The Sea Hawk (1940)
Dashing pirate Geoffrey Thorpe plunders Spanish ships for Queen Elizabeth I and falls in love with Dona Maria, a beautiful Spanish royal he captures.
- Michael Curtiz
- Jean Negulesco
- Howard W. Koch
- Seton I. Miller
- Rafael Sabatini
Rating: 7.1/10 by 127 users
Alternative Title:
Королевские пираты - SU
O Gavião do Mar - BR
Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 02 hour 07 minutes
Budget: $1,700,000
Revenue: $2,000,000
Plot Keyword: queen elizabeth i, sword fight, pirate, swashbuckler, armada, 16th century, the privateers
First things first. This has virtually nothing at all to do with the 1924 Frank Lloyd version nor, indeed, does it have very much to do with the original Rafael Sabatini novel either - but it is still probably my favourite Errol Flynn film. The story is (very) loosely based on the courageous activities of the privateers who raided the Spanish treasure ships during the reign of Elizabeth I of England (rather convincingly portrayed here by Flora Robson). Flynn seizes an ambassadorial galleon on which are travelling Claude Rains and Brenda Marshall, and a tale of espionage, secrecy, love and skullduggery ensues for an exciting couple of hours. Korngold always had the skill to add something special with his score to these seafaring adventure films - and he does in abundance here too (though perhaps not the songs with the shockingly terrible rhymes!?). Henry Daniell is also worthy of mention as the duplicitous "Lord Wolfingham" and Michael Curtiz is at his action-packed best as he offers us loads of swash, buckle and a thoroughly enjoyable piece of cinema that you ought to see on the big screen if you get a chance.
