I viewed this recently. I thought I had never seen this before but some scenes I did remember that I must have seen as a boy. I recalled I was hearing Peck speaking French as an English naval officer but there were no subtitles.
Raoul Walsh presented Peck as the stern but wise commander actually not too far different than the character Greg played in the then recent TWELE O'CLOCK HIGH. This was also a beautifully mounted color film that was not the normal case for this time period. Great scenery and action sequences.
However, there is a lack of depth in the characters. The tribal king who revolts against Spain is an one note character. Peck is cordial but barely hides his contempt for such a man. When he frees Virginia Mayo who was held captive with Spanish officers, he gives a loud clearing of his throat that becomes a running gag throughout.
He has two officers who wager on his exact words which make a bit one note as well. The joke just isn't that funny enough.
I'm really not spoiling anything by letting people know that he will be victorious and win Mayo's heart in the end in spite of the fact both are married to others when they first meet.
Peck also has an unusual sword fight that also retained in my memory as a boy. He wins only by sheer luck and hopes he will never use his sword for such purpose again.
Perhaps it is as a boy one should watch this. However, the implied superiority of the white man and more specific the English man I did find a bit insidious.
But generally, more pluses than minuses in this one.
Raoul Walsh presented Peck as the stern but wise commander actually not too far different than the character Greg played in the then recent TWELE O'CLOCK HIGH. This was also a beautifully mounted color film that was not the normal case for this time period. Great scenery and action sequences.
However, there is a lack of depth in the characters. The tribal king who revolts against Spain is an one note character. Peck is cordial but barely hides his contempt for such a man. When he frees Virginia Mayo who was held captive with Spanish officers, he gives a loud clearing of his throat that becomes a running gag throughout.
He has two officers who wager on his exact words which make a bit one note as well. The joke just isn't that funny enough.
I'm really not spoiling anything by letting people know that he will be victorious and win Mayo's heart in the end in spite of the fact both are married to others when they first meet.
Peck also has an unusual sword fight that also retained in my memory as a boy. He wins only by sheer luck and hopes he will never use his sword for such purpose again.
Perhaps it is as a boy one should watch this. However, the implied superiority of the white man and more specific the English man I did find a bit insidious.
But generally, more pluses than minuses in this one.
