Tyrone Power and Maureen Oâ??Hara cross romantic swords in this epic OscarÂ(r)-winning* swashbuckler about a pirate determined to reform his thieving ways â?" after he steals one last heart! Recently reform... more »ed pirate Jamie Boy (Power) is supposed to be helping the new Governor of Jamaica, Captain Morgan, rid the Caribbean of black-hearted buccaneers. But when Jamie falls head over keel for the heavenly â?" but hotheaded â?" Lady Margaret (Oâ??Hara), he gives caution the heave-ho, kidnaps Margaret and sets sail for the adventure of a lifetime! Packed with â??action, excitement, thundering guns and a maiden in distressâ? (Variety), this â??brawny, blood-curdlingâ? (Look Magazine) high-seas saga that remains a rollicking, â??timeless pleasureâ? (Los Angeles Times)! * Best Cinematography, Color: Leon Shamroy, 1942.« less
"What is perhaps the most perfect thing about this movie is that it captures the true essence of the swashbuckling films. "The Black Swan" is both directed and acted with a refreshing abandonment. Everything is let loose and blown up and had fun with, and it's quite a ride from beginning to end. Even such props as the costumes, which can overshadow the people in them, or the script, which can sometimes seem too lofty, only compliment the overall treat. We're given a daring adventure, vibrant characters, and exquisite scenery, and all we're asked is to have fun while we're visiting.Tyrone Power (as Captain Jamie Waring) and Maureen O'Hara (as Margaret Denby) create the ultimate classic pirate/noblewoman couple, complete with Tyrone's charismatic charm and Maureen's signature spitfire nature. Their scenes together spark with that unique chemistry and also with an effortless humor that is more intelligent than slapstick and yet remains by and large unpredictable. They take turns being abused by just about everyone, including each other, and what should have been the most romantic moment (in bed together, a distinct no-no in Hollywood at the time) is rather a tense moment with death leering over them literally. They make a memorable couple, surrounded by a host of splendid actors.George Sanders is once again a convincing villain, though far removed from his customary suave and sophisticated roles, and his coarse red beard helps those who might have trouble with this new image. Anthony Quinn is his nasty sidekick, alternately grinning maliciously at Jamie or leering over Margaret. Laird Cregar is wonderful as Captain Morgan, alternately proud of and frustrated with Jamie. Thomas Mitchell is perfectly cast as Jamie's right hand man and the would-be source of wisdom for all of Jamie's women troubles.You must watch this movie in the same spirit that it was made, with your hair down and your heart open to excitement and your mind turned away from somber matters. Watch it if you want to lose a foul mood, or if you want to see some marvelous (award-winning) cinematography, or if you simply want to escape back into this fantasy world that Hollywood created so long ago--when leading men were as beautiful as their female counterparts, and when leading ladies always wore impeccable makeup, and when grand adventures didn't need to start or end on a tragedy."
D'arr!
Yossarian | Durham, NC USA | 08/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Black Swan is one of the great pirate films, in part because it manages to have a sense of humor without ever lapsing into farce. All the elements are here: sword fighting, ship battles, wine, women, and song.. tied together by an excellent cast and, as is always necessary, a gorgeous firey female lead. The Black Swan is one of those films that was so excellent that many of its elements became cliched, which some may inadvertantly read into the film when viewing it. Don't; it's a truly refreshing swashbuckling experience with just the right mix of musketry, mayhem, and mirth. Check it out, you won't be disappointed."
BLACK SWAN finally on DVD
Stephen M. Leiker | Somerset, Ca United States | 05/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THE BLACK SWAN 1942
Directed by Henry King and stars Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn, George Sanders, Laird Cregar, George Zucco, Thomas Mitchell.
This is one great swashbuckler. As I remember it, this is the one where Maureen O'Hara has to say "Jamie Boy" three times before she can win the heart of Tyrone. At the very end she does and when they kiss she literally SUCKS his face with a mouth open enough to eat a 14 lb. potato. George Sanders is the bad guy and you really hate him. The plot has to do with the Black Swan being a sought after pirate frigate which of course the hero gets along with the girl. Morgan the Pirate is made the govenor of Jamaica and he wants to go after all the rivaling gangs now that he has position power.
Music by Alfred Newman (nominated for best music) and it won an oscar for cinematography. It's in glorious technicolor and one beautiful movie, not to be missed by anyone who loves pirate movies.
Maureen O'Hara was in another swashbuckler from 1952 with Errol Flynn (AGAINST ALL FLAGS) and while I mention her, she was also in SINBAD THE SAILOR and AT SWORD'S POINT and of course her film debut in Hitchcock's JAMAICA INN but I think her best was THE BLACK SWAN as far as swashbucklers go."
The ultimate pirate movie of Hollywood`s golden day
Christoph Berner | Vienna, Austria | 06/02/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a fan of Hollywood`s classic swashbucklers of the silent and early sound era, this is probably the ultimate pirate adventure complete with sea battles, grim pirates, lush tropical Carribean settings, romance and the ultimate hero Mr. Tyrone Power himself, even topping Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn in this movie. Made by Hollywood veteran Henry King, it boasts an excellent cast, a good score, high production values and captures the spirit of pirate movies perfectly, especially because shot in Technicolor. Certainly Tyrone Powers best movie that makes him a worthy follower to Fairbanks and Flynn. Great fun!!"
PIRATE FUN FEST With Morgan the Pirate In Every Way Larger t
Heather L. Parisi | St. Augustine, FL USA | 09/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is just another example of the very rich reservoir of worthwhile fun flicks made in the 1940s and 1950s that are a true joy to rediscover. This simple pirate flick offers nearly- perfect, fast-paced escapist entertainment.
This, of course, is one of the finest swashbuckling movies ever made and has everything from swordfights to kinky romance and wonderful chemistry to keep the audience involved. Tyrone Power is at his youthful best here as Captain James Waring, Laird Cregar's [Morgan the Pirate's] second in command of the, shall we say, "reformed privateers" now [1673] in the service of the king. Power's love interest is the fiery Maureen O'Hara and the plot is a vehicle for an exciting adventure both on land and at sea. Yes, the plot for Captains Waring and Morgan is centered around their rather direct effort to restore law and order to the Caribbean from their new headquarters in Jamaica's State House as the new Governor [Morgan] and his appointed "right arm" Captain Waring. Everyone is appropriately wearing the most garish period costumes and the dialogue is a crisp, glib and entertaining mix of fast talk and romantic banter. As expected, Maureen O'Hara [Margaret Denby], as the daughter of the former Governor of Jamaica, at first cannot stand James Waring and his gregarious swagger. There are a lot of almost-censored scenes between these two that must be seen. Fortunately, however, the plot is not where this movie excels and one must recall that the obvious cliches seen today were not yet cliches in 1942. This is one of the movies that helped create them.
In addition to the leads, we have George Sanders playing a rather dark and coarse role as a treacherous, red-bearded "bad pirate", Capt. Billy Leach, and Thomas Mitchell from "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Gone With The Wind" as Tommy Blue -- a sort of second in command and advisor to the second in command. Laird Cregar as Morgan the Pirate is in every way larger than life both on the screen and off. He died tragically at age 28, three years after this movie was made and his presence does command the screen and almost overshadows Power's as well. His tragic story is well worth looking into as I did, wondering why I did not recognize such an obvious rising star in a 1942 film. My favorite quote of his in the film very well sums up the film's mood -- "I WISH I HADN'T REFORMED MY WAYS . . . I'D HAVE THE WHOLE COMMITTEE WALKING THE PLANK."
Leon Shamroy won an Oscar for his color photography and the movie was nominated for "BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS". Don't miss this spectacular spectacle of a movie!"