The Sea Hawk (1940)

THE SEA HAWK (1940)

By Ralph Santini - ****

Ingeniously fast-paced and remarkably exciting, the 1940 pirate film “The Sea Hawk” is one the finest of its genre ever. It is the 10^th film Errol Flynn made with director Michael Curtiz on account of their contract with Warner Bros. and it is another winner all the way along with “Captain Blood” and “The Adventures Of Robin Hood”, in fact, these three are the top of those 12 films. This time Flynn is cast as an English privateer whose mission is, in his “own way, protect and serve the Queen of England”. The plot’s conflict concerns that during the year 1585 the ruthless King Phillip of Spain wants to occupy England in order that his country can be the dominant empire of the world and that is causing heavy caution with Queen Elizabeth of England (an excellent portrayal by Flora Robson), however Her Majesty refuses to let her navy officials to build a fleet against because of her concerns with her country’s people.

Although the film’s title is “The Sea Hawk” which is coincidentally the name of a Rafael Sabatini novel and it was the basis for other film adaptations by the author these two works have nothing in common except the title. This is basically an original screenplay by Seton I. Miller and Howard W. Koch whom the former also wrote other exciting Errol Flynn’s films (including the definitive swashbuckler “The Adventures Of Robin Hood”). This film I have to say is just as brilliant as “The Adventures Of Robin Hood” because, I think, it has the same wit and the same excitement as that film.  

Continuing with the plot analysis, Phillip (Montagu Love) sends diplomat Don Alvarez (Claude Rains) as his ambassador to England along with his beautiful niece (Brenda Marshall) with her maid Martha (Una O’Connor) on a voyage on the Maria Eulelia with Captain Lopez (Gilbert Roland) in command. Suddenly the ship is assaulted by an English pirate ship, The Albatross commanded by Captain Geoffrey Thorpe (Flynn) ordering his men to fire upon the Eulelia after Captain Lopez refuses to lower his flag, thus leading them to the Spanish ship’s assault and attack against its Spanish sailors who had captuered English sailors in its galley ordered by the inquisition. All of this leads from another mission by Thorpe and his men invading Panama without the Queen’s approval which might become eventually risky for our heroes. The film was only nominated for four Academy Awards in 1941 for its best art direction for the Black and White category, sound recording, special effects and even the extremely memorable score by the one and only Erich Wolfgang Korngold. It was truly a pity Korngold did not win the award because the score, I think, is one of the finest in film history. It identifies the film very well and it defines this witty gem quite perfectly. What was also unfair was the Oscar® loss for the equally unfaltering art direction because I found it especially exquisite, particularly for a Black and White photographed Swashbuckler.

I can’t give away any spoilers and especially not the ending but I will tell you this, the film also contains one of the most winning fight scenes ever between Errol Flynn and Henry Daniell, who plays an English traitor to the Queen of England. It is by far one of the very best swordfights in a swashbuckler which is one the main reasons this film is just as incomparable as “The Adventures Of Robin Hood”. Much like that film, it is a perfect candidate for a tie-in as the finest swashbuckler ever made.

Everything about “The Sea Hawk” is great, including the action, the adventure, the humor, the combat, the romance, the conflict, just about everything. I think this is not only Errol Flynn’s second finest Swashbuckler but also among one his finest films ever. It is absolutely compelling and wonderfully inspiring with all the great talent Hollywood ever used of all time. It is also one of Hollywood’s best adventures ever told that’ll put its audience in awe. Don’t miss it.