Brian Taggert
Notice the billing of Louis Hayward swashbucklers after 1948. While always getting top billing he began getting top solo billing. He was one of the first to get a percentage of the profits of his pictures. They did well and Hayward retired comfortably. Often playing dual roles in his films, the dandy by day and swashbuckler by night, he mutes the dual characterizations in "Captain Pirate" and it is sorely missed. The lifted eyebrow, that haughty Louis Hayward laugh, which made him so unique in "Man in the Iron Mask" and "Pirates of Capri" he tempered in later films. However, with his dash and élan, that velvet voice, his decoration for World War II valor giving him extra gravitas, Captain Louis Hayward is always a joy to watch and "Captain Pirate" is wonderful, innocent fun.
vitaleralphlouis
LOUIS HAYWARD was born to play the lead in swashbuckler movies like this one; and 60 years ago when he did movies in modern clothes the public wished he was in a movie like this one.A well made action adventure which relies heavily on character and story -- and less on today's annoying jump-around camera "work" and editing -- without the silliness of Jerry Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp -- this was what pirate movies were all about.One thing about CAPTAIN PIRATE is the slavery thing which is not the main focus but is a vital part of the story. The slaves were in Jamaica, and in Martinique, and Santo Domingo, and a lot of other places. England, Spain, Netherlands, France; they all enjoyed the benefits of "live gold" -- but kept their slaves out-of-sight in the Caribbean (and other places). America was the country that ENDED slavery; but all the same we hear bellyaching about it 150 years later -- not just from Blacks but from white liberals and their endless hand-wringing "White Guilt" -- even though nobody's been a slave or owned a slave in a century-and-a-half. Captain Blood did NOT like slavery -- most particularly since he was an ex-slave (oh, yes; white slaves too).This fine movie, as well as the earlier "Fortunes of Captain Blood" are available on DVD. I recommend both. Or either.
mrsolo1
Bland filming of Sabatini's "Return of Captain Blood" has some good players, but lackluster direction, weak script and poor miniatures bring it down. The cyclorama behind many of the ship scenes is wrinkled and the models are not convincing. Certainly not up to the classic Flynn and Power swashbucklers and lacking the wit and sense of fun found in "The Crimson Pirate" released the same year. Louis Hayward is capable in the lead role, but lacks Errol Flynn's charisma. Patricia Medina is lovely but doesn't have much to do. Only George Givot and Ted de Corsia play their characters broad enough to make them classic pirates and Jay Novello stands out as the treacherous Egyptian. Still, it's a competent swashbuckler and is a pleasant way to kill some time.
the_japanese_visiter
One shouldnt miss this or its kind, because it's a pirate film we have very few of them these days,and if any,they are so bad as Cutthroat Island. I dont remember very well,but its a well made program picture,and much fun to see.
AD
