RKO’s 1945 adventure The Spanish Main was its first Technicolor production in over a decade, bringing pirates, romance, and high-seas action to vivid life. The Spanish Main was recently released on Blu-ray by way of the Warner Archive Collection. The 100-minute adventure film is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio with side mattes and a DTS-HD MA English 2.0 Mono soundtrack.

The Spanish Main—cruel, oppressive and ruthless, where power alone was a man’s single title to everything he held dear, including his very life. It was, thus, a cruel fate that a peaceful Dutch pilgrim ship should be driven there by torrential waves—and crash upon the rocks immediately outside Cartagena, its most remorseless citadel.

Dutch captain Laurent van Horn (Paul Henreid) seeks permission to repair his ship after it founders off Cartagena, only to be imprisoned by the irascible Spanish viceroy, Don Juan Alvarado (Walter Slezak). In jail, Laurent meets fellow captives Pillory (J.M. Kerrigan) and Paree (Curt Bois), and the trio overpowers their guards to escape. Years later, Don Alvarado prepares to wed Contessa Francisca (Maureen O’Hara), the daughter of the Mexican viceroy, while the pirate ship Barracuda, led by a daring captain—Laurent—terrorizes the Spanish seas. When Francisca’s ship is attacked, she discovers Laurent is the insolent pirate and is forced into a precarious union, setting the stage for romance and adventure.

Tensions rise aboard the Barracuda as Francisca and Laurent navigate their arranged marriage. Playful duels with the fiery pirate Anne Bonny (Binnie Barnes) and clashes with buccaneers Mario Da Bilar (John Emery) and Capt. Benjamin Black (Barton MacLane) test loyalty, courage, and wit. Francisca asserts herself with clever schemes, challenging Anne to a pistol duel that ends in comic chaos. Laurent’s charisma and strategic mind both charm and dominate the pirate crew, blending swashbuckling action with romantic intrigue.

Betrayal and intrigue follow as rival pirates turn against Laurent, and he must rescue Francisca from capture. Disguises, hidden weapons, and daring confrontations lead to a climactic battle with Don Alvarado’s forces. Amid the chaos, Anne Bonny sacrifices herself but blesses Francisca, while Laurent eliminates Da Bilar. The couple’s loyalty and ingenuity allow them to triumph over treachery, consolidating Laurent’s leadership and cementing the bond between him and Francisca.

In the finale, Laurent and Francisca commandeer the Barracuda and sail safely into the sunset. Don Alvarado, exposed and wounded, meets his demise, leaving the lovers free to embrace a life of adventure on the high seas.

When one thinks of Paul Henreid, The Spanish Main isn’t the first film that comes to mind—Casablanca holds that honor. It might not even rank second or third. Henreid, however, had grown weary of playing suave ladies’ men and Nazis, and wanted to try something more playful. Nobody said Errol Flynn had a monopoly on swashbucklers. Warner Bros. wasn’t interested, but Henreid’s contract allowed him one film a year at RKO, and fortunately, they greenlit the film.

The score, by Hanns Eisler—who would later be deported during the Red Scare—is lavish and intricate, perfectly suited for a Technicolor adventure. Less perfect is the sound mix, which requires frequent volume adjustments just to hear the dialogue. At times, it almost feels like watching a Christopher Nolan movie.

Cinematographer George Barnes received an Oscar nomination for Best Color Cinematography for his work on The Spanish Main, and it’s easy to see why. As RKO’s first all-Technicolor production in a decade, the film is visually stunning, full of rich, painterly images that elevate its swashbuckling spirit. Now approaching its 80th anniversary, The Spanish Main looks better than ever thanks to a new 1080p HD master sourced from a 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor negatives.

Bonus Features

• Classic Technicolor short subject MOVIELAND MAGIC
• Classic Cartoons
  • BUCCANEER BUNNY
  • CAPTAIN HAREBLOWER
• Original Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: Frank Borzage
SCREENWRITERS: George Worthing Yates and Herman J. Mankiewicz
CAST: Paul Henreid, Maureen O’Hara, Walter Slezak, with Binnie Barnes, John Emery, Barton MacLane, J.M. Kerrigan, Fritz Leiber, Nancy Gates, Jack LaRue, Mike Mazurki, Ian Keith, Curt Bois, Antonio Moreno

RKO Radio Pictures released The Spanish Main in theaters on October 4, 1945. Grade: 3.5/5

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