Sea Hawk (1940)

"...high adventure and spectacle...  At-A-Glance Film Reviews

Editor's Note The heart-pounding tone of Michael Curtiz's classic swashbuckling adventure THE SEA HAWK is established moments after the opening credits, when 16th century British pirate captain Geoffrey Thorpe (Errol Flynn) leads a thrilling raid on the galleon of a Spanish ambassador. When the roiling, chaotic clash is over, Thorpe's men have captured the ambassador and Thorpe has learned the Spanish are planning to wage war against England. He rushes home to warn Queen Elizabeth (Flora Robson), only to find that certain powerful members of the Queen's court, concerned with his pirating tactics (and pursuing their own selfish agendas) have ordered Thorpe be put on trial. THE SEA HAWK, based a novel by Raphael Sabatini, joyously punctuates the scenes involving complicated political intrigue with several cataclysmic sea battles that rank among the best ever committed to celluloid. The film, which garnered three Academy Award nominations, features a spirited performance from Flynn that ranks among his best.

	Alan Hale
	Brenda Marshall
	Claude Rains
	Donald Crisp
	Errol Flynn
	Flora Robson
	Gilbert Roland
	Henry Daniell
	Una O'Connor
	Erich Wolfgang Korngold - Musical Score
	Hal B. Wallis - Producer
	Howard Koch - Screenplay
	Michael Curtiz - Director
	Rafael Sabatini - Based on Novel By
	Sol Polito - Cinematographer

USA Today
"Flora Robson is the screen's best Elizabeth ever..." 04/29/2005 p.2E

Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide 9 of 10
...Flynn at his dashing best... lively balance of piracy, romance, and swordplay, handsomely photogr

The Motion Picture Guide 9 of 10
Everything worked here, thanks to the studio's great facilities and the superior technical and creat