The Spanish Main (1945)

After being wronged by the Caribbean authorities, a Dutch captain turns pirate to wage war.

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

George Worthing Yates (screenplay), Herman J. Mankiewicz (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Henreid, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paul Henreid	...	Capt. Laurent Van Horn
Maureen O'Hara	...	Contessa Francesca
Walter Slezak	...	Don Juan Alvarado
Binnie Barnes	...	Anne Bonney
John Emery	...	Capt. Mario Du Billar
Barton MacLane	...	Capt. Benjamin Black
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Pillery Gow
Fritz Leiber	...	Bishop
Nancy Gates	...	Lupita
Jack La Rue	...	Lt. Escobar (as Jack LaRue)
Mike Mazurki	...	Erik Swaine
Ian Keith	...	Captain Lussan
Curt Bois	...	Paree
Antonio Moreno	...	Commandante
Victor Kilian	...	Santa Madre Captain

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 Francesca, 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 Francesca to Alvarado, and then Mario du Billar, trusted right-hand man, makes a deal to deliver Laurent to Alvarado too.

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Plot Keywords:

plunder | ship captain | 17th century | viceroy of mexico flag | archbishop of darien flag | 

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Taglines:

Sword Scarred! Battle Lashed! (original poster)

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anne Bonny was an Irish pirate operating in the Caribbean, and one of the most famous female pirates of all time.

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Quotes

Mario Du Billar: I know the man. He'll not rest until he frees the Contessa and Anne Bonney, or is killed in the attempt.
Don Juan Alvarado: The latter alternative is the more likely. And, incidentally, the more satisfactory.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: The Spanish Main--cruel, oppressive and ruthless, where power alone was a man's single title to everything he held dear, including his very life. It was, thus, a cruel fate that a peaceful Dutch pilgrim ship should be driven there by torrential waves--and crash upon the rocks immediately outside Cartagena, its most remorseless citadel.

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Connections

Referenced in Doctor Who: Origins (2006)

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Soundtracks

What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?
(uncredited)
Traditional sea shanty

User Reviews

swashbuckler

I saw this on TV TCM today and will always enjoy the exciting story of the Spanish Main; with beautiful musical score and scenes rather well staged. Maureen O'Hara and Paul Henried are great! The scene stealer of course is that great character actor Walter Slezak, who plays a mean egocentric governor, but who gets it in the end. The duelling scenes are particularly good, and Paul Henried does a good job duelling. Binnie Barnes, who I remember so well in early films was especially great as a woman pirate

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Spanish Main

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1