The Sea Hawk (1940)

the best of its kind

THE SEA HAWK showcases my favorite Warners director (Curtiz), swashbuckler (Flynn) and composer (Erich Wolfgang Korngold) - and it's worth the price of admission just for Flora Robson's turn as Queen Elizabeth.

I see that more than a few Amazon reviewers complain of the casting of Brenda Marshall as the female lead and inevitable Flynn love interest rather than (one might reasonably assume) Olivia De Havilland. I disagree. Was the pairing of Errol and Olivia obligatory? Were they Rock Hudson and Doris Day? Frankie and Annette? I for one am GLAD to see Brenda Marshall as Doña Maria. She's more Spanish in appearance and is more believably unacquainted, distant and demure. If I need De Havilland opposite Flynn, there's always THE SANTA FE TRAIL or THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON, both of which were a better fit for her.

I also enjoy Henry Daniell's turn as villainous Wolfingham. Sure, had Rathbone played the part, he'd have been great as usual, but must every film be an ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD cast reunion? Answer: no.

I also don't mind the B&W film. Color would have been nice, but the beautiful sets (for the most part), costumes, shifting camera and gloriously operatic and Straussian music compensate nicely for its absence. The sepia tone of the Panama sequence helps, too.

MY only two gripes concern the royal courts. First, as much as I admire Claude Rains and Montague Love, a couple of other actors with a dignified screen presence and a Spanish accent would have been far preferable as Don Jose and King Philip. After all, Gilbert Roland got the call to play Captain Lopez, didn't he? I find these guys' presence jarring. And second, the palace interiors are SO stark and plain. Tremendously high ceilings and nothing on the walls but maps? I'm sorry but this just doesn't work and it never did in any of the earlier Flynn films either. England and Spain had no painters or artisans? Is there a single palace in the world which looks like these? Really, with the British accents and that stripped down soundstage, I can't believe for a second that I'm peeking in on the King of Spain. Flora Robson's performance, however, is such a tour de force that the British court almost convinces.
June 16, 2008

A new twist on Flynn

This film used the same sets as the Private lives of elizabeth and essex, but had a new twist on things. Errol Flynn supporting actors Alan Hale, Claude Rains and Una O'Connar star in the Sea Hawk with Donald Crisp. Flynn comes back to the sea after Captain Blood, 5 years prior to the Sea Hawk and comes back with anew girl, Brenda Marshall. All Flynn fans, this is a surprisinf twist to any other Flynn film. Theres no Olivia De'Havilland. HOW DARE FLYNN KISS MARSHALL!! Theres no Bette Davis as the Queen, even though a year prior Flynn had played a love-bird to Elizabeth, and now he's done it agin with a different Elizabeth!
Wonderfully restored with original color-tinting.

A must have for Flynn, Rains, Michael Curtiz or sea-fearing lovers. March 8, 2008

Thorpe's not Blood

Korngold is still Korngold, but Brenda's not Olivia, and Daniell is definitely not Sir Basil. Although Flora is much better than Bette. All the old ingredients seem to be there, but somehow the cake isn't quite up to snuff. Curtiz seems a little exhausted, in spite of the standard trademark shadow-sword-swashing; perhaps it's just that Flynn can't quite take it seriously enough any more. Four swords against one is maybe a trifle over the top. Also, the film was over-budgeted, and the model ships still look like model ships. There are some interesting extras from the pundits on this disc, and Flora's message at the end comes across with some punch, but the reality of the Battle of Britain remains more vivid than any Hollywood hokum. Sorry, folks: I have to dock a star. June 18, 2007

Only missing ingredients: Technicolor and Olivia de Havilland...

When Warner Bros. substituted BRENDA MARSHALL for Flynn's usual romantic interest they made a big mistake. Certainly she's pretty (in a remote sort of way with a facial expression carved in stone), but there's none of the usual back and forth wit and spirit that OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND always shared with Flynn. In other words, the spark of chemistry that made them such a memorable love team is completely missing here.

So is Technicolor. Hard to understand why the studio didn't back this investment (which cost a hefty sum at the time) with color photography which would have added so much richness to the story. As it is, the crisp B&W photography is handsome enough but with all those gorgeous sets and costumes, color is an ingredient that should have been seriously considered.

The story has its points of interest but exists mainly to showcase the athletic abilities of ERROL FLYNN and, presumably, most of the vigorous male cast. All with the exception of HENRY DANIELL who, although a fine screen villain, was not up to the requisite swordplay and had to be doubled for all the long shots. Basil Rathbone, where were you???

Capping the whole thing is a majestic score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold that is worthy of a far better film. But sea tales don't get much better than this and the studio backed their production with a wonderful ensemble cast that included WILLIAM LUNDIGAN, ALAN HALE, CLAUDE RAINS, FLORA ROBSON, JAMES STEPHENSON, UNA O'CONNOR and many, many more.

Summing up: It's a lusty tale of piracy on the high seas and lots of treachery afoot so that Errol Flynn can swing into action and save the day for God and Queen. Smooth sailing. June 3, 2007

A letdown for this Flynn fan. ----- Brenda Marshall!!???

As someone who greatly respects Errol Flynns work, I must say I was disappointed in this movie. A year before in 'Dawn Patrol' I thought Flynn gave a great performance as a hot shot fighter pilot, who when given Command must accept responsibility for the lives of his men.

Critics have said that Flynn's 'Sea Hawk' role is a mature performance, to me it's a dull turn by Flynn. He is not helped at all by a clunky script and a stunningly bad performance by Brenda Marshall. She brings NOTHING to her roll as the female romantic lead. A truly terrible performance by this young lady.

In Captain Blood (his American debut), Flynn has verve, enthusiasm, amazing charisma, he rightly became an overnight star with that performance. But, he looks somewhat bored in this film. It is an OK, 3 star film, but please don't mislead people and compare this movie to 'Robin Hood', or 'Captain Blood', or the terrific 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. April 29, 2007

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