The Sea Hawk - Errol Flynn's first swashbuckling movie sans Olivia DeHavilland, who bowed out on her concerns that she might get typecast by being in too many of these types of movies. She was replaced by Brenda Marshall. Who? I asked the same thing. Brenda Marshall made only 19 films, including Footsteps In The Dark with Errol in 1941, but then retired in 1950 when married to William Holden. The Sea Hawk was pretty much the highlight of her career.
As for Errol, those who think of him in only the swashbuckler mode forget that The Sea Hawk was made in between two westerns - Santa Fe Trail and Virginia City. But in 1940, Errol has still riding the crest of his career. Big budget sets, huge casts, stuff like that.
Curious pirate movie thingee - why is it that all the rank and file guys fight with cutlasses, by the important guys all have epees? Hmmm.
The story, ostensibly based on a novel by Raphael Sabatini (as was Captain Blood) is total historical crap. Well, actually it really wasn't based on the Sabatini novel, except for the title. Another novel was substituted when they were putting the screenplay together. But a decent yarn nonetheless. And with Erich Wolfgang Korngold writing the musical score, how could you lose. This was the height of the swashbuckler genre, and The Sea Hawk was the top of the heap. Additionally, Errol shows that by the time 1940 rolled around, he had matured quite a bit as an actor since his Captain Blood days. His timing, especially in witty exchanges with the likes of Alan Hale, is outstanding. He really did have a good ear for humor, especially low-key and subtle humor. Heck, he has an extended dialogue with a monkey! You gotta love it.
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