Part of Wisconsin Press' superb Warner Bros script series, which would publish old movie scripts along with an introduction. Errol Flynn expert Rudy Behlmer is the guy here and it's an excellent work recounting the story of Sabtatini's best selling novel, which didn't really form the basis of the movie but the author's name was still heavily used in advertising because it was thought to be box office. The story is actually the creation of Seton I Miller, a scriptwriter not very well remembered today but who came up with a cracking yarn, perfect for the time, heavily inspired by the career of Sir Francis Drake prior to the Spanish Armada.
He was rewritten by Howard Koch, who came up with the terrific chart scene but kept the structure and characters - although I'm sure he improved it. It's a five act structure which, as Behlmer points out, doesn't repeat - intro scene, the first pirate attack at sea, court intrigue, Panama action and capture, escape, final fight. The romance is well interwoven (although Maria isn't a particularly memorable character) the villains are imposing. Thorpe is a deliberately different sort of hero for Errol Flynn to play - more tight lipped and noble. It's an enjoyable read and a tribute to Hollywood in its great days.
(NB you probably won't like it if you are Spanish though).
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