[FilmReview]TheBlackSwan(1942)6.5/10

AHollywoodswashbucklerinTechnicolor,setintheSpanishMainwhenthecolonialconflictbetweenSpainandBritainsubsides,theinfamouspirateHenryMorgan(Cregar)proselytizeshimselfandismadeGovernorofJamaica,supplantingLordDenby(Zucco),whosedaughterLadyMargaret(O’Hara)catchestheeyesofoneofMorgan’scronies,thevaliantex-pirateJamieWaring(Power).Morgan’srulingisunderminedbyboththeobdurateCaptainBillyLeech(Sanders)whorefusestorelinquishhismaraudingvocation,andLordDenby’saccusationofhisincapacityofstoppingLeech’splundering.SoMorganmandatesJamiealongwithothertwoshipstoarrestLeech,beforeembarkingonthemission,JamiespiritsMargaretawayonhisvesseltosabotageherimminentweddingwithanEnglishgentlemanRogerIngram(Ashley),whoturnsouttobetheonewhokeepstippingLeechthewinkofhisassaultingtargets.Thereareinvolutepoliticalgamesteasedbutnotplumbed,instead,thefocalpointshiftstothefire-and-waterplaybetweenPowerandO’Hara,thetime-honoredtropeofavirilesea-farerovercomingtheunseaworthyicybeauty,andbothstarsaremagnificenttowatch.Butacting-wise,aburlyLairdCregar’suppitypersonaisaformidableforcetomatch,andanalmostunrecognizableGeorgeSandersmakesforacompetentrivalforhiswilesandvigor,afterall,heisthecaptainofthetitular“TheBlackSwan”.Actionsequencesaredoledoutunimpressively,butitsflorid,Oscarwinningcinematographygivesthefilmacongenialcharmalongwiththecast’scan-doattitude,arun-of-the-millcommercialfarenonetheless,onemustappreciateitsyesteryearartistry,bobbingfromeveryandeachframeandshimmeringwithnaivetéandalacrity.referentialpoint:MichaelCurtiz,WilliamKeighley’sTHEADVENTURESOFROBINHOOD(1938,7.2/10)本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。