The Black Swan

If not for the action, for the actors and the actress, for the story or for the direction, see this movie because it´s only one of the best action movies ever made in the USA. Just that! Many of the recent full-action movies, made with more money and resources, are not even 1% of this one.

Well, this one really came as a surprise with Tyrone Power superb in a decent pirate movie - all tongue in cheek but in great fun. With lovely Maureen O'Hara playing the usual hard to get girl wanted by all, but destined for only one, everyone in the movie has a rollicking good time, and why shouldn't they when you consider some of the supporting stars, particularly Laird Cregar as Sir Henry Morgan and George Sanders "hamming" it up in his usual evil way. The Technicolor is magnificent, the settings superb, and as this film was made long before computer-generated effects, it was quite brilliantly done. The story was very predictable but who cares, as it represents great escapist entertainment for nearly a couple of hours!

I do think The Black Swan is under-appreciated. It certainly isn't the best movie ever made, but on its own merits, it is a hugely enjoyable and truly remarkable swashbuckler. The cinematography is gorgeous, and thoroughly deserved the Oscar it won, with its perfect capture of the cleverly-choreographed swordplay, and you can also admire the beautiful costumes and sets, as well as the rousing music score that was beautiful. The sets and action sequences are the main merit of this film, very majestic and well-staged. You may think that any film with pirates would fall into predictability, but this one doesn't, it is original, funny at times and has a touch of romance in it. The performances were excellent. Tyrone Power is surprisingly good in the title role, though swashbuckling fans may be yearning for someone like Errol Flynn, and Maureen O'Hara is beautiful beyond words as Margaret. It is probably true that their romance isn't quite as convincing as the one in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland, but it is still a convincing (and fairly witty) one, and rarely interferes with the focus of the film. As the mutinying Captain Billy Leech, if you put the awkward accent aside like I have, George Sanders (who is the expert of suave and smarmy menace) is excellent, who is surprisingly good at sword fighting. All in all, a stylish and very worthwhile swashbuckler, with a 9/10. Bethany Cox.

Now this is a swashbuckling adventure! Pirate movies were very popular in the silver screen era, and most of them-as is the case in most genres-weren't very good. The Black Swan is very exciting, so if you're looking for a classic, look no further.

A shirtless, scruffy Tyrone Power pins Maureen O'Hara to the wall, saying he wants to "sample the wine before he decides to buy the bottle," but when he kisses her she bites his lip. Tyrone slaps her face and throws her over his shoulder, but when he runs into his pal Captain Morgan, played by Laird Cregar, he drops her to the floor and forgets all about her. Is he a true pirate or what?

Get ready for intense sword fighting, kidnapping unwilling females, shipwrecks, pirates hijacking a boat that's already been hijaked, and a great pirate-y theme by Alfred Newman. The Black Swan is one of the best swashbuckling pirate movies I've seen, and since it doesn't include Errol Flynn or Robert Newton, that's quite a compliment! Where else can you see Thomas Mitchell as a pirate? And where else can you watch a total violation of the Hays Code-an unmarried couple is shown under the covers in the same bed-but since they're pirates they get away with it? I highly recommend this one.

Whatever Henry King made cannot be bad. Even this "half navy - half etc" movie was surprisingly entertaining. I can name few filmmakers so versatile and so reliable. In this instance I believe the method is to have an open mind - this is not just a navy or a pirate movie, there is romance and a little of everything. Bottom line, making a good film should be a simple thing if you have decency.