Captain Blood
An enslaved English doctor and his comrades in chains escape and become pirates of the Robin Hood variety.
- Director: Michael Curtiz
- Genre:Action / Adventure / Romance
- Runtime:114 minutes
Cast
Errol Flynn : Peter Blood
Olivia de Havilland: Arabella Bishop
Lionel Atwill : Col. Bishop
Basil Rathbone : Levasseur
Ross Alexander : Jeremy Pitt
In seventeenth century England, Irish Dr. Peter Blood (Errol Flynn) is convicted of treason against the King for aiding a wounded friend who had participated in the Monmouth Rebellion in accordance of his professional duties. He is sentenced to slavery in the British colony of Port Royal, and is purchased by the beautiful niece of the local military commander Colonel Bishop, Arabella Bishop (Olivia de Havilland), who is attracted by his rebellious nature. During a Spanish raid on the town, Doctor Blood and his fellow slaves escape, steal the Spanish ship and begin a life of piracy. When the old governor is unable to contain the pirate menace, Colonel Bishop is promoted to his post.
Several years later, Arabella and a royal emissary, Lord Willoughby (Henry Stephenson), are captured for ransom by Blood’s treacherous partner, Captain Levasseur (Basil Rathbone). Blood purchases them himself, relishing the opportunity to turn the tables on his former owner. However, Levasseur objects; in the ensuing duel, the Frenchman is killed.
Blood decides to take Arabella and Lord Willoughby to the safety of Port Royal. As they approach the port, they sight two French warships attacking the colony. Bishop and his men are nowhere to be found; Bishop has deserted his post in his single-minded hunt for Blood. Willoughby pleads with Blood to save the colony, but the captain and his crew to a man refuse to fight for James II of England. However, when Willoughby reveals that James II has been deposed in the Glorious Revolution and that he was sent by the new king, William of Orange, to offer pardons, emancipation, and a commission with the Royal Navy to Blood and his men, they joyfully change their minds at this good news. Read more
