Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Cooktopi The acting in this movie is really good.

jacobs-greenwood Director Richard Wallace co-produced this action adventure seafaring film with Grover Jones, who based his screenplay on the Kenneth Roberts novel. Executive producer Hal Roach was evidently trying to capitalize on Warner Bros. successful Errol Flynn pirate films like The Sea Hawk (1940), which had been released earlier in the year. Unfortunately, he didn't have the lead nor character actors to rise above its B programmer status, though Elmer Raguse did receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound, Recording. The cast includes Victor Mature, Louise Platt, Leo Carrillo, Bruce Cabot, Robert Barrat, Vivienne Osborne, Roscoe Ates who plays a stuttering crewman, and Alan Ladd (among others).The time period is August, 1812 when war rages between England and the United States, with France involved in the mix. Mature plays Dan Marvin, who'd been rescued as a boy by American Captain Dorman (Barrat) on his ship the Olive Branch. Marvin had therefore grown up with Dorman's daughter Corunna (Platt). Now that both are of age, they're on the brink of consummating their relationship with an adult romance, but each is a little too feisty and neither is willing to relinquish any 'power' to the other. In fact, Corunna is so strong willed that she dubs Dan "Captain Caution" when he'd rightly surrenders the ship to the British after her father was killed; she vows revenge as a privateer. The Olive Branch had been at sea so long no one aboard even knew that there was a war going on. Three of the prisoners aboard the English ship are Frenchman Lucien Argandeau (Carillo), his wife Victorine (Osborne), and another American Lehrman Slade (Cabot), who had been a prisoner about Argandeau's ship the Formidable for slave trading before the British had commandeered it.With help from the ladies, who are given quarters above decks by the British, the prisoners below decks get some small arms (knives and a pistol) which enables them to join the action when an American ship attacks them; the British are overwhelmed and their ship is sunk. The freed Olive Branch is then commanded by Corunna assisted by Slade, who has charmed his way into her confidence. Victorine comforts Dan, who Corunna & Slade has made stay a prisoner. Mrs. Argandeau and her husband Lucien are on the outs because of his affairs with other women. Meanwhile, Dan has 'adopted' the English drummer boy Travers (Clifford Severn) he'd saved during the conflict. Of course, Slade is untrustworthy and, once they make port in France, he crosses the channel back to England where he blackmails another slave trader into capturing the Olive Branch for his own purposes.Again, Dan and Lucien find themselves imprisoned in the bowels of a British ship. This time, with the help of Newton (Ladd), who ends up killing the corrupt captain, and several others who'd been treated like slaves, 'forced' to operate the ship, they're able to escape, re- attack their captors, and rescue the Olive Branch for (a finally grateful) Corunna. A shirtless Mature was called into action as a gladiator to fight a large brute in order to distract the crew such that the other American prisoners could swim to a nearby ship to escape. Naturally, Corunna no longer thinks her nickname fits Dan, and they embrace before the closing credits.

whpratt1 This story was written by a famous writer Kenneth Roberts and this story takes place at the beginning of the War of 1812. An American merchant ship was sailing from Maine and was attacked by the British Navy and the captain was killed and his daughter, Corunna Dorman,(Louise Platt) took command of the ship and Corunna wanted her boyfriend, Daniel Marvin, (Victor Mature) to be the first mate, however, Dan had different ideas. Corunna then decides to make Dan jealous and becomes close to Lehrman Slade,(Bruce Cabot) who is a man that is self-centered and only cares about his own future and disregards anyone else on the ship. Leo Carrillo,(Lucien Argandeau) gives a great supporting role as a first mate to Daniel Marvin. There is plenty of cannons going off and ships colliding with each other and plenty of swords flashing. If you look real close, you will see a very young Alan Ladd playing a very minor role, but Hollywood was watching him and his next role would be "This Gun for Hire". Nice entertaining 1940 Class film.

xredgarnetx An early Victor Mature effort, CAPTAIN CAUTION tells the tale of a merchant vessel assaulted by the British at the start of the War of 1812. The vessel's captain is killed and his daughter (so-so actress Louise Platt) assumes command. She decides to pursue the British and is given the choice of Mature or Bruce (KING KONG) Cabot for first mate. The spot goes to Cabot, who turns out to be a privateer in the employ of the highest bidder, in this case the British. He convinces her to head for France rather than America, and once in port, the ship is taken. She unwisely stays with Cabot, who is now planning to sail for America, while Mature and his loyal followers are held prisoner. With the help of a very young Alan Ladd, Mature and the boys escape and pursue Cabot's ship. As you can imagine, the action never stops and the battle scenes are eye-popping even in black and white. Taken from a Kenneth Roberts novel, CAPTAIN CAUTION is a forgotten mini-masterpiece that only falls down whenever the leading lady takes center stage. But the young Victor Mature is pretty impressive in his two-fisted role and Cabot plays his traitor role just subtly enough to convince even the most jaded moviegoer. Plus the wonderful Leo (CISCO KID) Carillo is aboard for comic relief. Too bad the film wasn't shot in color.

Neil Doyle VICTOR MATURE was an actor on the rise in the early '40s and here he gets his star turn in what is essentially a "B" picture, more lavish in its appearance than most low-budget films, and interesting because it gives us a glimpse of the early ALAN LADD in the background. LOUISE PLATT is too demure in appearance to play the spitfire type the script designates, as the feisty daughter of slain sea captain ROBERT BARRAT.BRUCE CABOT and LEO CARRILLO are among the Americans that get caught up in the skirmish aboard ship when the British attack during the War of 1812. The action sequences are robust enough but sub-standard in presentation. Cabot plays his usual role as a scheming villain with romantic notions about the captain's daughter and Carrillo is supposed to serve as comedy relief but gets on the nerves with his accent and obvious comic ways.With plot complications that are typical of Kenneth Roberts' historical novels, none of it stirs more than ordinary interest--routine film-making at best from the Hal Roach studios.Summing up: Action film ruined by a boring cast of cardboard characters not worth caring about and a very miscast leading lady.