105 Must See Films: Captain Blood (1935)

Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland

Director: Michael Curtiz

A swashbuckling romance in which a good English doctor (Flynn) is mistaken for a traitor and sold into white slavery in Jamaica. When he is bought by the beautiful daughter of a local colonel (De Havilland), his skills as a physician come to light, but as soon as he gets the chance, he escapes to become the pirate known as Captain Blood.

The romance is complicated between the two, as Blood hates being in debt to Arabella, and she can’t be with a man whose immoral. They both have too much pride to admit their feelings, and their chemistry is delightful.

Why is it a must see? This film combines something of the witty dialogue of screwball comedies with an adventure plot and bodice ripping romance. It has it all. Flynn was a huge sex symbol in his time, and here he gets to show off his good looks, adventurous nature and his fighting skills, as well as his ability to deliver a one liner in one of his earliest roles. De Havilland is delightful as the woman who inspires and frustrates him in equal measure. This pairing was one that would go on to delight audiences in many more films.

See It If: you like pirates, old costume dramas or if you’ve never seen Flynn before, it’s one of his best.