Directed by Henry King
Before the Pirate of the Caribbean movies, matinee idols such as Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power starred in many swashbuckler tales during the 1930s and 1940s. And one of my favorite pirate movies from that period is King’s The Black Swan.
The English Crown pardons one of the most notorious buccaneers, Henry Morgan (played by Laird Cregar), and appoints him governor of Jamaica in the place of corrupt Lord Denby (played by George Zucco). Once governor, Morgan, asks all pirate activities to stop in the area. Captain Billy Leech (played wonderfully by George Sanders) and his crew refuse to follow Morgan. Jamie (Power) and his sidekick, Tommy Blue (Thomas Mitchell), are asked to go after Captain Leech.
What I like most about watching these classic pirate movies, is the incredible detail put into the sets and battle scenes without having the convenience of CGI. Tyrone Power is delightful to watch and George Sanders is also extremely fun to watch as Captain Leech. While there are tedious points in the storyline and it may not be on the same par as 1935′s Captain Blood (which I highly recommend as well), this is an “escapist” movie, which means it’s suppose to take the audience to another time and place. And The Black Swan does this perfectly and it deserves the attention.
Rich technicolor, a fantastic cast, impressive sets and battle scenes, The Black Swan gives the audience an adventurous ride on the high seas.
