Movie Reviews for The Black Swan

The Black Swan

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Movie Reviews of The Black Swan

Movie Review: The Black Swan
Summary: 3 Stars

The Black Swan is a fast paced swashbuckler that will keep you entertained as far as the action is concerned. It's the between moments that cause the film not to reach greater heights. The Black Swan is directed by Henry King who was a dependable director, at times elevating his films over the ordinary. The Black Swan suffers because of its pacing, it's too fast & most of the characters don't develop sufficiently.

Capt. Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power) is a pirate & has been captured by the English.The English have taken an interest in stopping the pirates because they have signed a peace treaty with the Spanish. Waring is on the rack about to suffer his doom. His torturer is the Governor of Jamaica, Lord Denby (George Zucco). Waring is rescued by his friend, Tommy Blue (Thomas Mitchell).

Denby is replaced as Governor with another pirate, Henry Morgan (Laird Cregar). The English have decided the best way to stop the pirates is to put a pirate on their trail. Morgan convinces most of the pirates to go legitimate. Capt. Leech (George Sanders) is the exception who decides to continue his piracy.

Along the way Waring encounters Denby's daughter, Margaret (Maureen O'Hara). Waring falls in love with Margaret but the feeling isn't mutual. She's betrothed to Roger Ingram (Edward Ashley) who, on the surface, appears to be a better man than Waring. But Ingram is the man behind the scenes who has struck a deal with Leech informing him of where the treasure ships will be. This causes Morgan's governorship to be in jeopardy because the pirates are succeeding while his men aren't.

Waring ends up kidnapping Margaret & taking her away on his ship. This angers Morgan. Furthermore, it appears that Waring has switched sides joining up with Leech.

The Black Swan is a fun movie that moves along crisply. The problem is that the characters are mostly cardboard. Morgan is all bluster speaking loudly most of the time. Anthony Quinn (Wogan) is totally wasted in a small role. Power is in fine form, he & Leech have a great duel though some of it is sped up. Sanders is fine as Leech. Maureen O'Hara is basically the obligatory female lead. O'Hara isn't the problem though, it's the character. She can't stand Waring, she agrees to help save their hides & then abruptly falls in love with him.

"I like to sip the wine before I buy it." is said by Waring & Margaret; Waring when he kidnaps her & by Margaret when she falls in love with him at the end.

The picture quality is great with vivid colors. It's shown in the full screen ratio (1.33:1). There are four audio tracks: English Mono, English Stereo, French Mono & Spanish Mono. There's also an audio commentary track with Maureen O'Hara & Rudy Behlmer. Subtitles are in English & Spanish.

Movie Review: Great film, transfer not up to other Fox classics
Summary: 3 Stars

Irresistible hogwash from the golden days of these swashbuckler films. In many ways, more satisfying than "Pirates of the Carribean" since this film is slightly more grounded in a recognizable reality, and is therefore somehow more accessible. The Technicolor photography, which was one of the film's many assets, receives much attention on this DVD, with Maureen O'Hara's commentary discussing the technique and the film's use of it. But the transfer here isn't up to snuff: some scenes are soft, and the color is subdued and muddy ocassionally. It's not a bad transfer, but certainly not as sharp as Fox's "Leave Her to Heaven," or "Blood and Sand". Still, for fans of Power, O'Hara, or the underrated Laird Cregar, an entertaining and physically lavish production worth more than one viewing. Old Hollywood the way it used to be, when opulent production values and sincere casts made such nonsense a real treat.

Movie Review: A Good Swashbuckler
Summary: 3 Stars

THE BLACK SWAN(1942)---Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Laird Cregar, Thomsa Mitchell, George Sanders, Anthony Quinn, George Zucco
An "all out" swashbuckler starring Tyrone Power "swashing and buckling" all over the place. Filmed in beautiful Technicolor. Maureen O'Hara is stunning as the "love interest" for Power. Thomas Mitchell plays an incorrigible, but lovable, "buccaneer", a la Long John Silver! George Sanders gives a good performance as a "brigand", and Laird Cregar and George Zucco play English noblemen/government officials plagued by Power and his band of "rowdies". If you like "swashbucklers", then this film is one you'll enjoy---it's a lot of fun!

Movie Review: Yes, he's a worm...
Summary: 3 Stars

If you've seen Tyrone Power in "A Yank in the RAF" you'll recognize my review title--and, unfortunately, Power's character in this film, as well. Not as good as some in the genre, although there are moments when Power shows more of his ability. Maureen O'Hara is as good as ever, though. The film also suffers from poor plotting, unlike the book, and seems truncated--I suspect too many scenes were left on the cutting room floor, and as a result, character development suffers. A shame, as both the primary and secondary cast are capable of much more. Anthony Quinn has a part as a very minor character, but even with about three lines, his future greatness is obvious.