Post by artraveler on Feb 17, 2023 13:12:10 GMT -8
Captain Blood
This is a 1935 movie with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Haviland. Like all Flynn movies it is full of sound and action. The movie is based on 1920s book, “Captain Blood” by Rafael Sabatini. Blood is a doctor in England at the time of the English civil wars. And is falsely accused of being a rebel fighting against James II. He is tried and sentenced to be hung, along with a group of locals, some of whom are indeed rebels and technically traitors to the crown.
At the last moment the king decides to sell the men into slavery at Port Royal. Note this is the 1680s and all of the men are white, sold as slaves and English. Not one was Black, or Asian. Some are Irish as is Blood. It is implied that some are veterans of other wars. Blood recounts that he served and has become a doctor because of the bloodshed he saw.
Blood and the others arrive at Port Royal and are quickly to be sold. It is at the slave sale that Blood meets Arabella Bishop, (Olivia de Haviland). This is just 4 years before she appears in Gone With the wind. She is 21 years old and quite the beauty. She recently, 2020, passed away at 104. She was the sister of Joan Fontaine. In 1688 a new King arrives in England to bring about the “Glorious Revolution”. Blood and all those who follow him are pardoned Blood marries Arabella and all live happily ever after.
The film is worth note for several reasons. It is Errol Flynn at his swashbuckling best. For its time, 1935 the FX is very good, although not in color the black and white does not distract. Most of all the music with original score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. One of the many Jewish artists who saw the writing on the wall in 30s Germany and fled the country. Without Korngold’s score this would be just another adventure movie and quickly forgotten. It is available on HBO and, I believe several other services. Pop the corn, open the coke, and sit back enjoy Captain Blood. The good guys win, the bad guys lose, and all is right with the world.
This is a 1935 movie with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Haviland. Like all Flynn movies it is full of sound and action. The movie is based on 1920s book, “Captain Blood” by Rafael Sabatini. Blood is a doctor in England at the time of the English civil wars. And is falsely accused of being a rebel fighting against James II. He is tried and sentenced to be hung, along with a group of locals, some of whom are indeed rebels and technically traitors to the crown.
At the last moment the king decides to sell the men into slavery at Port Royal. Note this is the 1680s and all of the men are white, sold as slaves and English. Not one was Black, or Asian. Some are Irish as is Blood. It is implied that some are veterans of other wars. Blood recounts that he served and has become a doctor because of the bloodshed he saw.
Blood and the others arrive at Port Royal and are quickly to be sold. It is at the slave sale that Blood meets Arabella Bishop, (Olivia de Haviland). This is just 4 years before she appears in Gone With the wind. She is 21 years old and quite the beauty. She recently, 2020, passed away at 104. She was the sister of Joan Fontaine. In 1688 a new King arrives in England to bring about the “Glorious Revolution”. Blood and all those who follow him are pardoned Blood marries Arabella and all live happily ever after.
The film is worth note for several reasons. It is Errol Flynn at his swashbuckling best. For its time, 1935 the FX is very good, although not in color the black and white does not distract. Most of all the music with original score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. One of the many Jewish artists who saw the writing on the wall in 30s Germany and fled the country. Without Korngold’s score this would be just another adventure movie and quickly forgotten. It is available on HBO and, I believe several other services. Pop the corn, open the coke, and sit back enjoy Captain Blood. The good guys win, the bad guys lose, and all is right with the world.
