Der rote Pirat

Allegedly, Rod La Rocque didn't make it in the Thirties, because he slapped a producer who had made the moves on Mrs la Rocque, silent star Vilma Banky.

We certainly missed out because of that. But then again, how would Errol Flynn ever have found a niche with Rod La Rocque around? 'Cruise' is vintage La Rocque, and at every turn the viewer is smitten with his infectious grin and invited to share the fun by those intelligent dark eyes. In the movie he is fifth or something generation of rich merchants, a direct descendant of glamorous pirates, down on his luck. The whole house with all the furniture and all his clothes is being sold at an auction while he is still in bed, and the women bidders are suitably titillated by his increasing nakedness. He combines his efforts to that of a lovely woman who, by some strange coincidence, has the will of her deceased uncle printed on her naked back ... The swashbuckling is supreme, the pacing is riveting, and La Rocque reigns!