The Black Swan

Time was pirate movies were plentiful, especially during the '50s. They died out in the '60s, and didn't come back in any meaningful way, except as monumental bombs (Cutthroat Island, anyone?) until the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which interestingly hasn't spawned any imitators.

But before TV and into the '50s many pirate movies were made, including The Black Swan, from 1942, directed by Henry King. It mixes some history with some swashbuckling, although most of the movie takes place on dry land.

Tyrone Power stars as Jamie Waring, a pirate who is loyal to Henry Morgan, a real life figure (check out the rum bottle) who has been sentenced to hang. But Morgan ends up not only being pardoned, he is made governor of Jamaica. He enlists Waring as his second-in-command. But another pirate captain (the unrecognizable George Sanders) doesn't trust Morgan, and with the information given by a treacherous nobleman, sinks English ships, with Morgan getting the blame.

The subplot involves Maureen O'Hara as the former governor's daughter, who is engaged to the traitor. But Waring sets his cap for her, even though she expresses nothing but vitriol toward him. This was a common attitude in films that I'm not sure has ever gone away--the arrogance of male characters, who think if they just spend enough time with a woman, even by kidnapping her and taking her aboard a pirate ship, she will fall in love with him. I guess pirates knew about the Stockholm Syndrome.

The film is fairly generic but enjoyable. Laird Cregar, a rotund man, makes a surprisingly good Morgan, while Thomas Mitchell is fun as Power's loyal first mate. A very young Anthony Quinn has a small role. There is plenty of sword fighting and some fairly good scenes involving ships. A movie scene with two clippers bearing down on each, cannons blazing, has always stirred my blood.