Captain Blood 4K 1935 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

Late 17th century England, civil wars are raging. Dr. Peter Blood is mistakenly identified as a rebel and sent into slavery on a Jamaican plantation. There, he quickly makes a deadly enemy in the form of the governor of Jamaica, Colonel Bishop, but wins the heart of his beautiful niece, Arabella. Peter and his friends manage to escape from the island by capturing a Spanish ship, and he soon becomes the most famous and successful pirate in the Caribbean. But neither sea battles nor treasure hunts can make the noble pirate forget the image of his beloved...

Review 4K Movie

I must say right away that I have not seen the Soviet film adaptation of the novel, but the book about the doctor who, by a twist of fate, became one of the most formidable pirates of the Caribbean Sea is one of my favorites, including the sequels to The Odyssey: The Chronicles of Captain Blood and Captain Blood's Luck. So I had something to compare the film with.

I'll start with the cast. Peter Blood turned out to be quite appealing, just as calm, reserved, and ironic as he was in the book: I won't nitpick about various details. Arabella, on the other hand, differs from her book counterpart, but to be honest, I liked her in the film. Besides, Olivia de Havilland is a very beautiful woman. The roles of the Governor of Jamaica and Colonel Bishop, Arabella's uncle, are memorable; Captain Levasseur turned out to be very vivid. Wolverstone, again, differs from the description in the book, at least in that he has both eyes intact: they could have at least put a patch over one eye!

Some characters are missing altogether, such as Admiral Don Miguel de Espinosa of the Spanish fleet, de Rivarol, Lord Julian Wade, and others, and the plot itself has been changed, apparently to keep the film within its running time. Governor D'Ogeron and his family have been completely omitted from the narrative. But the most serious mistake is the mention that Peter Blood attacked English ships. With his common sense and sharp mind, he could not fail to understand that the political situation in England would eventually change, King James would be replaced on the throne by someone else, and all the Englishmen sentenced to hard labor, including himself, could count on forgiveness. That is why Captain Blood did not attack ships flying the English flag or settlements of his compatriots, but took his revenge on all of humanity for injustice by wreaking havoc on the Spanish.

On the other hand, the love story between Peter Blood and Arabella has been exaggerated, with some new details and specifics added. Perhaps all of this is justified, but I think it will be difficult for someone unfamiliar with the book and the political situation in Europe at the end of the 17th century to understand everything.

On the other hand, everyone can enjoy the scenes of sea battles, the life of pirates, and a tender love story, sketched in the black and white tones of the cinema of the distant 1930s. It is difficult to say how the film was received at the time, but even now it is not without interest, mainly, perhaps, for readers and fans of Rafael Sabatini. It is a pity that there were only two attempts to adapt Captain Blood, this wonderful book, for the screen: with modern computer technology and the high interest in the “pirate” theme, it could turn out quite well.

Overall, I wasn't disappointed after watching the 105-minute film, although I may have expected something more. Still, this interesting and entertaining picture is only a shadow, a shaky reflection of the magnificent book, which I hope you have already read or will definitely read.