Product Description

Tyrone Power and Maureen Oâ??Hara cross romantic swords in this epic OscarÂ(r)-winning* swashbuckler about a pirate determined to reform his thieving ways â?" after he steals one last heart!

Recently reformed pirate Jamie Boy (Power) is supposed to be helping the new Governor of Jamaica, Captain Morgan, rid the Caribbean of black-hearted buccaneers. But when Jamie falls head over keel for the heavenly â?" but hotheaded â?" Lady Margaret (Oâ??Hara), he gives caution the heave-ho, kidnaps Margaret and sets sail for the adventure of a lifetime! Packed with â??action, excitement, thundering guns and a maiden in distressâ? (Variety), this â??brawny, blood-curdlingâ? (Look Magazine) high-seas saga that remains a rollicking, â??timeless pleasureâ? (Los Angeles Times)! * Best Cinematography, Color: Leon Shamroy, 1942.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3485 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2006-07-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dubbed, Subtitled, Full Screen
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 85 minutes

Features

• With a clanging of swords, thundering cannons and lots of bravado, TYRONE POWER stars in this swashbucklingic that won an Oscar for its color cinematography. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR Age: 024543239253 UPC: 024543239253 Manufacturer No: 2233925

Customer Reviews

The Perfect Swashbuckler!
What is perhaps the most perfect thing about this movie is that it captures the true essence of the swashbuckling films. "The Black Swan" is both directed and acted with a refreshing abandonment. Everything is let loose and blown up and had fun with, and it's quite a ride from beginning to end. Even such props as the costumes, which can overshadow the people in them, or the script, which can sometimes seem too lofty, only compliment the overall treat. We're given a daring adventure, vibrant characters, and exquisite scenery, and all we're asked is to have fun while we're visiting.

Tyrone Power (as Captain Jamie Waring) and Maureen O'Hara (as Margaret Denby) create the ultimate classic pirate/noblewoman couple, complete with Tyrone's charismatic charm and Maureen's signature spitfire nature. Their scenes together spark with that unique chemistry and also with an effortless humor that is more intelligent than slapstick and yet remains by and large unpredictable. They take turns being abused by just about everyone, including each other, and what should have been the most romantic moment (in bed together, a distinct no-no in Hollywood at the time) is rather a tense moment with death leering over them literally. They make a memorable couple, surrounded by a host of splendid actors.

George Sanders is once again a convincing villain, though far removed from his customary suave and sophisticated roles, and his coarse red beard helps those who might have trouble with this new image. Anthony Quinn is his nasty sidekick, alternately grinning maliciously at Jamie or leering over Margaret. Laird Cregar is wonderful as Captain Morgan, alternately proud of and frustrated with Jamie. Thomas Mitchell is perfectly cast as Jamie's right hand man and the would-be source of wisdom for all of Jamie's women troubles.

You must watch this movie in the same spirit that it was made, with your hair down and your heart open to excitement and your mind turned away from somber matters. Watch it if you want to lose a foul mood, or if you want to see some marvelous (award-winning) cinematography, or if you simply want to escape back into this fantasy world that Hollywood created so long ago--when leading men were as beautiful as their female counterparts, and when leading ladies always wore impeccable makeup, and when grand adventures didn't need to start or end on a tragedy.

D'arr!
The Black Swan is one of the great pirate films, in part because it manages to have a sense of humor without ever lapsing into farce. All the elements are here: sword fighting, ship battles, wine, women, and song.. tied together by an excellent cast and, as is always necessary, a gorgeous firey female lead. The Black Swan is one of those films that was so excellent that many of its elements became cliched, which some may inadvertantly read into the film when viewing it. Don't; it's a truly refreshing swashbuckling experience with just the right mix of musketry, mayhem, and mirth. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

BLACK SWAN finally on DVD
THE BLACK SWAN 1942
Directed by Henry King and stars Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn, George Sanders, Laird Cregar, George Zucco, Thomas Mitchell.

This is one great swashbuckler. As I remember it, this is the one where Maureen O'Hara has to say "Jamie Boy" three times before she can win the heart of Tyrone. At the very end she does and when they kiss she literally SUCKS his face with a mouth open enough to eat a 14 lb. potato. George Sanders is the bad guy and you really hate him. The plot has to do with the Black Swan being a sought after pirate frigate which of course the hero gets along with the girl. Morgan the Pirate is made the govenor of Jamaica and he wants to go after all the rivaling gangs now that he has position power.

Music by Alfred Newman (nominated for best music) and it won an oscar for cinematography. It's in glorious technicolor and one beautiful movie, not to be missed by anyone who loves pirate movies.

Maureen O'Hara was in another swashbuckler from 1952 with Errol Flynn (AGAINST ALL FLAGS) and while I mention her, she was also in SINBAD THE SAILOR and AT SWORD'S POINT and of course her film debut in Hitchcock's JAMAICA INN but I think her best was THE BLACK SWAN as far as swashbucklers go.