Die Geliebte des Korsaren

Rival pirate captains battle for control of a treasure-filled island stronghold that rules the Spanish Main in this swashbuckling adventure set in the 1870's.

Pirate Francis Barclay, a former member of the British Admiralty, who was captured and sold into slavery by Andrew McAllister, and forced into piracy captures adventurer Dick Lindsay in the Caribbean but pledges to free him if he'll infiltrate the island stronghold of Andrew MacAllister, who betrayed Barclay long ago and stole his baby daughter, Christine.

John Payne is excellent as Dick Lindsay who is used as a pawn by Cedric Hardwick's character who is very effective - he's very cold and bitter. Revenge is on his mind. Francis L. Sullivan as MacAllister is his nemesis and he's far from being a nice chap. He owns slaves, treats them like crap and is generally an ogre. Arlene Dahl plays MacAllister's "daughter" and she's effective in her role, coming across as a vulnerable person groomed into being heartless by her environment. I. E. Her tyrannical father. Of course, we got Payne to change her ways. Predictably, a romance ensues.

Caribbean is a very good pirate film, just don't expect it to be a swashbuckler like Errol Flynn's work - it has more characterisation, mood and drama with a modicum of action. There's an exciting knife fight and marauding attack at the end.

Pirate captain Cedric Hardwicke is burying treasure and shooting the crew member who wants to kill him when he discovers John Payne. He offer Payne a hundred thousand pieces of eight and his life if he'll do a little favor for him. Many years earlier, Hardwicke had been partners with Francis L. Sullivan. Then Sullivan seized Hardwicke's wife and child, and sold Hardwicke into slavery. Payne is to impersonate Sullivan's nephew and spy out how to invade his personal island, where slaves carry around elephant tusks. There's al Sullivan's daughter, Arlene Dahl, whose haughtiness is indicated by the fact she shouts everything.

This sizable film from the Dollar Bills is a visually attractive thing. Of course, you can say that about any movie with Miss Dahl in Technicolor. In addition, cinematographer Lionel Lindon shoots it like a series of Howard Pyle paintings, just right for the Boy's Adventure this movie is. With revolting slaves, overseers who whip slaves and yearn for Miss Dahl, Williams Pine and Thomas fill out the movie's cast with reliable, inexpensive players like Willard Parker, Dennis Hoey, Woody Strode, and Rosalind Hayes for an entertaining time.

Directed by a "home" film maker Edward Ludwig, who, with Lewis R Foster, was specialized in films of this kind, taking place in the South seas, on paradise islands, jungles, deserts, with many natives, serpents, villains, dangers of all kinds, pirates, ships, plenty of action scenes and of course romance intrigues. Here John Payne and Arlene Dahl, also pure "home" actors at Paramount for this kind of films, contribute to add much charm and atmosphere to this colourful adventure movie that will enjoy nostalgia and old times lovers. The topic, plot itself is not that usual,I would say it is elaborate. The John Payne's character finds himself in the middle of a feud between Cedric Hardwicke and Francis Sullivan, more impressive one than the other; a deadly feud Excellent screenplay and also atmosphere, settings - maybe not locations but studio lots - are worth the watching. Great climax. Some elements very close to another Edward Ludwig's film: WAKE OF THE RED WITCH. Treasure hunt in ths South Seas and same kinds of characters.

This movie also leaves a lot of loose ends. It's hard to believe that Arlene Dahl would fall so quickly for John Payne. Also, Payne's former life is quickly forgotten. This movie must have been made for kids because it was preposterous to this adult. Payne is a serviceable actor but he doesn't have the charisma for this kind of role. He is rather solemn-faced and this role demands a little more levity. Forget this and look for an Errol Flynn movie instead.

However grim the subject (in this case, the slave trade), a little sense of humor can take off the edge. Unfortunately, "Caribbean" doesn't offer that much needed sense of humor. John Payne makes a surprisingly bland hero, much in contrast to his wonderful turn in Tripoli. Arlene Dahl, gorgeously decorative, really hokes this one up. One can only imagine what Maureen O'Hara or Rhonda could have done with the part. Even the key supporting players fail to impress, with the exception of the extraordinary Cedric Hardwicke, and actor who probably never gave a bad role. One could only imagine how could "Caribbean" could have been with everyone else performing to Hardwicke's fine standards.

The script is episodic and badly paced. The duologue is so forgettable, it might as well have been a silent movie with "matinee cards". Nonetheless, one cannot help but marvel at the gorgeous production values of this superb use of Technicolor, miniatures and costumes. In fact, the beast way to see "Caribbean" is silent, with some really good orchestral music off YouTube. The plot is so predictable and obvious, you wouldn't miss the duologue and you would be spared a musical score more appropriate for a 20s silent film. You'd also miss repeated use of the "N" word, which has become so derogatory, schools have tried to censor it from Mark Twain.

Nonetheless, on the strength of Hardwicke's performance and aforementioned production values, I give "Caribbean" a "6".