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:
Maureen O'Hara	...	Contessa Francesca
Paul Henreid	...	Capt. Laurent Van Horn
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 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 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:

BRAVE SWORDS! BOLD LIPS! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

En la ruta de los corsarios

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The voice of Victor Kilian (Captain of the Santa Madre) is dubbed by a different actor.

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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 The Making of 'The Quiet Man' (1992)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Maureen O'Hara was Beautiful

Greatly enjoyed this film from the past with all the actors looking so young and with great careers on the silver screen for many years. Maureen O'Hara, (Contessa Francesca), "The Black Swan", played the role of a sweet charming young lady going to be married to Don Juan Alvarado(Walter Slezak), "Born to Kill", who was a rather over weight and constantly was eating. As Contessa travels on the open seas, she comes face to face with Capt. Laurent Van Horn, (Paul Henreid),"Casablanca", who plays sort of a Robin Hood of the seas and steals from the Spanish. Capt. Van Horn desires to go to America and settle in the Carolina's but Don Juan Alvarado does everything in his power to stop him from interfering with his marriage plans to Contessa Francesda. There is plenty of action with swords and antique pistols and girls who have trouble trying to fire them off. Great Classic film and very entertaining.