Movie Reviews for The Sea Hawk

The Sea Hawk

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Movie Reviews of The Sea Hawk

Movie Review: Only missing ingredients: Technicolor and Olivia de Havilland...
Summary: 4 Stars

When Warner Bros. substituted BRENDA MARSHALL for Flynn's usual romantic interest they made a big mistake. Certainly she's pretty (in a remote sort of way with a facial expression carved in stone), but there's none of the usual back and forth wit and spirit that OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND always shared with Flynn. In other words, the spark of chemistry that made them such a memorable love team is completely missing here.

So is Technicolor. Hard to understand why the studio didn't back this investment (which cost a hefty sum at the time) with color photography which would have added so much richness to the story. As it is, the crisp B&W photography is handsome enough but with all those gorgeous sets and costumes, color is an ingredient that should have been seriously considered.

The story has its points of interest but exists mainly to showcase the athletic abilities of ERROL FLYNN and, presumably, most of the vigorous male cast. All with the exception of HENRY DANIELL who, although a fine screen villain, was not up to the requisite swordplay and had to be doubled for all the long shots. Basil Rathbone, where were you???

Capping the whole thing is a majestic score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold that is worthy of a far better film. But sea tales don't get much better than this and the studio backed their production with a wonderful ensemble cast that included WILLIAM LUNDIGAN, ALAN HALE, CLAUDE RAINS, FLORA ROBSON, JAMES STEPHENSON, UNA O'CONNOR and many, many more.

Summing up: It's a lusty tale of piracy on the high seas and lots of treachery afoot so that Errol Flynn can swing into action and save the day for God and Queen. Smooth sailing.

Movie Review: Thorpe's not Blood
Summary: 4 Stars

Korngold is still Korngold, but Brenda's not Olivia, and Daniell is definitely not Sir Basil. Although Flora is much better than Bette. All the old ingredients seem to be there, but somehow the cake isn't quite up to snuff. Curtiz seems a little exhausted, in spite of the standard trademark shadow-sword-swashing; perhaps it's just that Flynn can't quite take it seriously enough any more. Four swords against one is maybe a trifle over the top. Also, the film was over-budgeted, and the model ships still look like model ships. There are some interesting extras from the pundits on this disc, and Flora's message at the end comes across with some punch, but the reality of the Battle of Britain remains more vivid than any Hollywood hokum. Sorry, folks: I have to dock a star.

Movie Review: A new twist on Flynn
Summary: 4 Stars

This film used the same sets as the Private lives of elizabeth and essex, but had a new twist on things. Errol Flynn supporting actors Alan Hale, Claude Rains and Una O'Connar star in the Sea Hawk with Donald Crisp. Flynn comes back to the sea after Captain Blood, 5 years prior to the Sea Hawk and comes back with anew girl, Brenda Marshall. All Flynn fans, this is a surprisinf twist to any other Flynn film. Theres no Olivia De'Havilland. HOW DARE FLYNN KISS MARSHALL!! Theres no Bette Davis as the Queen, even though a year prior Flynn had played a love-bird to Elizabeth, and now he's done it agin with a different Elizabeth!
Wonderfully restored with original color-tinting.

A must have for Flynn, Rains, Michael Curtiz or sea-fearing lovers.

Movie Review: CAPTAIN BLOOD was better.
Summary: 4 Stars

Good film, but it doesn't come close to CAPTAIN BLOOD. First off you're missing Olivia de Havilland and that's a huge negative. Next I didn't like the story as much. Not just the story but the way it was written. Example during the first big battle scene Flynn's pirates are running around laughing and yelling like they're playing in the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese instead in life or death combat. And finally there was way too much humor - the Queen laughing at Flynn's rascally ways, the monkey continually tipping his hat - I want a pirate movie with a sense of danger not singing with an orchestral backup.