Enjoyable swashbuckler, which Jeffrey Richards says is Doug Fairbanks Snr’s best movie. As it’s the only one of his I’ve seen I can’t really say if that’s true, but there is lots to admire – maybe not so much the story which is basic (young noble swears vengeance against pirates who killed dad) but a bit weak (he then joins the pirate crew, doesn’t seem to have much of a plan of action, but then gets sidetracked when he falls in love with a beautiful princess the pirates have captured).
It’s great strength is its action set pieces – Fairbanks fighting a muscular duel on a beach with a bald pirate captain, Fairbanks capturing a boat single handed (including the famous shove-sword-in-sail-and-slide-down bit), Fairbanks duelling against a whole bunch of pirates on his own, the goodies swimming underwater to the boats (magnificent stuff – I can’t believe this hasn’t been ripped off more), Fairbanks being lifted up by his men up several levels of the ship.
There is plenty of action, extras and swordplay, a couple of full on moments which wouldn’t have survived the Hays Code (a prisoner swallows a ring to keep it safe from the pirates – but then a pirate grabs his sword and walks out of shot then comes back in shot with the ring… he’s cut the dude open!!!; also in another scene a pirate tests his sword by impaling someone).
Doug walks the plank and fights lots of duels. He runs around in tight shorts flashing his chest – Victor Mature was never so exploited. The romance with Billie Dove is a bit simpering (how about some revealing outfits for her? But no, she’s fully clothed). Donald Crisp is fun as a one armed pirate. I got confused when Doug suddenly found all these men to help him at the end – where did they come from. Fairbanks is very charismatic – he seems a more American actor than his son, lots of energy and brashness.
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