User reviews

I saw this on TV TCM today and will always enjoy the exciting story of the Spanish Main; with beautiful musical score and scenes rather well staged. Maureen O'Hara and Paul Henried are great! The scene stealer of course is that great character actor Walter Slezak, who plays a mean egocentric governor, but who gets it in the end. The duelling scenes are particularly good, and Paul Henried does a good job duelling. Binnie Barnes, who I remember so well in early films was especially great as a woman pirate

I had foolishly missed out quite recently on this one on late-night Italian TV and, consequently, was very glad now to get acquainted with it (albeit via a slightly washed-out print on DivX) – especially since I was surprised by its quality, making the film an underrated entry in the swashbuckling genre. Borzage was an unusual choice for this type of film – despite being a distinguished Oscar-winning director, he has become with time a largely forgotten figure but his reputation has deservedly soared of late among film connoisseurs and is now generally comparable to that of Douglas Sirk. To be sure, he is more renowned for movies like THREE COMRADES (1938) and THE MORTAL STORM (1940) rather than fluff pieces like THE Spanish MAIN, but that only goes to show how versatile he was, equally capable of handling personal projects and genre pictures.

Equally unlikely was the film’s choice of leading man: Paul Henreid, playing an honest man who turns buccaneer in the face of injustice, his character is similar to that of Captain Blood (in spite of an obvious lack of emphasis on the actor’s agility) but also to Henried’s signature role of French Resistance leader Victor Laszlo in CASABLANCA (1942). This alone makes it interesting viewing but, thankfully, they’re supported by solid talent on both sides of the camera (the actors – Maureen O’Hara in her prime, an unusually but effectively cast Binnie Barnes as a hardened lady buccaneer and O’Hara’s romantic rival, splendid villainy from Walter Slezak, John Emery and Barton MacLane being equally dastardly, J.M. Kerrigan, Curt Bois and Mike Mazurki as Henreid’s sidekicks, a script co-written by CITIZEN KANE [1941]’s Herman J. Mankiewicz, magnificent color photography by George Barnes, etc).

While the plot offers no real surprise or undue complexity – coming at the tail-end of WWII, it must have provided just the right dose of escapism – it’s professionally-handled entertainment (at which Hollywood excelled during its golden age) of the kind ‘they don’t make anymore’…despite the best intentions of today’s exponents!

Greatly enjoyed this film from the past with all the actors looking so young and with great careers on the silver screen for many years. Maureen O'Hara, (Contessa Francesca), "The Black Swan", played the role of a sweet charming young lady going to be married to Don Juan Alvarado(Walter Slezak), "Born to Kill", who was a rather over weight and constantly was eating. As Contessa travels on the open seas, she comes face to face with Capt. Laurent Van Horn, (Paul Henreid),"Casablanca", who plays sort of a Robin Hood of the seas and steals from the Spanish. Capt. Van Horn desires to go to America and settle in the Carolina's but Don Juan Alvarado does everything in his power to stop him from interfering with his marriage plans to Contessa Francesda. There is plenty of action with swords and antique pistols and girls who have trouble trying to fire them off. Great Classic film and very entertaining.

What's this, Frank Borzage producing commercial popcorn fodder? Indeed yes it is. The Spanish Main is a good old pirate/seafaring romp, the production design is considerably better than the actual plotting, with RKO pushing the boat out (hrr hrr hrr), but as long as you have a kink for such old fashioned genre pictures then there is much to enjoy; and much that's easy to ignore...

Maureen O'Hara, Paul Henreid and Walter Slezak are the draw cards, though each one is short changed by the screenplay. O'Hara isn't called on to rise above being a feisty Technicolor beaut who will inevitably become Henreid's gal. Henreid himself is, in spite of the film very much being his baby, actually miscast and wholly unbelievable in the pirate stakes, while the ever wonderful Slezak is quite simply under used.

However, fans of such fare easily forgive the shortcomings, focusing on having a good time with the extended sword play and naval battle scenes, buying into the romance angle and shouting hooray at film's finale! It's all very conventional on the page, but the smart craft involved in bringing it to life is sometimes all you need to brighten a miserable winter's day. 6.5/10

I thought this movie was a lot of fun, with some memorably witty lines (mostly delivered by Walter Slezak) that are referred to elsewhere on this site. I wonder if these were from Herman J Mankiewicz, who co-contributed to the screenplay - he certainly was talented enough.

All of the criticisms of it that are mentioned in other comments are true - it does have a familiar story line, obvious sets / model shots / backgrounds and some clunky dialogue and acting.

However these criticisms to me they don't really matter - it is a movie designed to entertain and provide enjoyment and it succeeds perfectly well at doing this.

By the way - the 'real' shot of the coastline I'm sure I've seen in other movies. Must have been close to Hollywood.

Previous comments have said nearly all, but I thought this film was a good effort for 1945. As always with films of this date, I wonder why some of the fit-looking men weren't in the armed services. (I realise that Paul Henreid was an Austrian who had fled his country before the war; and I note a lot of the supporting cast have Hispanic names, suggesting they may have been from countries not directly involved in the fighting.) Though Henreid made a number of swashbucklers, he appears a just a little effete, almost a not-quite-so sensitive version of Leslie Howard. I couldn't quite believe Maureen O'Hara finding him fascinating at first glance (as always, she looks marvellous). Errol Flynn or Tyrone Power would have been more convincing.

The battling ships sequences look good, though it would be churlish to note that the model vessels show no signs of human life. I agree with the comments that Walter Slezak makes a fine villain.

Paul Henreid apparently wanted his home studio Warner Brothers to make this, but in 1944, that studio was firmly committed to making large -scale war films, and besides, its number one star was Errol Flynn who was (and is) THE swashbuckler. So Henreid took it to RKO and, through a contractual sleight of hand, negotiated his release from Warners to make it at this normally low-budget studio. He should not have bothered.

The main problem with the film is that its central role is miscast. Henreid is both too effete and a bit too old for the part, and next to Miss O'Hara (who as usual, looks ravishing in colour) rather bland and lifeless. He is also clearly doubled in some of the duels.

The music score by Hanns Eisler (a surprising choice) is gestural note-spinning with not one memorable theme to sweep us along. He should have watched The Sea Hawk and listened to Korngold's thrilling score to see how this should be done.

As usual, Walter Slezak effortlessly steal every scene he is in and is a delight. When he is not on screen, the film sags. No wonder he was cast in so many similar roles in the 1940s.

This was RKO's first colour film but most prints I have seen are very poor - either faded, or overly gaudy as a result of the three-strip technicolor separations becoming unstable and running together. It is unlikely to be restored as I doubt the original elements survive.

The ingredients were all there but refused to gel somehow. Maybe if Jack Warner had said yes, it might have been better - and Korngold would have jumped at the chance I am sure! The supporting cast is full of familiar faces (J.M.Kerrigan, Jack La Rue, Curt Bois, Mike Mazurki, Antonio Moreno) and they provide some badly needed substance in this weak entry in the genre.

I am a great admirer of all the movies that Maureen O'Hara has starred in. This film represents one more entertaining and absorbing swashbuckler typical of its day wherein you have a Ms O'Hara and Paul Henreid turning in excellent performances. The plot and love interest are easily assimilated and believable. If a movie holds your attention throughout like this one does, there's no question that it's worth the time and popcorn! Movies are made to be enjoyed and appreciated, and I'm sure the public knows what is enjoyable because such old movies are still in circulation, and that speaks for its quality.

A pretty squirrelly swashbuckler that stars a miscast Paul Henreid as a pirate with a vendetta against a Spanish nobleman. Out of spite, he kidnaps the woman promised to the nobleman as a bride, a Mexican princess played by, get this, Maureen O'Hara! O'Hara couldn't look more Irish in this, but I guess I'm glad they didn't do what they so often did back then and use brown face when they had white actors playing other ethnicities. It also doesn't much matter, because authenticity is not this movie's number one priority. Henreid has a glorious mat of chest hair that looks great sticking out of his puffy shirt, but other than that he seems like he'd be more at home wearing a tuxedo in a cocktail lounge than swinging around on ship rigging. And oh my god if I have to watch one more movie where a woman is forced into a relationship with a man and then decides after all that she actually loves him.....

George Barnes received an Oscar nomination for Best Color Cinematography for this film in the same year that he was also nominated in the black and white category for Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound."

Grade: C+

I liked this film, a pirate adventure story that doesn't go too over the top and overdo it. Paul Henreid gave a good performance as Laurent van Horn, the captain turned pirate, after escaping from Cartagena, where he was imprisoned by the corrupt governor (Walter Slezak).

Equally good was Maureen O'Hara, as Francisca Alvarado, engaged to a man she's never met for political reasons (who turns out to be the evil governor) and then makes a marriage of convenience with Laurent, that turns out to be much more, though in typical Hollywood fashion, it takes them a while to admit it.

Barton MacLane's here too, as the no-good Captain Black (but who's more familiar as General Petersen on "I Dream of Jeannie"). Binnie Barnes does a good job as the famous female pirate, Anne Bonny, who's Francisca's rival for Laurent's affections. They fight a rather amusing duel over him!

A movie worth watching!

The beauty redhead Maureen O'Hara made many exotic characters, stand out in swashbuckler pictures as The Black Swan with Tyrone Power, here Paul Henreid as Dutch Pirate was miscasting to the role, a weak point offset by a stunning performance by Walter Slezak as Don Juan Alvarado viceroy of the Cartagene, he handily steal the show with double meaning clever lines, rough and ruthless Spanish ruler with fatty appearance, also the ship's battle is convincing, the plot is really stunning and well-crafted, as first R.K.O's Technicolor experience, aside some coarse miniature sets is quite acceptable for a low budge production, with great supporting cast as Binnie Barnes, Barton Maclaine, Mike Mazurski, Nancy Gates and John Emery, allowed for those shirker afternoon sessions, now on available in a restored DVD!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

'The Spanish Main', directed by Frank Borzage, is an immensely satisfying, nicely old fashioned swashbuckler. The film has everything you expect of a proper pirate movie: An upstanding hero who was forced into piracy (Paul Henreid as Captain Barracuda), a beautiful heroine who quickly falls in love with him (Maureen O'Hara as the daughter of the governor of New Spain), a dastardly villain who looks the part (Walter Slezak as governor of Tortuga), plenty of well-choreographed sword fighting, and lovely model ships that have been filmed in a way that makes them look almost (but not quite) like the real thing. And it is all in technicolor! And the acting is great, even in supporting roles (Binnie Barnes as Anne Bonney, for example). And on top of all that the dialogues are good (Slezak's remark about pirates named like fish made me laugh). Perhaps 'The Spanish Main' has not quite the charm of for example 'Captain Blood' or 'The Sea Hawk', filmed 5 to 10 years earlier. Also, Paul Henreid is not quite as convincing as swashbuckling hero as Errol Flynn. But this film is still very good entertainment.

I would have never expected a director as Franck Borzage making such an adventure, pirates movie; he, who was mainly a poetry, romance, tragic drama film maker. If you watch his filmography closely enough, you'll understand what I mean. No film noir, no western, no pure war movie, no adventure - except this one - no science fiction feature...Only romance and drama. Period. So, when I saw this one on the first time, I was astonished by the directing, acting and above all the ship battle sequences. I had never seen something like this before, in any pirates films: from Raoul walsh, Sidney Salkow - great specialists unlike Borzage - NEVER. The scenes of those gruesome battles are purely terrific, especially from this period 1945, where CGI was very discreet....ha ha ha And the photography is also outstanding. I don't even speak of Maureen O'Hara - the Red Headed, Scarlet O'Hara - who plays a role of a tough woman that would have been OK in any John Ford's film; Ford who was his Pygmalion....

As mentioned as a goof, the Barracuda's hands are tied, yes, but then the red jacket is just draped over him. (Likely to hide that he's tied up from other people/tavern goers in the area.) When the scene cuts back to him, he's struggling to get free of his fetters.

The Jacket could have easily fallen off him as he struggled. I'm color blind, but there looks to be two objects on the bridge next to him, one that looks like a jacket crumpled behind him to the far left.

It does look, however, that his right hand comes free when he's standing on the bridge--whoops!--then it looks like he shoves it back again.

Anyway, so I wouldn't say goof. At best, we just didn't see the jacket fall off. Apart from that, my only comment is that this film is okay. Not Maureen O'Hara's best work, sure, and not even her best pirate movie (watch Against All Flags instead), but it's enjoyable and worth a look.

Laurent van Horn (Paul Henreid) is the captain of the peaceful Dutch pilgrim ship, the Golden Maid, on their way to the Carolinas. The crew gets shipwrecked by a storm outside Spanish Cartagena. Don Juan Alvarado (Walter Slezak) sentences them to be indentured servants. Laurent escapes execution with other prisoners and they become pirates. Five years later, they capture Contessa Francisca Alvarado (Maureen O'Hara) on her way to an arranged marriage to the ruthless governor Alvarado.

It's an old Hollywood Technicolor swashbuckler. Paul Henreid is a good pilgrim type although he's no pirate. That may be part of the unusual aspect of this movie. Even with his open shirt showing a hairy chest, he can't escape his hairless face look. This does have the great redhead Maureen O'Hara. She does her best in this traditional role. She is good at being uppity as well as being feiry sweet. The action is old fashion swashbuckling on a fake ship set. The sea action is using miniatures. It's all very old Hollywood and Maureen O'Hara is easy to look at. She is the best part of this.

Something modern movies lack is fun. Even POTC. Except Why is the Rum Gone? oh well. If you need some fencing practice this is right up your alley.. As pirate movies go he really wasn't one. I'm being rather generous giving this a 7 of 10. Mainly because of the fun factor. The story is a jumble sometimes but the acting nails it. And even on dvd the colors look wow. Just a month before mom was born :)

Quality:6/10 Entertainment: 10/10 Re-Playable: 8/10

According to Maureen O'Hara in her memoirs RKO made The Spanish Main in order to capitalize on what 20th Century Fox did with The Black Swan in which she also starred. The results however were not nearly as good.

In the former film Maureen had the good fortune to co-star with Tyrone Power in one of his best swashbuckling roles. Later on RKO gave O'Hara a truly good swashbuckling leading man in Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in Sinbad The Sailor, but in this film her co-star is Paul Henreid whose swash doesn't buckle quite as well as Power or Fairbanks. Maureen didn't think so herself either.

Anyway Henreid is an honest potential colonist who is a Dutch refugee seeking a home in the British Carolinas when his ship is blown off course to Cartagena. The governor of Cartegena Walter Slezak promptly claps all the passengers in prison. Henreid is lucky to escape, but his time there twists him as prison does to most people.

Five years later and Henreid is the notorious Barracuda with the fastest ship on The Spanish Main. He's now in the capturing business and he manages to capture Maureen O'Hara the intended bride over from Spain for Slezak. It was one of those arranged things, she wouldn't have married him if she had seen and/or known Slezak.

She's not real keen on pirates either, but she warms up to Henreid after a fashion. That doesn't sit well with some of Paul's crew. namely Barton MacLane and John Emery. And it really doesn't sit well with the legendary female pirate Captain Anne Bonney played by Binnie Barnes who has a thing for Paul herself.

Those are the plot ingredients and The Spanish Main plays like a road company version of The Black Swan. Best in the cast is Binnie Barnes who has a real fire in her portrayal of Captain Bonney.

This was apparently RKO's big budget film for the year and it got an Oscar nomination for the color cinematography, the better to show off Maureen's red tresses. A lot of it is done tongue in cheek, maybe if the whole thing had been a satire, The Spanish Main might get a better rank from me.

Not Maureen Ohara's strongest role but she does play the fem fatal very well.This is a good family movie. Also being the first full color project by R.K.O. a very historical movie and they went with the queen of Technicolor for this very historical movie. Ohara's beauty along with her strong presence alone make this movie a must see for all.The love story love lost and found again makes for mild drama but a good story line. It is a shame that the ending the writer wanted at first could not be done but due to the cost it is understandable but with Ohara and Henreid is this film I feel it would have been Worth while.So sit down with the family with a Good coke and pop corn and watch an original action movie with a worth while story line.

Paul Henreid plays Van Horn a Dutch sailor shipwrecked off the coast of a Spanish settlement. The despicable governor of the colony (Walter Slezak) holds the crew and plans to sell them into slavery but sentences Van Horn to death but the crew escape.

Five years later, Van Horn is now a mysterious pirate sailing the ship, The Barracuda. He captures privileged Contessa Francisca Alvarado (Maureen O'Hara) who is on her way to marry governor even though she has never met him. He forces her into marriage with him. Over time both fall for each other as Van Horn is a gentle law abiding soul.

I saw a restored version of this movie as it looks glorious in colour, Henreid does not cut is as a pirate, O'Hara is beautiful and Slezak put in a scene stealing turn. There is a side plot with another female pirate tussling with Van Horn and Contessa but the story is too mundane.

I'm following pirate movies now. Its because of The second Depp pirate movie and its success — Success even by the Ted-o-meter in the way the environments are exploited. So I've been digging out movies featuring sailing ships and most of those are pirate movies.

This one follows the pattern set by "Black Pirate." I'm not sure if there is a strong precedent before that.

The setup is simple: you have a beautiful princess, strongwilled but privileged and arrogant (but a worthy soul). You have a pirate who forces himself on her, is rejected by our womanly prize, but she finally is "won." Sure, he is a murdering thief, but he was forced into it, you see, so his brutishness is a sort of honorable characteristic.

(Oh, she's a redhead.) Everything else is secondary to this spine, the idea of a man taking a woman and her eventually appreciating him, even though initially she finds herself in a violent, exploitive marriage.

A whole industry has been built around this notion, the idea of manliness, action and possession. So it must tap something in women. The appeal to men is easy to suss.

I saw this on a double feature with classic Bettie Page bondage films. A perfect fit, a tight knot.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Paul Henreid plays the part of Capt. Laurent Van Horn, a Dutchman who becomes involved in the high-stakes battle between Spain and England that occupied the entire western world. He is mistreated by the local Spanish powerbroker near Cartagena---Don Juan Alvarado---who is played with delicious villainy by Walter Slezak. As a result, Van Horn becomes a thorn in the side of the Spanish---not because of politics, but because he is a man of principle.

In fact, this is a film of principles, not politics. When Van Horn captures Alvarado's comely bride-to-be (Maureen O'Hara), he seems more concerned with her ethics than her beauty. Loyalty is the quality valued above all else in dealings among pirates or nobility, and the film focuses on the changing loyalties of its characters.

The film was nominated for best color cinematography and it is easy to see why. On the other hand, the use of models to depict the towering galleons of Spain and the more streamlined ships of the corsairs is obvious enough to destroy some of the illusion.

All of the lead actors are fun to watch. O'Hara's beauty, surrounded by masculinity, stands out even more. Henreid's character maintains a comic undercurrent that keeps the film light and enjoyable. He literally laughs in the face of danger. This is a unique pirate film that is worth seeing.