Errol Flynn was
never able to get away from his swashbuckling persona as much as he wanted
to. He had been thrilled to appear in the 1949 drama That Forsythe Woman
in a role as a cold unloving husband. But Warners wanted Flynn in adventures
and after that it was back to the coal mines; a couple Westerns, Kim and
two other period adventures. It is surprising therefore that in his yearly
option of a non-Warners film, he went to Universal for another swashbuckler,
but the financial deal was too good to pass up. Flynn was only 43 at this
point, but the drinking and drugs were already taking their toll on his looks.
His co-star in this Maureen O'Hara said of Flynn, he was always prepared
but he drank all day and by 4 pm he was too drunk to continue.
This is a decent pirate yarn, mainly of
interest for the spectacular Technicolor and the well-done sets. O'Hara was
one of a group of actresses at the time who just explodes on the screen in
Technicolor. That fiery red hair, the pale skin, the red lips, the green
eyes are mesmerizing in the close-ups and she wears green outfits to good
advantage. She is a pirate, but unlike in the film Anne of the Indies made
two years previously, she is basically a kind one. Flirtatious, fierce and
in need of a good man. And along comes Errol Flynn. This was the only film
in which they were together which is a shame as they have a playful sparring
chemistry between them.
Flynn is in the British navy and goes to
the Pirate Island off of Madagascar pretending to be a deserter. He took
twenty lashes to be convincing. Once on the island, that natural Flynn charm
takes over and O'Hara is beguiled and another pirate (Anthony Quinn) wants
to kill him. Later Flynn saves a Mogul Princess, kisses her and she demands
that he kiss her again. And again. She is a doll played by Alice Kelley who
wisely by her acting ability soon left show business and married well. Some
fine fencing at the end and O'Hara gets her share of it. An enjoyable film
that doesn't run too long but is entirely dependent on Flynn's charm and
O'Hara in Technicolor.
