Captain Kidd [Charles Laughton]

Captain Kidd (1945) starring Charles Laughton, John Carradine, Randolph Scott, Gilbert Roland, Barbara Britton, Henry Daniell

In this unhistorical account, Captain Kidd is already a clever, ruthless pirate when, in 1699, he tricks the king into commissioning him as escort for a treasure ship from India.

Review

Frankly, Captain Kidd is a very enjoyable movie. Charles Laughton plays the villain with gusto. He’s driven not only by a desire for wealth. But also for a position in English society. He wants, in payment for escorting a treasure ship from India, a title and lands. Those things used to belong to a man that, unknown to the king, he’s murdered while a pirate. He hires a gentleman’s gentleman, to teach him court manners. But, beneath that exterior, is a cold-hearted, cruel, manipulative monster. A man who’s very good at scheming …

He recruits a crew of former pirates. “Former” only due to the fact that they’re in prison, waiting to be executed for piracy. So, he offers them clemency in exchange for their service. But … several of them he plans to murder along the way. Either because they know he’s the pirate Captain Kidd, or because he doesn’t want to have to share the booty from previous piracy with his “partners”.

There is a fly in the ointment, however, named Adam Mercy. He speaks more like a gentleman than a pirate. And Kidd suspects him of being a spy, sent by the king.

Cast of characters

• Charles Laughton (Les Miserables, Island of Lost Souls) as Captain William Kidd.
• Randolph Scott (Follow the Fleet) as Adam Mercy
• Barbara Britton (Champagne for Caesar) as Lady Anne Dunstan
• John Carradine (Five Came Back) as Orange Povey
• Gilbert Roland (The Big Circus) as Jose Lorenzo
• John Qualen (Blondie on a Budget) as Bartholomew Blivens
• Sheldon Leonard as Cyprian Boyle
• William Farnum (The Mummy’s Curse) as Capt. Rawson
• Henry Daniell (The Body Snatcher) as King William III
• Reginald Owen (The Pirate) as Cary Shadwell

Product Description of Captain Kidd

Famous 17th century pirate Captain William Kidd comes to vibrant life in the hands of Charles
Laughton in the high seas swash-buckler Captain Kidd. Kidd tricks King William III (Henry Daniel) into appointing him the protector of a ship loaded with valuable treasure. He intends to steal the cargo for himself, which he does with the aid of his devious lieutenants (portrayed by Gilbert Roland and John Carradine). Adam Merry (Randolph Scott and kidnapped noblewoman Lady Ann Falconer (Barbara Britton) help bring Kidd to justice at the end of a rope. Werner Janssen’s music for this seafaring adventure received a 1945 Academy Award® nomination for “Best
Musical Score.”