that it is under the control of England's new enemy, France. All of them must decide if they are to fight for their new King. Written by garykmcd
Nearly 80 years old and `Captain Blood' still is one of the greatest sea-adventures ever made. It initially served as an appropriate answer to `Mutiny on the Bounty', also released in 1935 and starring Clark Gable. This film launched the terrific career of Errol Flynn, who only appeared uncredited in other film until then. Captain Blood is a compelling and versatile story about a young Irish doctor, named Peter Blood. After giving medical attention to rebellions, he's sold as a slave to the wondrously beautiful Arabella Bishop (Olivia de Havilland) niece of the rancorous Colonel Bishop (Lionel Atwill). Blood escapes slavery and, together with his faithful crew, he starts a successful and diverse career as a pirate in the Caribbean sea. Yet, the unanswered love he feels for Arabella never really allows him to be fully free. Naturally, this film doesn't feature as many outrageous swordfights as in later pirate movies, but the decors and scenery are breath-taking and very inspired. Some neutral sequences (mainly in the beginning of the film) can be considered tedious, but long and delightful patriot speeches and exiting battles make up for those. Errol Flynn does a great job as the rebellious captain, even though his handsome looks don't really match the image of a feared pirate. Special mention goes out to Basil Rathbone, flawlessly cast as a French corsair. Highly recommended if you're a fan of classic and nostalgic cinema.