Captain Blood

Peter Blood, an Irish physician, is tried for treason for treating a rebel and sold as a slave in the Caribbean. He survives because a governor's niece buys him, then escapes, turns pirate and becomes the most feared captain in those waters. Michael Curtiz directed. The source is Rafael Sabatini's novel. The part belonged to Robert Donat. His chronic health problems ended that, and Warner came up on a start date with no leading man. The studio took the risk and gave it to an unproven actor from Tasmania, Errol Flynn. The female lead went to someone equally unknown, Olivia de Havilland. The result created two stars and an era. It was the first of eight films Flynn and de Havilland made together, and the partnership with Curtiz became one of the most productive in Hollywood. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Erich Wolfgang Korngold's score was not on the official ballot; it finished third in the music category on write-in votes. Who it is for: viewers who like classic pirate films and thirties Hollywood action. Who it is not for: anyone after historical or nautical accuracy. The film puts adventure first and the swordfights exist for the pleasure of the choreography.