SYNOPSICS
The Spanish Main (1945) is a English movie. Frank Borzage has directed this movie. Paul Henreid,Maureen O'Hara,Walter Slezak,Binnie Barnes are the starring of this movie. It was released in 1945. The Spanish Main (1945) is considered one of the best Adventure,Drama,Romance movie in India and around the world.
Laurent van Horn is the leader of a band of Dutch refugees on a ship seeking freedom in the Carolinas, when the ship is wrecked on the coast of Cartagene, governed by Don Juan Alvardo, Spainish ruler. Alvarado has Laurent thrown in prison, but the latter escapes, and five-years later is a pirate leader. He poses as the navigator on a ship in which Contessa Francesca, daughter of a Mexican noble, is traveling on her way to marry Alvarado, whom she has never seen. Laurent's pirates capture the ship and Francesca, in order to save another ship, gives her hand-in-marriage to Laurent, who sails her to the pirate hideout. This irks the jealous Anne Bonney and, also, Captain Benjamin Black, who was already irked, anyway. They overpower Laurent and send Francesca to Alvarado, and then Mario du Billar, trusted right-hand man, makes a deal to deliver Laurent to Alvarado too.
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The Spanish Main (1945) Reviews
THE Spanish MAIN (Frank Borzage, 1945) ***
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!
swashbuckler
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
Maureen O'Hara this time with Paul Henreid.
I really must say how much i enjoy this movie a great deal. It has the gorgeous Paul Henreid as the romantic hero and Beautiful Maureen O'Hara ( as two reviewers are clearly blind for one, in Hollywood of the 1940's women always looked older due to the amount of makeup and hairstyles they have and for the second, manly Jaw i have yet to see anything manly about Maureen O'Hara in any of her films. Rude just Rude.) I am now finished with my rant only to say how much i adore this movie and Walter Slezak as the baddie he always seemed to play in films of the 4o's.If Swashbuckle films of the 1930's and 1940's are your thing them make sure to check this out.
In this genre it is a fine film to be enjoyed.
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.
Buckle My Swash!!
What fun!! Get some popcorn (or nachos in this day and age) and just hunker down for a evening of fun and romance. Maureen O'Hara at her red-haired best as the aristocratic lady, and Paul Henreid the swashbuckling pirate have a merry romp in this film. The villainous Walter Slezak is so very good being bad. All in all, for this type of film from 1945, a pleasure to watch. It all comes out in the end with a beautiful sunset, the lovers together and all is well as the music rises. What more can you ask for an hour and a half of your time?