...there's an old saying, about 'truth' being 'stranger then fiction'; often we hear about stories, related to certain historical figures or celebrities, which we'd come to accept as the norm, and yet, when one digs deeper amidst the common pleasantries, one finds that there's a lot more to the story, than originally related. As much as we want ever so much to forever remember and recall the best and most significant deeds and behavior of a famous person, we are also drawn toward the underlining controversy, as far as the true nature of the person...and often times, that 'true nature' isn't hardly what we expected, or perhaps would rather not have known about. And then, there's the opposite side of the matter...a matter which suggests that this historical figure or famous personality has proven to possess a relatively interesting background...but not in Hollywood's terms; and when that happens...well, our fine and fettered Hollywood writers & filmmakers, just can't help but deftly and creatively weave greater interest and intrigue, for the fascinating, albeit less-than-charismatic character...fiction, yes, but fiction deftly woven into fact. It's happened countless times in the magically embellishing realm of Hollywoodland, and such is the case with one of Cheezy Flicks recent additions to their spansive selection of films; indeed, from a historical point of view, one definitely won't come across any new revelations about Captain William Kidd, in the daring pirate adventure excursion from 1945, United Artists' "Captain Kidd", but what the filmmaking powers that be,
have come up with, herein...on an anemic shoestring budget, no less...is still a whole heck of a lot of fun to watch...
...the film opens with a fiercely resounding shot from a ship's gunnery hold, as Captain William Kidd...a cruelly unrelenting pirate, masquerading as respected shipmaster...ruthlessly captures the ship known as 'The Twelve Apostles', and viciously dispatches the ship's crew. Elated at his monstrous endeavor, Kidd assumes command, with the intent of coercing favor from King William III; successful in doing this, Captain Kidd feigns a sense of goodwill, in recruiting prison inmates from Newgate and Marshalsea, with the promise of royal pardons for all, once the inaugural voyage is seen through. Kidd finds particularly keen interest in one of the prisoners...a rebellious, though well-read rogue, named Mercy...and entrusts him to the position of master gunner, as the result of his braggart, albeit convenient association with other pirate captains...
...sent on a trusted campaign near Madagascar shipping lanes, representing His Majesty, Captain Kidd is instructed to meet up with The Quedagh Merchant vessel, to escort the Indian Grand Mughal's Lord Fallsworth, his daughter, the Lady Anne, and a precious cache of riches...a goodwill gift...back to England. However, quick to want the shipboard treasure for himself, Kidd convinces the two escorts to transfer over to his ship, for 'safe keeping', suggesting that pirate activity in the area, might well be aimed at the Merchant; to further support the argument, Captain Kidd arranges the Merchant to meet an untimely explosive demise...along with the regal Lord...much to the dismay of Lord Fallsworth's daughter, Anne...
...untrusting of the Captain, the Lady Anne instead turns to Mercy, who scoffs at the Captain's woven tales of piracy, aimed at the Merchant; Unbeknownst to Mercy, Captain Kidd begins to suspect the truth and motivations of Mercy...and his suspicions are verified, when a vicious sword fight breaks out between Mercy, and one of Kidd's associates, Lorenzo, and a medallion breaks loose from Mercy's neck, during the battle, suggesting that he is, in some way, connected to Lord Blayne, the captain of the ill-fated Twelve Apostles. Given this knowledge, Captain Kidd devises a plan to eliminate his associates, as well as those who might oppose him, with a trip to an island...an island which holds greater treasure, to match that of the Merchant. Will this dastardly plan prove the end of Kidd's competitors, Mercy, as well as the Lady Anne??...
...and considering the overall compelling intrigue, gripping drama and star-studded casting of "Captain Kidd", what...pray tell...qualifies this swashbuckling adventure, as being dubiously monikered, as one in the eclectic library of Cheezy Flicks, you ask?? What indeed, and ho-boy, where shall we start, eh?? Well, for starters, there's the outrageously over-the-top performance by actor Charles Laughton, himself, as the deviously diabolical...which actually, is hardly the most surprising point, herein; in fact, Laughton's often rendered, deliciously bravura over-acting, assuredly proves to be the axle grease that moves this period piece along, with nary an ounce of friction. A performance of utter camp, to be sure. And what?? Who's that in those ship's gunnery digs?? Why, yes it is...it is Randolph Scott...taking a rather unexpected break from playing the rip-roarin', gun-slingin' hero of the dusty, wild western towns, and the lone prairie...as the rogue Adam Mercy. Not that ol' Randolph couldn't handle or carry such a diverse change in roles...no siree; it's just that after having starred in so many westerns, he just looks so much out of place, here...
...for this viewer, having only been privy of seasoned actor Reginald Owen, cast as Scrooge, in the light-hearted version of the Dickens' yuletide fantasy, "A Christmas Carol", it was genuinely surprising to spot him here, albeit quite ill-used, as the deck hand, Shadwell. John Carradine makes an auspiciously sinister turn, in these proceedings, as the vengeful Orange Povey, one of Kidd's old associates...an associate, whom Kidd has thought he'd seen the last of. Actress Barbara Britton...beautifully attractive, though negligible in performances, with her better know work, being that of the early '50's TV mystery series, "Mr. & Mrs. North"...is adequately engaging, herein, as the Lady Anne, Mercy's romantic diversion...
...adeptly produced on the cheap, with over-used stock footage, interspliced with seemingly claustrophobic set sequences, as well as eye-rolling, stereotypical moments of corny dialogue, character engagement and action sequences, "Captain Kidd" is hardly a historical lesson in truth (...William Kidd, as history tells it, was not so much a pirate, but more of a rogue opportunist and privateer, who sometimes worked outside of sea laws, and wound up paying for such criminal deeds, with his life), but most assuredly watchable fodder, worthy of the Cheezy Flicks stamp of approval. Once again, the folks over at Cheezy Flicks haven't exactly afforded viewers, the best print of the film...as choppy and washed out as it is; nonetheless, for a classic Saturday matinee diversion (...or at a drive-in, with one's vehicle equipped with one of those handy-dandy Berz-o-matic in-car heaters...as advertised in this disc's 'extras' section...so that you can lull your way to mindless, gas-instilled euphoria, as you watch the film on screen), this one definitely fills the bill...
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