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Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Flora Robson, Donald Crisp ... see more see more... , Alan Hale , Henry Daniell , Una O'Connor , James Stephenson , William Lundigan , Julien Mitchell , Montagu Love , J.M. Kerrigan , David Bruce , Clifford Brooke , Clyde Cook , Fritz Leiber , Ellis Irving , Francis McDonald , Pedro de Cordoba , Ian Keith , Jack LaRue , Halliwell Hobbes , Alec Craig , Victor Varconi , Robert Warwick , Harry Cording , Guy Anderson [Herbert] , Mary Anderson , Guy Bellis , Edgar Buchanan , Michael Martin Harvey , Leyland Hodgson , Charles Irwin , Colin Kenny , Crauford Kent , Frank Lackteen , Lester Matthews , Gerald Mohr , Leonard Mudie , Nestor Paiva , Gilbert Roland , David Thursby , Frank Wilcox , Frederic Worlock

In the 1580s, the Sea Hawks -- the name given to the bold privateers who prowl the oceans taking ships and treasure on behalf the British crown -- are the most dedicated defenders of British interests... read more read more... in the face of the expanding power of Philip of Spain. And Captain Geoffrey Thorpe (Errol Flynn) is the boldest of the Sea Hawks, responsible for capturing and destroying more than 50 Spanish ships and ten Spanish cities. His capture of a Spanish galleon, however, leads to more than he bargained for, in a romance with the ambassador's niece (Brenda Marshall) and the first whiff of a plan to put Spanish spies into the court of Elizabeth I (Flora Robson). Thorpe's boldness leads him to a daring raid on a treasure caravan in Panama which, thanks to treachery within Elizabeth's court, gets him captured and, with his crew, sentenced to the life of a slave aboard a Spanish ship. Meanwhile, Philip of Spain decides to wipe the threat posed by Elizabeth's independence from the sea by conquering the island nation with his armada. Thorpe, though chained to an oar, knows who the traitor at court is and plans to expose him and Philip's plans, but can he and his men break their bonds and get back to England alive in time to thwart the plans for conquest? The Sea Hawk was the last and most mature of Flynn's swashbuckling adventure films, played with brilliant stylistic flourishes by the star at his most charismatic, and most serious and studied when working with Flora Robson, whom he apparently genuinely respected. Boasting the handsomest, most opulent production values of a Warner Bros. period film to date, The Sea Hawk was made possible in part by a huge new floodable soundstage. Another highlight was the best adventure film score ever written by Erich Wolfgang Korngold; and the script's seriousness was nailed down by various not-so-veiled references not to 16th century Spain but 20th century Nazi Germany. The movie was cut by over 20 minutes for a reissue with The Sea Wolf, and the complete version was lost until a preservation-quality source was found at the British Film Institute. Since then, that 128-minute version -- which actually contains a one-minute patriotic speech by Robson as Elizabeth that was originally left out of U.S. prints, as well as amber tinting in all of the Panamanian sequences -- has become standard. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

4,755 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

12 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Release Date: July 1, 1940

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DVD Release Date: April 19, 2005

Stats: 223 reviews

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Brenda Marshall and Errol Flynn The Sea Hawk Roland and Errol Flynn A battle against the spanish Dona Maria Errol Flynn
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Flixster Reviews (223)

  • moonrivers
    January 7, 2012
    moonrivers
    Big time adventure, bigtime fun as we return to Europe in the 1500's. Spain is set to take over the world by dint of her incredible navy ... only Britain stands in her way with a group of seagoing patriots called the Sea Hawks. This rousing Hollywood call-to-arms prepared Yanks... read more for the real war already happening in Europe at the time. The villains are despicable (if well dressed) and numerous, the Queen is brave but broke, and the hero ... the epitome of dashing derring-do.
  • jjnxn
    September 13, 2008
    jjnxn
    Errol is dashing as always and Flora Robson is wonderful as Good Queen Bess, but the absence of Olivia de Havilland, substituted with the vapid Brenda Marshall is sorely apparent. Not bad but should have been a little shorter, tighter and it just cries out for color.
  • rubystevens
    August 5, 2008
    rubystevens
    the greatest of all swashbuckling adventures! pirates of the carribbean, bite me!
  • groaningbitch
    April 21, 2008
    groaningbitch
    "sea hwak" is the quintessential swashbuckler with golden team of errol flynn and driector michael curtiz as well as flynn typecasted sidekick alan hale despite the abscence of basil rathbone and olivia de havilland who had been weary of the repeated stereotypes then.

    flynn p... read morelays the legendary captain thorpe who serves england by robbing the ships of spain who mistreated british privates by severe slavery at ship-decker. this time flynn's competent villains would be claude rains and henry daniell, and his rosy beauty would be branda marshell who happens to have a likable nanny played una o'connor.

    heroic patriotism, just brotherhood, gallant chivalry and debonair suaveness are all well-applied in "sea hawk" with the grandly vital music of erich konkorg who also supervised flynn's "robin hood". two knights of good and evil have duelts by swords with their massive shadows magnified on the wall as michael curtiz's signatured expressionistic photography. striking woman plucks thorn roses in the garden, rescued by a gorgeous dashing flynn, then two whispers the ingenundo of love with the talk of monastery statue. manhood is projected in the most idealistic way with its shining glamour, and errol flynn would be its best representative.

    british stage actress flora robson incarnates as queen elizabeth who has the adequate screen presence, personally fonded by flynn who has good chesmistry with her at the scene together with the courteous monkey. allegedly, flynn prefers performing with her as elizabeth to the abrasive bette davis who also plays elizabeth with flynn in the later "elizabeth and essenx." it is complained by flynn that davis overslaps him in one scene.

    further, "sea hawk" also has a hinted political stance then by comparing england as the league of decent democracy against the spain which stands for the sinisterly arrogant nazi then, reflecting the world war II condition at the time it's released.
  • garyX
    December 9, 2006
    garyX
    Proof that pirate films existed before Johnny Depp. A classic swashbuckler with Errol Flyn doing what he does best combined with lavish period detail, political machinations and some great photography. And Flora Robson makes a wonderful Queen Elizabeth I.
  • jonnycrumley
    April 16, 2010
    jonnycrumley
    Great movie starring movie legend Errol Flynn. The Sea Hawk is a fine movie that's well written, beautifully shot, with great acting and some wonderful swashbuckling scenes. The production design was second to none, and the musical score was thrilling. It delivered on most fronts... read more, but the presence of the awesome Flynn sets it apart from anything that followed.
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    July 8, 2008
    Doctor0Quinzel
    Fylnn! One of the best swashbuckler films out there. A lot of fun!
  • DrLappos
    May 21, 2008
    DrLappos
    Saturday morning classic as a kid. Loved it.
  • fb1246710182
    February 12, 2012
    fb1246710182
    In the case of "The Sea Hawk" the old cliché is true: they don't make 'em like this anymore. Now over 70 years old, this film is the epitome of the swashbuckling extravaganzas which exploded onto the big screen in the mid 20th century. And Errol Flynn was, himself, the unmatched ... read moreromantic hero of them all. As we see it today, the story is corny and the acting moth-eaten. But what a glorious movie!
  • holyoaka
    September 10, 2010
    holyoaka
    This is an early swashbuckler starring Errol Flynn as the hero who saves England. Flora Robinson does a great job as the Queen.

View All The Sea Hawk Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mark Bourne
April 5, 2006
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

...as much as Flynn himself, what pulls together the grand action set-pieces of swordplay ... and gushing romance is the music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. It's Hollywood's greatest swashbuckling symph... Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp
April 21, 2005
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine

When The Sea Hawk is purely cinematic, it's at the top of its class. Full Review

John J. Puccio
April 18, 2005
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...romance, adventure, and intrigue; lavish costumes and sets; heroes and scoundrels aplenty; and Errol Flynn swinging from ship to ship. What more could you ask for? Full Review

Nell Minow
December 13, 2002
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Swashbuckler heaven

Rob Vaux
October 3, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

Top-notch swashbuckling adventure.

Ken Hanke
October 2, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Curtiz and Flynn at their apex

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
January 28, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 27, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Christopher Null
May 3, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Sea Hawk Trivia

  • The sea hawk, Moby Dick and Casablanca are three big movies starring what actor?  Answer »
  • "That's how I'll always think of you; as my lady of the roses." This line comes from what golden age film?  Answer »
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