I love pirate movies especially with lots of galleons and period houses (1600s) set in ethereal far away places. This is probably my favorite movie but I prefer the 1944 version with Olivia deHaviland and Arturo Decordova.
I thought Anthony Delon was very credible and played his part sensitively. I am always grateful to the casting directors when they use native speakers or real musicians in a film. I am very sensitive to manufactured accents and someone whose fingers are flying all over the place hitting high notes on low keys and vice versa. Mr. Delon pacing was nice, I found myself becoming lost in his character but the shots were so short I frequently lost the connection. But he was quick to recover it and take you along for the ride. That's good acting.
I was disappointed in Lady St. Column. While Dona was used to the gaming houses she didn't like the company; this portrayal did not show Dona as a lady but closer to a street tart. When it came time for her to care about her children you didn't believe her; this portrayal was too cold and, in some instances, mechanical; I thought I was watching a stage play rehersal. I think Phoebe Cates would have been a better choice; she can act up a storm and she would have been an inspiring counter to Mr. Delon's efforts.
Also, "William" was flat and left me feeling uncomfortable. Support roles are just as important as the leads; they provide the credible ground to launch the other characters. (Look at Mathew Broderick in LadyHawke; with all of the heavies in that picture, he walked off with the show.) All I could think of was the butler from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Also, I think the character of Henrietta was allowed to get away from the overall control of the picture; because she was so strident, too much so for her age, she was upstaging the picture and it was annoying.
Penultimately, I would like to see a version where Dona goes to sea; I'm tired of politically correct; let's have the real ending.
I am glad to see, though, that there is still an interest in this story. I am always glad to watch this tale being told again and again.
