Stylish but barely mediocre overall

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Flynn is absolutely charismatic in the title role. Never realised how dominating his physical presence is as well as his captivating personality! He just relishes the role. What a great James Bond he would have made 25 years or so later. Olivia de Havilland later fought the studio that forced her to play limiting roles like the one she plays here but she is wonderful with Flynn. Director Curtiz puts it all together excitingly, hardly slowing the pace. His lighting of night scenes is particularly memorable.

As a preview for "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) and "The Sea Hawk" (1940), this Errol Flynn actioner is a pretty good one. It's the movie that put the celebrated actor on the map so to speak, and he makes the best of it as the leader of a rag-tag bunch of pirates operating in the Caribbean during the late 1680's. Following a period of slavery for defying King James of England, Captain Peter Blood earns his freedom by throwing in with Spanish pirates during a takeover of the Jamaican city of Port Royal, thereby declaring piracy for his own band of brothers - "We, the hunted, will now hunt!" The supporting cast is a good one as well. Olivia Havilland marks her first of many team-ups with co-star Flynn, generally at odds with the British pirate for most of the story, even though you can sense her attraction to the rogue. It's interesting that their eventual hook up doesn't occur until the virtual end of the story, but the wait turns out to be worth it.Poor Basil Rathbone though. As both pirate rival and partner of Captain Blood, his character Levasseur falls victim to Blood's sword in a duel over the purchase of Lady Arabella's (de Havilland) freedom, after she and Lord Willoughby (Henry Stephenson) are taken hostage off a British ship. The scene is a preview of their next clash in "The Adventures of Robin Hood", when Rathbone's character in that film also dies at the hands of the titled hero. That may be the reason he went with the Sherlock Holmes films, not too many swords in that series of pictures.The only thing that didn't ring true for me in the story was when Blood's crew challenged his authority to return to Port Royal to take on the British governor of the island, still protected by the British navy. All it takes for the crew to change their mind is for Blood to agree with them!, and they turn on a dime and decide that taking it to the Brits would be the best thing to do! I think Blood could have shown more surprise at that reaction; talk about leading from behind!Granted, this was still an early time in the history of talking movies, but this would have been an excellent candidate for the color treatment. I felt the same way about "The Sea Hawk", which came a couple years after 'Robin Hood', which WAS filmed in color. Had the studios had the benefit of foresight, I think they might have changed their options. All those gnarly pirates battling on the open seas with their sword and cannon would have been quite the impressive sight done up in color, because it was stunning as it was in glorious black and white.

Thrilling swashbuckling who launched then unknown Errol Flynn to fame at a great role in which he becomes pirate of the Caribbean . This classic story of romantic adventure by Michael Curtiz , filmed in Hollywood , comes to life enriched by brilliant photography and adapted rightly to the screen . It deals with a doctor named Peter Blood (Errol Flynn , as Robert Donat turned down the role , he had been unable to accept the part) who is imprisoned and exiled into slavery in Port Royal , Jamaica ; there he falls in love for a beautiful young (Olivia De Havilland) and is mistreated by a tyrannical governor (Lionel Atwill) . As the enslaved doctor and his colleagues in chains escape but he is detained , though the timely interruption a Spanish ship turned pirate under the protection of the gold and crimson flag of King Philip of Spain . The Port Royal town is taken , then the pirates land , to loot , pillage and celebrate it . Port Royal was a popular homeport in which many of the crews turned pirate and used the city as their main base during the 17th century against the Spanish treasure fleets . Pirates from around the world congregated at Port Royal, coming from waters as far away as Madagascar . Blood and his comrades flee and Peter is forced into piracy . And this Captain Blood began his career of piracy with a ship , a handful of men and a brain ; carving a crimson career , until his name became the terror of the Caribbean , until his name became the pride and toast of every buccaneer of the brotherhood of the coast . As Blood and his crew sailing recklessly through dangerous waters , from the Caribbean islands along Atlantic Ocean today he still lives in hundreds of legends . As he leads his followers against the evil governor but finally earns pardon for his swashbuckling ways . The picture in which Tasmanian-born Flynn -who took the part Robert Donat declined for health reasons- , following just a couple of small Hollywood characters , burst upon the world as a new star . It launched 26-years-old Errol and 19-year-old Olivia De Havilland in perhaps the best pirate tale ever . Love interest De Havilland would go to appear with Errol in 7 more features , such as : The Charge of the Light Brigade , Robin Hood , The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex , The died with the boots on , Santa Fe trail , among others . This lusty pirate drama has plenty of punch and pace , as well as amusement . The action and fencing scenes are choreographed with an unity and surge of which all the best Hollywood filmmakers would have been proud . Combination of overwhelming battle ships , sword-play and full of villainy , romance , swashbuckler and heroism . Exciting script by Casey Robinson who also penned a sequel : The son of captain Blood with Sean Flynn , Errol's son . The picture is fast-moving , exciting and thrilling right up to the almost balletic climatic confrontation between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone .Intelligently budgeted using miniature sets and ship shots from silents when possible . In fact , no full-sized ships were used in the battle scenes . It was created by a combination of process shots, miniatures, and footage from the silent film , Sea Hawk (1924), which was based on another Rafael Sabatini novel . Very good support cast in this historical/pirate/adventure tale of heroism and swordplay , standing out the followers support actors : Lionel Atwill , Henry Stephenson , Donald Meek ,Robert Barrat , Guy Kibbee , J Carrol Naish , Ross Alexander , Vernon Steele as King James II who was overthrown by Guillermo of Orange (1688) and special mention for Basil Rathbone as Levasseur , though he felt miscast as a French pirate. Evocative cinematography in black and white by Hal Mohr , though also available colorized . First original and impressive musical score by Erich Wolfgang Kongold . He had only three weeks for scoring this picture, he used portions of two tone poems by Franz Liszt for some of the action scenes . Well narrated in pirate fashion , being masterfully directed by Michael Curtiz . Michael worked together Errol a total of 12 times, but Errol Flynn and Michael Curtiz disliked each other intensely . Errol Flynn's son Sean Flynn later played Captain Blood's son Robert Blood in The son of captain Blood (1962) . Rating : 7.5/10 , above average pirate movie , entertaining as well as stirring stuff that provides audience amusement . Enjoyable production packs enough thrills , breathtaking sea battles , tempestuous romance and exciting situations for a good time . It will appeal to Flynn/Havilland fans and pirate movies aficionados .

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.