The Sea Hawk (1940)

Director: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains

Synopsis:
One of Queen Elizabeth's favorite privateers ignites a political firestorm when he attacks the ship of a Spanish ambassador to England. This comes back to haunt him when he sets out on a raid in the Americas.

Impressions:
You probably think you know what to expect with a Michael Curtiz swashbuckler starring Errol Flynn and if you've seen one or two, you may be right. Flynn does well as our main character Geoffrey Thorpe, well-equipped for the action sequences and full of charisma as you'd expect from him. Claude Rains is also quite good as Thorpe's nemesis, the Spanish ambassador Don Alvarez. The love interest are never all that interesting to me, but I suppose Brenda Marshall does fine as Alvarez's niece Maria. Much more entertaining among the female members of the cast are Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth and Una O'Connor as Maria's servant Miss Latham.

Although this doesn't have any dueling with Basil Rathbone, I might argue that it's even better than Captain Blood or at least stands toe-to-toe with it thanks to somewhat more consistent pacing. (The ending feels a little less abrupt here.) If you want fine times on the high seas, get your letter of marque and come aboard.

Rating:
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