Matt's Big Oscar Challenge Day Nine: There will be Blood

The first DVD I watch to give me a complete view of a 1930s cinematic experience is the one for Captain Blood. This one has a lot of elements that were similar to The Adventures of Robin Hood, director Michael Curtiz and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland and Basil Rathbone. However Captain Blood was made three years previously to Robin Hood, sees Flynn in his first leading role and his first of six screen collobarations with De Havilland. The main problem I had with Captain Blood is that we have to buy the fact that Flynn is a doctor at least for the first part of the movie. After treating a man involved in the rebellions against James II Flynn is forced into slavery and whilst in the Caribbean comandeers a pirate ship that has rocked up to pilage the governor's land. Meanwhile Blood has fallen for the niece of a wealthy lanlord who has designs on being governer but double crosses her for a life of piracy. From here it is usual Errol Flynn territory swashbuckling and a sword fight plus a quick appearance from Rahtbone as a French pirate who wants to have De Havilland's character for himself. The finale is a high octane fight as the British fight the French for supremacy as Blood is happy that William of Orange is now in the throne. This is a very much us and them film as the aristocracy are portrayed as fancy clothes wearing cowards and the rebels are portayed as hardworking, loyal and brave. Flynn is a captivating lead even in his early films and his chemistry with De Havilland is winning and it is easy to see why he was paired with her time and time again. As previously mentioned the DVD comes with a newsreel and a cartoon and gives the idea that this kind of cinema was pure escapism for the American depression era as the crowds would get to cheer on Flynn and boo the villians.

In terms of Oscar success this was nominated in the 1936 ceremony, I don't think it is as accomplished as the other film I have already watched from that year - Top Hat but it is still a pretty well made film. In fact it was nominated for five Oscars - Curtiz's direction of course is one of them as is picture alongside script (a bit dubious) and sound recording and music the former sounds ropey by today's standards but obviously was advanced at the time and the latter was a brilliant accompaniment to the swashbuckling adventures of Flynn and co. Despite being nominated it won nothing which is a shame as this was obviously the early forerunner to the big screen action blockbuster that we know today.