Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Great Film overall

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Absolutely the worst movie.

This pirate's story of guts and glory is, pretty much, a "Robin Hood" tale of the high seas.If you don't take 1935's "Captain Blood" too seriously - Then - Yes. It can actually be quite an enjoyable 2-hour romp of pre-CGI swashbuckling action.Directed by Michael Curtiz (of "Casablanca" fame) - "Captain Blood" stars movie-idol and heartthrob, Errol Flynn (26 at the time) in his first major movie role (as the title character).Set in the 17th century - This $1.5 million production first takes its story to England and then it's onto a high seas adventure to Port Royal, Jamaica where (guess what?) romance is, indeed, waiting for Captain Blood with arms opened wide. (kissy-kissy-smooch-smooch)(And you can be sure that with a name like "Blood" there's gonna be some serious changes made)

This film tells the story of Dr. Peter Blood, who becomes a pirate after an unfounded accusation of treason to the British Crown. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film has a screenplay by Casey Robinson and stars Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.Its probably one of the best known films of Flynn's meteoric career, who owes part of its fame to swashbuckling films where he played heartthrobs and heroes. Good collaboration with Olivia de Havilland, used to be the damsel in distress, ensured the popularity of the film, which remains very popular today. The story is not bad, although the script, very simple and naive, is not trouble-free. Pirates movies were in fashion, with these maritime outlaws being seen in a romantic and imaginative way.The performance of the two main actors lived up to public expectations, which was greeted with a great job. The rest of the cast did not disappoint, keeping the film quite high level. The very theatrical performances and forced poses were in fashion during this period and should be seen that way. That was how the film was made, and this is part of the charm of this movies. The scenarios are good and try to recreate the seventeenth century ships. The special, visual and sound effects are the state of the art.

Captain Blood, the one that started it all. The beginning of both the Flynn-de Havilland partnership and the Flynn-Curtiz partnership, establishing Erich Wolfgang Korngold as a movie composer and ushering in a new era of swashbucklers. Talk about a great start for two careers; two unknown actors being cast in a major production at one of Hollywood's biggest studios. Should Hollywood have taken more risks like this more often or was this just a freakishly lucky gamble?Warner Bros where the best studio of the 1930's when it came to making thrillers and action pictures in this their answer of MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty. The combination of Michael Curtiz's direction, Erich Wolfgang Korngold's pumping music scores, Errol Fylnn's embodiment of a swashbuckling action hero and the dynamic he shared with Olivia de Havilland represents all the elements coming together at the right place and time to create something truly special. It's no surprise that these elements would reunite many times over the next few years.The scenes between Flynn and de Havilland are pure movie magic, when they're together and alone it's like they're suddenly in a whole world of their own, it's truly phenomenal. With his long hair and muscular physique I don't think Flynn has ever been more attractive that he was in Captain Blood; he certainly never appeared this beat up than he did in any of his subsequent movies. During production scenes had to be reshot as Fylnn's acting had improved so dramatically over time; the man is a far better actor than he's given credit for. The character of Peter Blood reflects Flynn's real life personality, a free spirit who has had enough adventure for 6 years to last him 6 lifetimes. De Havilland on the other hand was only 19 during the filming of Captain Blood, and it never ceases to amaze me I watch her in a film and knowing that she is still alive. As of writing this review there are only two years left until see reaches 100. I am counting down the days.The plot of Captain Blood is a surprisingly empowering tale of defiance against corrupt authority and the seaming meaninglessness of war ("I fought for the French against the Spanish and the Spanish against the French") giving the film that added intelligent edge but this doesn't take away from the film's aurora of just pure unmitigated fun.

Peter Blood(Errol Flynn) was well named, seeing much blood in his duel careers as doctor/surgeon and pirate/privateer. Like the unlucky Dr. Mudd who tended to Lincoln's assassin: Booth, Blood was the victim of guilt by association from treating a political dissent considered dangerous by the James II administration. This began a series of events that culminated in his becoming the most feared pirate/privateer of his age. Barely escaping the hangman's noose, Blood is commuted to slavery in Jamaica. There, he is fortunate to be bought by the daughter (Olivia de Havilland, as Arabella) of Colonel Bishop, who is impressed with his openly defiant attitude , combined with good looks and skill as a doctor. Blood uses his relatively privileged position to plan a mass slave escape. Fortunately, a Spanish privateer arrives to save an apparently busted escape attempt. His party become heroes in capturing the Spanish ship and turning it's cannons on the loaded landing craft. However, they mock Bishop's suggested disappointing reward, and sail off to become the terror of the Caribbean, sacking English ships, as well as those of other nations. Thus, Blood is on his way to becoming a roguish version of the ideal Renaissance man. Flynn's long hair and lack of facial hair enhances his image as a youthful rebel, openly contemptuous of all political and economic elite, whether English, Spanish or French. But, he's no brutal pirate king, exemplified by his regretted short -term partner Captain Levasseur(Basil Rathbone). His crew is composed of former political dissidents, not brutal thugs. He enforces a chivalrous code of conduct toward victims of their plunder, institutes an article of rights and privileges, and even provides dismemberment benefits(with a humorous pseudo case). Much of the fascination with sea pirates is that they often constituted a striking example of direct democracy and communalism in an age of leadership and wealth largely by birthright. They justified their profession as robbing the rich, who had achieved their wealth by effectively robbing the poor and Native Americans, or exploiting slaves and indentured servants. This film was released during the 'Great Depression', when successful bank robbers were often idolized, in a world of haves and have nots, and cities run by corrupt politicians and criminal gangs. Flynn's subsequent blockbuster "The Adventures of Robin Hood", also released during 'the Depression', focused on a similar theme of resistance against political and economic repression. Blood and Robin even manage to change their outlaw image into heroes; in the present case by defeating Spanish and, later French, attempts to sack Port Royal. In both films, this official change in status is proclaimed by a new king.In contrast, Flynn's second sea pirate/privateer film: "The Sea Hawk", released in '40, cast Flynn as being loyal to Queen Elizabeth, plundering only Spanish ships and towns. Spain was characterized as plotting to conquer England and then the world: a clear allegory to the then current threat of Nazi Germany. Flynn's final sea pirate film" "Against All Flags" , released in '52, lacks these political overtones. Again, Flynn's character is a loyal member of the British navy, charged with bringing piracy under control. With Maureen O'Hara playing a spitfire pirate captain, it comes across as a feminist promoting film, in the vein of the then contemporary "Anne get your Gun", "Calamity Jane", "Comanche Territory" and "Montana Belle".Clearly, Blood is largely modeled on a combination of Henry Morgan: England's most celebrated privateer, and the rather chivalrous pirate captain Black Bellamy. Like Blood, Morgan did ally himself with a French pirate for a spell, was eventually pardoned by the king, and was appointed lieutenant governor of Jamaica.Blood, the superhero, was not quite prefect. He and his crew spent a spell in the pirate haven of Tortuga, indulging in its fleshy and liquid diversions, and forming a later regretted alliance with the French pirate Levasseur. Eventually, the 2 pirate leaders fought a rapier duel over the fate of the captured Arabella. Also, Blood was threatened with mutiny when he ordered to sail to Port Royal, where the English fleet lay. However, he handled this situation expertly, and didn't meet the fate of Bligh, in 'Mutiny on the Bounty", released earlier that year. Flynn could be accused of overacting in many of his scenes. His exaggerated enthusiastic gestures and speech often seemed more in keeping with a silent film. However, on the whole, I believe this exaggerated animation adds to the appeal of the film.The English aristocracy, as exemplified by the judge who sentenced Blood, the governor of Jamaica, and Colonel Bishop, was characterized as being generally effete, as well as arrogant. However, Lord Willoughby, played by Henry Stephenson: the bearer of good news for Blood, is characterized as a kindly, understanding, father figure.While there are some good exchanges between Olivia and Flynn, their relationship would be more convincing in "The Adventures of Robin Hood"