In the mid-thirties films like "Treasure Island" and "The Prisoner of Zenda", not to mention "The Count of Monte Christo", had revived the swashbuckler genre in Hollywood. A fact that the executives at Warner Bros had noticed. They already owned the rights to "Captain Blood", and now decided to turn the book into a film. The role of Blood was offered to Robert Donat, known as British cinema's one undisputed romantic leading man at the time.
The film begins in 17th-century England. A young doctor is accused of treason and deported to the Caribbean. There he manages to escape, and instead establishes himself as the leader of a band of rough-and-tumble pirates. He also meets love in the form of the beautiful niece of a local military commander.
But the production hit problems right away. Robert Donat, who was offered the lead role, suffered from chronic asthma. After reading the script, he consulted his doctor, and together they assessed that the movie's action sequences would be too strenuous for him. So the British actor was a no-show.
With Robert Donat out of the picture, Warner Bros was desperate to find another lead for their film. On the advice of director Michael Curtiz, a completely unknown Australian actor called Errol Flynn was hired. Granted, the man had never been in a major film before, but at least he looked the part. And the bet paid off. The day "Captain Blood" opened in New York City, Flynn became a superstar.
Errol Flynn was not the only one to have a big breakthrough in "Captain Blood". 19-year-old Olivia de Havilland (sister of Joan Fontaine) also had her first leading role in the movie. Together with her new partner Flynn she would appear in eight more popular adventure films. Most of them directed by Michael Curtiz.
The film begins in 17th-century England. A young doctor is accused of treason and deported to the Caribbean. There he manages to escape, and instead establishes himself as the leader of a band of rough-and-tumble pirates. He also meets love in the form of the beautiful niece of a local military commander.
But the production hit problems right away. Robert Donat, who was offered the lead role, suffered from chronic asthma. After reading the script, he consulted his doctor, and together they assessed that the movie's action sequences would be too strenuous for him. So the British actor was a no-show.
With Robert Donat out of the picture, Warner Bros was desperate to find another lead for their film. On the advice of director Michael Curtiz, a completely unknown Australian actor called Errol Flynn was hired. Granted, the man had never been in a major film before, but at least he looked the part. And the bet paid off. The day "Captain Blood" opened in New York City, Flynn became a superstar.
Errol Flynn was not the only one to have a big breakthrough in "Captain Blood". 19-year-old Olivia de Havilland (sister of Joan Fontaine) also had her first leading role in the movie. Together with her new partner Flynn she would appear in eight more popular adventure films. Most of them directed by Michael Curtiz.