Review of The Sea Hawk (1940) by Nick F — 24 Feb 2010
Errol Flynn was never better in black & white in his best pirate teaming with director Micheal Curtiz. The production is top-notch with Fx that honestly still hold up as well as a production design that is marvelous to look at.
This is especially so because of the great direction by Curtiz who adds some very kinetic camerawork for this time. Also the use of foreground objects in man y establishing shots lends the movie a near 3D quality.
The switch to sepia once Flynn and crew movie to the New World is a bold and exciting choice and adds considerable excitement to the images onscreen. The final sword duel is shot with an amazing eye for shadow and using it to enhance the scene.
The way in which both swordsmen shadows play against the vast wall of the map room is breathtaking. The cast is perfect, with Flynn at his most dashing and Claude Rains adding depth to a character who could have been very one-dimensional.
This is one of the best pirate...nay, one of the best adventure movies filmed.
This review of The Sea Hawk (1940) was written by Nick F on 24 Feb 2010.
The Sea Hawk has generally received very positive reviews.
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