In the early 1960s Italian film producers churned out a ton of so called "sword and sandal" Hercules, muscleman type movies.....Hercules, Samson and Goliath type movies that packed American movie houses. After much success with these gladiator/Hercules movies, Italian film producers decided to make a few pirate movies also. They changed the pace of history a bit and came up with two very good pirate tales in "Guns of the Black Witch" with Don Megowan and "Morgan the Pirate" with Steve (Mr. Hercules, himself) Reeves.......then a good idea came up to cast the true son of Earl Flynn, Sean Flynn in "The Son of Captain Blood" in another pirate tale. As pirate tales go this one is pretty good considering a poor cast and a very inexperienced Sean Flynn in the lead role. Flynn, very young and handsome is the son of the legendary Captain Blood and sets sail for the seven seas......along the way he is captured by a band of pirates and flogged. Amusing scene as he is being flogged by pirate captain....after turning around after much whipping there is not one scratch on his back!!! Then mysteriously after being put in a hole on the ship a pirate deckmate becomes his friend without much explanation and frees him to overtake the pirate ship. Flynn then after taking over the pirate ship sets sail and captures a few Spanish ships. Along the way the very lovely Allessandro Panaro becomes Flynn's love interest. The plot of this movie is pretty good but the supporting cast behind Flynn is weaker than ten day old water. Ann Todd as Flynn's mother plays a solid role as a wise lady plantation owner. At the end of the film as Flynn and his pirates return to Port Royal, a hurricane destroys much of the island. Some pretty good special effects with the hurricane as miniature sets are destroyed. A very good scene also with Flynn in a thrilling sword fight in a tavern with rival pirate captain. For my money looking at the lovely Allesandro Panara is worth watching the film for me. This is not a bad pirate movie but it is not in a league with "Morgan the Pirate" with the immortal Steve (Mr. Hercules, himself) Reeves. This film was intended for a young audience in its time and it will not disappoint teenage and a little older ladies who would ogle at the handsome Flynn. Flynn shows surprisingly a good bought of swordfighting in several scenes. Not a bad pirate tale at all.
