THE SEA HAWK...

[Sue Sue Applegate]

The intro for The Sea Hawk with Robert Osborne and Alec Baldwin was informative and energetic concerning Michael Curtiz, Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, and Claude Rains, but I know they can't discuss every actor in the film...

So I also don't want viewers to forget about the great Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth:
"Spanish ships are notoriously slow. They should have chosen an English ship..."

Robson first portrayed Queen Elizabeth in Alexander Korda's Fire Over England with Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, so The Sea Hawk was her second portrayal of the famous monarch, and her Hollywood successes ultimately contributed to her royal honors as Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1952 and her ascension as Dame Commander (DBE) in 1960.

A biography by Kenneth Barrow (Flora: The Life of Dame Flora Robson) was published in the early eighties.

Some critics believed that her portrayal as "Good Queen Bess" was more indicative of the persona of Queen Elizabeth I than Bette Davis' more affected performance that was more indicative of the Davis personality and her individual mannerisms.

But for me, both actresses are entertaining and allow viewers an in-depth interpretation of the regal lady.

The heavy, sequined brocade on Robson's costume she wears when receiving Geoffrey Thorpe (Flynn) in a private audience looked like a formidable uniform, indeed. It isn't easy to flounce and emote at the same time when sporting such a frock, but when Orry Kelly is the master of the threads, a gal must always feel fairly regal.

And I enjoy how Flynn acts with equal aplomb when faced with a Brazilian monkey or a well-trained stage actress like Robson. He was unflappable.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the "powdered monkey" sequence. Just the right amount of levity.

[feaito]

This is one of my fave swashbucklers. It's perfect!

[MikeBSG]

I'm not as big a fan of "The Sea Hawk" as I am of other Flynn swashbucklers, but I have to agree that Flora Robson was charming. She added a lot to this movie.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

That little monkey was such a scene stealer.

[feaito]

...and Brenda Marshall was abolutely believable as a Spanish noblewoman...her type was perfect for the role.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

I agree. And I am kind of glad that Olivia took a break from this one. It gave it a different edge...and probably more screen time for Flora Robson!

[JackFavell]

I've always been put off by Brenda Marshall's looks, but she was very good in this movie! I watched through to the end, and enjoyed her performance very much. I feel that this was a turning point for Flynn - the spark seems to have gone out of him, he seems far darker - like in his war movies. I wonder if this change was because of the war, or because de Havilland had turned down the role - though it had nothing to do with him, it makes me wonder how he must have felt. It can't have been easy, being left behind while she moved up into a new type of role, or maybe he was hurt that she would no longer work with him. Don't get me wrong, he was wonderful, but his demeanor was far more serious and heavy, and I thought he was somewhat distant.

What impressed me the most was the way the silent film was incorporated into this 1940 swashbuckler. It was masterfully done, and that silent footage was breathtaking!

Most of all, I loved Robson's impassioned plea at the end - extremely moving when you remember the time in which it was made - the vast unknown of war looming just over the horizon.

[feaito]

Wendy, I found your post most interesting. I did not remember that De Havilland had turned down the leading feminine role of TSH. After this film was released they co-starred in two more films "The Santa Fe Trail" and "They Died with their Boots On"...Olivia must have been tired of swashbucklers.... and you are completely right about Flynn's demeanor and his darker mood in this role.

I agree with you in that the incorporation of the actions scenes from the 1925 Silent in the 1940 film was done impressively well!

Robson's speech is definitely one of the highlights of the movie and it must have been very touching for audiences of that time, like Chaplin's speech at the end of "The Great Dictator" (1940).

[JackFavell]

According to Robert Osborne - Olivia had just come off of Gone With the Wind, and she flat out refused to do The Sea Hawk, feeling that she should not be relegated to simply supporting Flynn anymore. She wanted leading roles, with more meat, I think, and who could blame her? But I imagine that must have stung a little for Flynn....this is my conjecture of course and probably wrong. I wonder if anyone has read anything about it?