Yo ho ho...it's the Pirate's life for me!
Yes, i loved Johhny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. But when I think of pirate movies, the first one that comes to mind is the one I have loved since my childhood: Captain Blood.
Made in 1935 and directed by Michael Curtiz, it stars Basil Rathbone, Olivia de Haviland, and Errol Flynn in the film that not only made him an action star but gave him the vehicle to set the bar pretty high for swashbuckers. The Adventures of Robin Hood, perhaps his most notable role, didn't come along for another three years.
Flynn plays Peter Blood, an Irishman and a doctor. Being non-political, he treats an enemy of the crown and is arrested for his compassionate act. Shipped off to the West Idies, he is sold into slavery where he is bought by de Haviland. Becoming a pirate, he teams up with Basil Rathbone for a short time, but goes off on his own to win battles, his freedom, and the heart of his true love.
Look for great swordplay (Rathbone was an expert and actually taught many stars to fence), rousing battles at sea, broadside, boardings, and romance. This is a great action-adventure even after all these decades.
Skip the colorized version and stick to the original in glorious back and white.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026174/
Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland star in this rousing action adventure film from 1936...another collaboration between Flynn and director Michael Curtiz.
