Surprisingly engaging swashbuckler about the famous pirate who wasn't really much of a pirate in real life. Here he is, though - memorably portrayed by Charles Laughton his main motivation is to get enough money to become a member of society. Most Laughton performances have something to commend of it and he's a lot of fun here. Also fun are John Carradine and Gilbert Roland as members of his crew - and while Randolph Scott isn't the first actor one thinks to play a noblemen masquerading as a pirate, he is suitably heroic (albeit too American).
The script was written by Norman Randolph Reilly who also wrote The Adventures of Robin Hood; it was the last film directed by Rowland V Lee, who has a decent list of credits. The story flies by and Kidd is an engaging, smart villain who isn't beaten til the very end.
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