The Spanish Main

US (1945): Adventure/Romance

Here's a Technicolor swashbuckler (RKO's first color film) that neither buckles nor swashes. It's the sort of vehicle that Fox routinely mounted for Tyrone Power and Warners mounted for Errol Flynn. Paul Henreid is charming in the lead but is neither of these two matinee idols. The seven or eight sets do not strain the Art Director's imagination and the costumes' fabrics look pretty cheesy. Maureen O'Hara is her usual well-cast self as the fiery heroine in these situations, and Walter Slezak is properly sleazy as the villain. Binnie Barnes is pretty bad as the lead's former love interest.

The color cinematography earned an Oscar^® nomination but it's nothing special - probably more a nod of encouragement to RKO to continue in that vein than a recognition of achievement. The leaden and uninvolving script is from the otherwise brilliant Herman J. Mankiewicz. There is a good solid and rousing score by Hanns Eisler that tries in vain to breathe life into the goings-on. Frank Borzage directs. (Arne Andersen, IMDb)

 Use this link to view the original theatrical trailer for The Spanish Main on TCM.com.

1 nomination