England, 1685. Summoned in the middle of the night, Dr. Peter Blood rushes to give medical care to a wounded man, a rebel against King James II, but when the Royal Guards show up, they arrest them both. Three months later, ostensibly because he helped a rebel, a court sentences Blood to slavery on a Caribbean island run by the notorious Governor Bishop. However, Bishop's niece, Arabella, likes Blood and treats him well. When a Spanish ship attacks the town, Blood and numerous other convicts steal the ship and become pirates who want to plunder to take revenge against the British government. Captain Blood saves Arabella from rival pirate Levasseur, and finally hears that James II has been replaced and that the new king will grant him amnesty if Blood helps in the war against the French. Blood's ship gains victory in a battle against the French, and thus he is given the position of the Governor, replacing Bishop.
The movie that catapulted Errol Flynn into stardom, this "swashbuckling" adventure is part pirate, part revenge film, yet it does not seem as fresh today anymore as it was back during the time of its release: while undeniably a good film thanks to the skills of competent director Michael Curtiz, and fine performances, most notably the new star Olivia de Havilland, it is somewhat too standard and too conventional made, especially in the tiresome ship battles at the sea in the finale, which somewhat reduces its appeal. Neither is it that fun as some claim it is, though it has a few deliciously humorous lines ("A man should not be late for his own hanging."; when Blood hears about the staged trial, and that anyone who even helped a rebel will be punished in the name of James II, he addresses the merciless judge: "What a creature must sit on the throne who lets a man like you deal out his justice."). It takes too long for the story to finally get going (Blood only becomes pirate Captain Blood an hour into the film), yet as it is, it offers that 'good old school' charm from the 'Golden age of Hollywood', when idealism, humanism and honest, wonderful heroes inhabited the screen, fighting for justice without too much grey area. The odyssey of the noble doctor Blood comes to full satisfactory conclusion at the end, when the tables are turned, which makes for a compelling watch.
Grade:++
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