The Black Swan (film)
Encyclopedia
The Black Swan is a 1942 swashbuckler
Technicolor
film by Henry King
, based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini
, and starring Tyrone Power
and Maureen O'Hara
. It was nominated for three Academy Awards
, and won one for Best Cinematography, Color
.
(Laird Cregar
) decides to reform. As a reward, he is made Governor of Jamaica, with a mandate to rid the Caribbean
of his former comrades, by persuasion or force if necessary. He replaces the former governor, Lord Denaby (George Zucco
), but is not trusted by either the lawful residents or the pirates.
Captain Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power
) and his lieutenant, Tom Blue (Thomas Mitchell
), reluctantly give up their "trade" out of friendship with Morgan, but others of the Pirate Brotherhood, such as Captain Billy Leech (George Sanders
) and Wogan (Anthony Quinn
), refuse to change. Meanwhile, Waring takes a liking to Denby's daughter, Lady Margaret (Maureen O'Hara
), who happens to be inconveniently engaged to an English gentleman, Roger Ingram (Edward Ashlei). As it turns out, her fiancé is secretly providing information about ship sailings to the unrepentant pirates.
When Morgan is unable to stop the depredations of his old shipmates, he is suspected of still being allied with them. It is up to Waring to set sail to get to the bottom of things (kidnapping Lady Margaret in the process so she can get to know him better).
Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler or swasher is a term that emerged in the 16th century and has been used for rough, noisy and boastful swordsmen ever since. A possible explanation for this term is that it derives from a fighting style using a side-sword with a buckler in the off-hand, which was applied with much...
Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
film by Henry King
Henry King (director)
Henry King was an American film director.Before coming to film, King worked as an actor in various repertoire theatres, and first started to take small film roles in 1912. He directed for the first time in 1915, and grew to become one of the most commercially successful Hollywood directors of the...
, based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini
Rafael Sabatini
Rafael Sabatini was an Italian/British writer of novels of romance and adventure.-Life:Rafael Sabatini was born in Iesi, Italy, to an English mother and Italian father...
, and starring Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power
Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. , usually credited as Tyrone Power and known sometimes as Ty Power, was an American film and stage actor who appeared in dozens of films from the 1930s to the 1950s, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads such as in The Mark of Zorro, Blood and Sand, The Black Swan,...
and Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
. It was nominated for three Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, and won one for Best Cinematography, Color
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture.-History:...
.
Plot
After England and Spain make peace, notorious pirate Henry MorganHenry Morgan
Admiral Sir Henry Morgan was an Admiral of the Royal Navy, a privateer, and a pirate who made a name for himself during activities in the Caribbean, primarily raiding Spanish settlements...
(Laird Cregar
Laird Cregar
-Early life and career:Samuel Laird Cregar was the youngest of six sons of Edward Matthews Cregar, a cricketer and member of a team called the Gentlemen of Philadelphia. They toured internationally in the late 1890s and early 1900s...
) decides to reform. As a reward, he is made Governor of Jamaica, with a mandate to rid the Caribbean
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
of his former comrades, by persuasion or force if necessary. He replaces the former governor, Lord Denaby (George Zucco
George Zucco
George Desylla Zucco was an English character actor who appeared, almost always in supporting roles, in 96 films during a career spanning two decades, from 1931 to 1951. He is fondly remembered for his roles in classic horror films.-Early life:Zucco was born in Manchester, England...
), but is not trusted by either the lawful residents or the pirates.
Captain Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power
Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. , usually credited as Tyrone Power and known sometimes as Ty Power, was an American film and stage actor who appeared in dozens of films from the 1930s to the 1950s, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads such as in The Mark of Zorro, Blood and Sand, The Black Swan,...
) and his lieutenant, Tom Blue (Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell (actor)
Thomas Mitchell was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter. Among his most famous roles in a long career are those of Gerald O'Hara, the father of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, the drunken Doc Boone in John Ford's Stagecoach, and Uncle Billy in It's a Wonderful Life...
), reluctantly give up their "trade" out of friendship with Morgan, but others of the Pirate Brotherhood, such as Captain Billy Leech (George Sanders
George Sanders
George Sanders was a British actor.George Sanders may also refer to:*George Sanders , Victoria Cross recipient in World War I...
) and Wogan (Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
), refuse to change. Meanwhile, Waring takes a liking to Denby's daughter, Lady Margaret (Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
), who happens to be inconveniently engaged to an English gentleman, Roger Ingram (Edward Ashlei). As it turns out, her fiancé is secretly providing information about ship sailings to the unrepentant pirates.
When Morgan is unable to stop the depredations of his old shipmates, he is suspected of still being allied with them. It is up to Waring to set sail to get to the bottom of things (kidnapping Lady Margaret in the process so she can get to know him better).
Other cast
- George Zucco as Lord Denby
- Edward Ashley as Roger Ingram (uncredited)
- Bonnie Bannon as Lady in waiting in the courtroom (uncredited)
- Fortunio BonanovaFortunio BonanovaFortunio Bonanova is the pseudonym of Josep Lluís Moll , who was a baritone singer and a film, theater, and television actor...
as Don Miguel (uncredited) - John BurtonJohn Burton (actor)John Burton is a British stage and television actor.John has appeared in numerous productions throughout the UK, including West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, An Inspector Calls, Outside Edge, They Don’t Grow on Trees, Confusions, Bells Are Ringing, Cabaret, Me and My Girl, How to...
as Capt. Blaine (uncredited) - Rita Christiani as Dancer (uncredited)
- Helene CostelloHelene CostelloHelene Costello was an American motion picture actress, most notably of the silent film era.Lou Costello took his professional name from the actress.- Biography :...
as Woman (uncredited) - Bryn Davis as Woman (uncredited)
- William Edmunds as Town Crier (uncredited)
- Charles Francis as Capt. Higgs (uncredited)
- Willie Fung as Chinese Cook (uncredited)
- Jody Gilbert as Fat Woman with Tommy (uncredited)
- Arthur Gould-Porter as Assemblyman (uncredited)
- Keith Hitchcock as Majordomo (uncredited)
- Olaf HyttenOlaf HyttenOlaf Hytten was a Scottish film actor. He appeared in over 280 films between 1921 and 1955.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and died in Los Angeles, California from a heart attack...
as Clerk Reading Proclamation (uncredited) - Boyd IrwinBoyd IrwinBoyd Irwin was an English film actor. He appeared in 135 films between 1915 and 1948.He was born in Brighton, East Sussex and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* The Fatal Sign...
as Assemblyman (uncredited) - Charles Irwin as Sea Captain (uncredited)
- George Kirby as Assemblyman (uncredited)
- Frank Leigh as Sea Captain (uncredited)
- Cyril McLaglen as Capt. Jones (uncredited)
- Charles McNaughton as Mr. Fenner (uncredited)
- Clarence MuseClarence MuseClarence Muse was an actor, screenwriter, director, composer, and lawyer. He was inducted in the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973. Muse was the first African American to "star" in a film. He acted for more than sixty years, and appeared in more than 150 movies.-Life and career:Born in...
as Margaret's Servant (uncredited) - Stuart Robertson as Capt. Graham (uncredited)
- C. Montague ShawC. Montague ShawCharles Montague Shaw was an Australian character actor, often appearing in small supporting parts in more than 150 films....
as Assemblyman (uncredited) - Arthur ShieldsArthur ShieldsArthur Shields was an Irish stage and film actor.Born into an Irish Protestant family in Portobello, Dublin, he started acting in the Abbey Theatre when still a young man. He was the younger brother of Oscar-winning actor Barry Fitzgerald. An Irish nationalist, he fought in the Easter Rising of...
as The Bishop (uncredited) - David Thursby as Sea Captain (uncredited)
- Frederick Worlock as Speaker of Assembly (uncredited)
DVD release
- The DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
version of the film contains commentary by star Maureen O'HaraMaureen O'HaraMaureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
with film critic Rudy BehlmerRudy BehlmerRudy Behlmer is an American film historian and writer. Born and raised in San Francisco, California, he is an expert in the history and evolution of the motion picture industry....
.