|
|
Rating:  - Technicolor Treasure
Why did they ever stop using technicolor film? Some of the best old movies (Gone With the Wind, Ten Commandments, Wizard of Oz) stand the test of time because of the exceptional color that made costumes, scenery, and people seem to leap off the screen. The Black Swan is a visual treat: lots of color and beauty, not only on handsome Tyrone Power and beautiful Maureen O'Hara, but also in ship-on-sea shots, and even interior shots. Even if the film's plot and acting bored you stiff (and it won't) it's beautiful just to look at. If you like swashbuckling films that are colorful and fun, The Princess & the Pirate, with Virginia Mayo and Bob Hope are great, too. This is a great movie to watch George Sanders as a campy villian (something he doesn't usually do; he usually plays the seriously bad bad guy)and Thomas Mitchell is likeable and interesting in just about anything. Wish they still made movies like this. Today's films try too hard, and still fall short.
Rating: - Swashbuckling At It's Best!
Old fashioned thrills, with swords, knives and pirates. Handsome men in flamebouyant costumes, beautiful women in frilly lace and gowns of silk and satin! What more can you ask of a movie except georgeous ships and tropical isles. Well look no more, it's all right here! Romance, old movie style, where the man only gets the girl at the END of the show. What a novel idea! Loved every moment of it, and you will too.
Rating: - Excellent Swashbuckler
Its hard to go wrong with classics starring Tyrone Power or Maureen O'Hara and here in the Black Swan they did not let us down. Although its not quite as good as "Captain Blood" it is a great Tyrone movie. This is a must have movier for people who enjoy: 40s/50s classics, Tyrone Power, Swashbucklers, etc.
Rating: - The Black Swan
I absolutly loved this movie!!! It's one of the few old movies I actually like. The plastic was a little melted but the disk looked o.k.
Rating:  - Not quite as vivid as "Captain Blood", Sabatini's other pirate tale...
The very fact that Rafael Sabatini's tale is the source for this swashbuckling pirate adventure makes one wish it had the more vivid storyline and qualities of his more famous epic, CAPTAIN BLOOD. But Fox, although they've lavished color and pretty costumes and sets on THE BLACK SWAN, failed to invest it with the same witty script and believable situations.
The performances are all bigger than life, as they should be in this sort of thing. TYRONE POWER makes a dashing figure of Jamie, the pirate seeking to avenge the villainous Leech (an almost unrecognizable GEORGE SANDERS in heavy beard and wig). MAUREEN O'HARA is so authentically feisty in opposing Power's advances that one wonders whether they can ever make up in time for a happy ending. Nevertheless, hers is a one-dimensional role and she gives it no added dimension of warmth but remains an ice princess throughout, much to my disappointment.
The acting is uniformly competent--nothing more--and the entire tone of the more serious moments in the courtrooms makes you wonder whether to simply suspend disbelief or accept it as a tongue-in-cheek pirate adventure. LAIRD CRAIGAR makes an interesting buccaneer but chews the scenery with a vengeance. His energy gives the part believability most of the time but his actions are none too convincing in the final battle scene. THOMAS MITCHELL seems a little out of place as a fellow pirate.
TYRONE POWER and MAUREEN O'HARA make delicious eye candy as a couple, but something in their chemistry is missing. Perhaps they're too combative throughout before the final clinch in the sunset--and that, of course, is the script's fault for providing a somewhat contrived happy ending.
Summing up: Admirers of pirate films will certainly enjoy the ride.
|
|