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Pavillon noir

Original title: The Spanish Main
  • 1945
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Maureen O'Hara in Pavillon noir (1945)
Period DramaPolitical DramaQuestSea AdventureSwashbucklerAdventureDramaRomance

After being wronged by the Caribbean authorities, a Dutch captain turns pirate to wage war.After being wronged by the Caribbean authorities, a Dutch captain turns pirate to wage war.After being wronged by the Caribbean authorities, a Dutch captain turns pirate to wage war.

  • Director
    • Frank Borzage
  • Writers
    • George Worthing Yates
    • Herman J. Mankiewicz
    • Æneas MacKenzie
  • Stars
    • Paul Henreid
    • Maureen O'Hara
    • Walter Slezak
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Frank Borzage
    • Writers
      • George Worthing Yates
      • Herman J. Mankiewicz
      • Æneas MacKenzie
    • Stars
      • Paul Henreid
      • Maureen O'Hara
      • Walter Slezak
    • 37User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos23

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    Top cast55

    Edit
    Paul Henreid
    Paul Henreid
    • Capt. Laurent Van Horn
    Maureen O'Hara
    Maureen O'Hara
    • Contessa Francesca
    Walter Slezak
    Walter Slezak
    • Don Juan Alvarado
    Binnie Barnes
    Binnie Barnes
    • Anne Bonney
    John Emery
    John Emery
    • Capt. Mario Du Billar
    Barton MacLane
    Barton MacLane
    • Capt. Benjamin Black
    J.M. Kerrigan
    J.M. Kerrigan
    • Pillery Gow
    Fritz Leiber
    Fritz Leiber
    • Bishop
    Nancy Gates
    Nancy Gates
    • Lupita
    Jack La Rue
    Jack La Rue
    • Lt. Escobar
    • (as Jack LaRue)
    Mike Mazurki
    Mike Mazurki
    • Erik Swaine
    Ian Keith
    Ian Keith
    • Captain Lussan
    Curt Bois
    Curt Bois
    • Paree
    Antonio Moreno
    Antonio Moreno
    • Commandante
    Victor Kilian
    Victor Kilian
    • Santa Madre Captain
    Demetrius Alexis
    • Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Don Avalier
    • Pirate
    • (uncredited)
    Martha Bamattre
    • Innkeeper
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank Borzage
    • Writers
      • George Worthing Yates
      • Herman J. Mankiewicz
      • Æneas MacKenzie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews37

    6.32K
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    Featured reviews

    7willrams

    swashbuckler

    I saw this on TV TCM today and will always enjoy the exciting story of the Spanish Main; with beautiful musical score and scenes rather well staged. Maureen O'Hara and Paul Henried are great! The scene stealer of course is that great character actor Walter Slezak, who plays a mean egocentric governor, but who gets it in the end. The duelling scenes are particularly good, and Paul Henried does a good job duelling. Binnie Barnes, who I remember so well in early films was especially great as a woman pirate
    5brendangcarroll

    Second Rate Swashbuckler

    Paul Henreid apparently wanted his home studio Warner Brothers to make this, but in 1944, that studio was firmly committed to making large -scale war films, and besides, its number one star was Errol Flynn who was (and is) THE swashbuckler. So Henreid took it to RKO and, through a contractual sleight of hand, negotiated his release from Warners to make it at this normally low-budget studio. He should not have bothered.

    The main problem with the film is that its central role is miscast. Henreid is both too effete and a bit too old for the part, and next to Miss O'Hara (who as usual, looks ravishing in colour) rather bland and lifeless. He is also clearly doubled in some of the duels.

    The music score by Hanns Eisler (a surprising choice) is gestural note-spinning with not one memorable theme to sweep us along. He should have watched The Sea Hawk and listened to Korngold's thrilling score to see how this should be done.

    As usual, Walter Slezak effortlessly steal every scene he is in and is a delight. When he is not on screen, the film sags. No wonder he was cast in so many similar roles in the 1940s.

    This was RKO's first colour film but most prints I have seen are very poor - either faded, or overly gaudy as a result of the three-strip technicolor separations becoming unstable and running together. It is unlikely to be restored as I doubt the original elements survive.

    The ingredients were all there but refused to gel somehow. Maybe if Jack Warner had said yes, it might have been better - and Korngold would have jumped at the chance I am sure! The supporting cast is full of familiar faces (J.M.Kerrigan, Jack La Rue, Curt Bois, Mike Mazurki, Antonio Moreno) and they provide some badly needed substance in this weak entry in the genre.
    6hitchcockthelegend

    Ahoy there Frankie Borzage.

    What's this, Frank Borzage producing commercial popcorn fodder? Indeed yes it is. The Spanish Main is a good old pirate/seafaring romp, the production design is considerably better than the actual plotting, with RKO pushing the boat out (hrr hrr hrr), but as long as you have a kink for such old fashioned genre pictures then there is much to enjoy; and much that's easy to ignore...

    Maureen O'Hara, Paul Henreid and Walter Slezak are the draw cards, though each one is short changed by the screenplay. O'Hara isn't called on to rise above being a feisty Technicolor beaut who will inevitably become Henreid's gal. Henreid himself is, in spite of the film very much being his baby, actually miscast and wholly unbelievable in the pirate stakes, while the ever wonderful Slezak is quite simply under used.

    However, fans of such fare easily forgive the shortcomings, focusing on having a good time with the extended sword play and naval battle scenes, buying into the romance angle and shouting hooray at film's finale! It's all very conventional on the page, but the smart craft involved in bringing it to life is sometimes all you need to brighten a miserable winter's day. 6.5/10
    10lora64

    In this genre it is a fine film to be enjoyed.

    I am a great admirer of all the movies that Maureen O'Hara has starred in. This film represents one more entertaining and absorbing swashbuckler typical of its day wherein you have a Ms O'Hara and Paul Henreid turning in excellent performances. The plot and love interest are easily assimilated and believable. If a movie holds your attention throughout like this one does, there's no question that it's worth the time and popcorn! Movies are made to be enjoyed and appreciated, and I'm sure the public knows what is enjoyable because such old movies are still in circulation, and that speaks for its quality.
    7whpratt1

    Maureen O'Hara was Beautiful

    Greatly enjoyed this film from the past with all the actors looking so young and with great careers on the silver screen for many years. Maureen O'Hara, (Contessa Francesca), "The Black Swan", played the role of a sweet charming young lady going to be married to Don Juan Alvarado(Walter Slezak), "Born to Kill", who was a rather over weight and constantly was eating. As Contessa travels on the open seas, she comes face to face with Capt. Laurent Van Horn, (Paul Henreid),"Casablanca", who plays sort of a Robin Hood of the seas and steals from the Spanish. Capt. Van Horn desires to go to America and settle in the Carolina's but Don Juan Alvarado does everything in his power to stop him from interfering with his marriage plans to Contessa Francesda. There is plenty of action with swords and antique pistols and girls who have trouble trying to fire them off. Great Classic film and very entertaining.

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    Related interests

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    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In defiance of studio tradition, hairy-chested Paul Henreid refused to submit himself to the usual waxing, and appears throughout the film bare-chested and open-shirted with his furry chest intact.
    • Goofs
      The Governor, upon meeting the Contessa for the first time, wants to see the Barracuda, who is still aboard his pirate ship. He wants to meet him "at once", and she accompanies him. The next scene, arriving by dinghy to the ship, he is in the same uniform he left his office, while the Contessa wears a new outfit, and hair-dress with adornments that could have taken hours to redo.
    • Quotes

      Don Juan Alvarado: My dear child, there is no reason why we shouldn't be married tomorrow.

      Contessa Francesca: Tomorrow, your excellency?

      Don Juan Alvarado: Well, yesterday, unfortunately, is impossible.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: The Spanish Main--cruel, oppressive and ruthless, where power alone was a man's single title to everything he held dear, including his very life. It was, thus, a cruel fate that a peaceful Dutch pilgrim ship should be driven there by torrential waves--and crash upon the rocks immediately outside Cartagena, its most remorseless citadel.
    • Connections
      Featured in Barbe-Noire le pirate (1952)
    • Soundtracks
      What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?
      (uncredited)

      Traditional sea shanty

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Spanish Main?Powered by Alexa
    • Has anyone noticed that the battle at sea sequence was reprised (used) by 'Blackbeard the Pirate' in 1952? If I'm not mistaken Cartagena also became Port Royal.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 22, 1947 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Spanish Main
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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