BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

weezeralfalfa A decade earlier, Charles Laughton had played a 'monster' Captain Bligh, in "Mutiny on the Bounty". Here, he plays another 'monster' sea captain, in Captain Kidd: a greedy, treacherous, privateer and pirate captain. He would rob and sink British merchant ships in his pirate phase, and literally stab some of his crew in the back. Don't hold the real Captain Kidd accountable for any of the specific crimes dramatized There is little historically accurate about him in this film. To what extent he was, in fact, a dangerous pirate, is still controversial. As dramatized at one point in the King's court, Laughton didn't have the physique or bearing expected of a notorious pirate. I don't know how he compares in these regards with the real Kidd... Laughton also played Kidd in the later "Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd" which, with its comedic features and periodic songs, I find a more pleasing experience than the present film.Randolph Scott, using the pseudonym Adam Mercy, is the stereotypical hero of this era, besting the scoundrel played by Gilbert Roland, in a rapier duel over Roland's unwelcomed amorous pawing of Lady Anne(Barbara Britton). As in the cases of "The Adventures of Robin Hood", and "Captain Blood", for example, Scott is characterized as having been a gentleman, but circumstances dictated that he play rogue during much of the film. He also plays an important role in countering Kidd's lies to King Charles, leading to Kidd's hanging.I must say, Mercy seemed to have more lives than a cat. He was knocked unconscious, then pushed off a small cliff into the sea. He wasn't observed to surface, yet somehow managed to avoid drowning, and swam to the ship. A little later, he and Anne stole a landing boat during the night. They were spotting and several cannon balls shot at them, one blowing the boat to bits. Yet, the 2 survived with no apparent injuries. Apparently, they were picked up, once onshore by a friend of Mercy and put on a ship going to England. Surprisingly, they arrived in London before Kidd, and thus had a chance to tell about his sinking of 2 British Merchant ships, robbing of their treasure chest, and murder of some of his crew. He robbed and blew up the very merchant ship the King had sent him to protect from pirates! Thus, one reason I don't much like this film is the improbability of Mercy surviving intact all these challenges. Also, the B&W photography and frequent scenes in near darkness contributes to a depressing mood. The last part is so rushed, you have the feeling the director had to catch a train....Suggest you watch "The Captain's Kid" instead. Both are viewable at YouTube.

Bill Slocum Any Charles Laughton vehicle involving the actor playing an outrageous villain holds definite promise. More the shame that any treasure here is consigned so quickly to Davy Jones' locker.History suggests the historical William Kidd was either an ethically challenged but decent-for-his-day privateer or a traduced innocent. Laughton dispenses with subtleties and portrays him as a fiendish scoundrel, bent on gold and glory any way he can get it. To that end, he enlists inmates of Newgate Prison, including chained-up Adam Mercy (Randolph Scott), as his crew, wanting a company of cutthroats while telling the king they will be motivated by the promise of a pardon."Between their conduct and mine, your majesty, there will be little to choose," he assures King William III (Henry Daniell).Such a mordant sensibility speaks well for the approach taken by director Rowland V. Lee and writer Norman Reilly Raine, accomplished studio veterans both. With Laughton chewing the scenery in his enjoyably hammy way, you might reasonably expect a decent comic adventure to unfold. But things fall apart once Kidd sets sail with his new crew.A big problem for the film is the suffocating performance of Scott, a fine actor when the part suited him, which it doesn't at all here. The Virginia accent is only the surface issue. Deeper still is the fact his character is supposedly a crafty one playing a part, which is more than can be said for Scott himself, hitting his marks and saying his lines with dull efficiency. There's no energy, no reactive spark, rendering his performance deadweight in any film but more so with Laughton playing his part with eye-blinking, lip- smacking glee. They don't belong in the same film.The film makes matters worse by keeping nearly all the action inside Kidd's vessel, as he does away with dim lackies and crosses them off a list he keeps in a secret desk compartment, so even the slowest viewers can keep track. "People have such an awkward habit of getting in my way," he sneers. As other reviewers here note, there's little in the way of swordfights or sea battle to distract you from the rote story.Kidd's big play involves sailing up to a Royal vessel transporting valuable cargo, stealing said cargo, and blowing up the ship, something he seems to think he can get away with even with the captain's daughter, beautiful love interest Lady Anne (Barbara Britton) along for the ride as an honored passenger. A better film would show some real plotting. Lee just gives us close-up after close-up of the ruthless captain curling his lips. We get it already; he's a bad, bad guy.At least in the first half his comic possibilities are decently teased out. Kidd tries his hand at gentlemanly behavior with the huffy tutoring of a valet (Reginald Owen) and exchanges veiled threats with John Carradine as the one subordinate not so foolish as to trust him. Laughton even endures a few fat jokes. A royal aide scoffs at Kidd's play for nobility: "The fellow treats of a title so lightly he must be bursting with noble blood…though I confess he keeps it well-hid."But the more the film goes on, the lazier it gets. Kidd kills with ridiculous ease. Mercy's heroism is presented so squarely Scott with his unpiratey mien and silly wig begins to look like George Washington come off Mount Rushmore. Occasionally he exchanges stage whispers with a valet (John Qualen), detailing a ludicrous backstory about seeking to redeem and avenge his father.The ways Mercy keeps ahead of Kidd's wrath likewise cry plot convenience, except in this case the plot is so thin already it can't bear any strain. The finale is so rushed and nonsensical that it seems clear that everyone associated with "Captain Kidd" was ready to call it a day.That is, except Laughton, who gets to deliver one final soliloquy. Like the character he plays, his tragedy in this film is failing to notice his ship has long since sailed.

Rainey Dawn This film is a fictional story of a real man in history: Captain William Kidd. The real Captain Kidd lived from c. 22 January 1645 – 23 May 1701 (death by hanging for piracy) but that is another story.Captain Kidd (1945) is a worthy sea adventure - a pretty good drama. Great casting lead by Charles Laughton as William Kidd, supported by John Carradine as Orange Povey, Randolph Scott as Adam Mercy & Barbara Britton as Lady Anne Dunstan.The film is what you would expect from a film of this nature: gold, swashbuckling fight scenes, sunken ships, back-stabbing, treachery, stormy seas, stealing -- just an all around fun adventure film.8/10

thinker1691 Robert N. Lee wrote the story of " Captain Kidd " and when it got to the Silver Screen became a must see movie. The film which followed is very interesting and the leading man of the tale is none other that Charles Laughton who plays Capt. William Kidd with relish and is quite convincing in the role. As to whether the movie is based on fact is poor at best. Modern Historians contend that Kidd was unjustly hanged and displayed as an example to others in England 1701. The movie on the other hang is active, enjoyable and well done. The pirate's exploits garners the audiences' attention and the adding of some of Hollywood's' actors makes for a spirited adventure. One however questions the addition of Randolph Scott as Adam Mercy as he most apt to play Westerns. Others like John Carradine, Gilbert Roland, Sheldon Leonard and Reginald Owen are well placed. Eye candy is provided by Barbara Britton as Lady Anne Dunstan and in addition, the movie is filmed in Black and White. However, it's a good feature movie and does prove to become a Classic in many ways. In retrospect, the movie like the Legend of Captain Kidd is often misunderstood. Recommend to Charles Laughton fans. ****