The Black Swan (1942)

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General		Extras
Category	Adventure	None
Rating
Year Of Production	1942
Running Time	81:10 (Case: 85)
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Henry King
Studio Distributor	20th CENTURY FOX Beyond Home Entertainment	Starring	Tyrone Power Maureen O'Hara Laird Cregar Thomas Mitchell George Sanders Anthony Quinn George Zucco
Case	Amaray-Opaque
RPI	$14.95	Music	Alfred Newman

     The Spanish Main, 1674. Pirate captain Henry Morgan (Laird Cregar) is pardoned by King Charles II and appointed Governor of Jamaica with the instruction to rid the Caribbean of pirates. He enlists some of his old captains to help, including Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power), but others such as Billy Leech (George Sanders), the captain of the Black Swan, and his first mate (a very young Anthony Quinn) refuse. Morgan’s appointment is resented by the aristocracy of Jamaica including the previous Governor Lord Denby (George Zucco) and Roger Ingram (Edward Ashby). Indeed, Ingram secretly provides Leech with information that allows him to plunder English ships, blaming Morgan and threatening to have him removed by the King. Morgan sends Waring after Leech, but Waring has other things on his mind. He has fallen in love with Lord Denby’s daughter Lady Margaret (Maureen O’Hara) who is about to marry Ingram. Infatuated, Waring abducts Margaret and takes her with him when he sails after Leech. It is hard to know who Waring is more in danger from: Margaret, Leech or Morgan, who sets off in pursuit!

     The Black Swan is terrific entertainment and great fun. It is hard to resist majestic sailing ships going cannon to cannon, shore attacks, pirates, sword fights, a beautiful feisty heroine, a handsome dashing star, wonderful Technicolor photography from four time Oscar winner Leon Shamroy, who won his first Oscar for this film (his last was for Cleopatra in 1963), and a rousing score from nine time Oscar winner Alfred Newman (he was indeed nominated for this film as well, but didn’t win). Director Henry King (best known perhaps for films such as Twelve O’Clock High (1949), The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) or Carousel (1956)) keeps a firm hand on proceedings, moving the film along at a rollicking pace. The whole is very light-hearted and good humoured, with delicious dialogue, as sharp as any sword. Power, stripped to the waist, is infectious and proves that he can swash-buckle with the best, Maureen O’Hara is spirited and beautiful, Laird Cregar a robust Morgan and George Sanders, resplendent in red beard and wig, a suitably caddish baddie. The total of the talent on show makes The Black Swan a colourful Saturday afternoon matinee entertainment of the highest level.

     Tyrone Power, at least from The Mark of Zorro (1940), was one of 20th Century Fox’s leading stars, often in swashbuckling period films such as The Captain from Castile (1947) or The Black Rose (1950). These days, his name does not have the same recognition as, say, Errol Flynn. Take a look at The Black Swan to see what the fuss was about. If you like tall ships and swashbuckling adventure, you will not be disappointed.

Video

     The Black Swan is presented in 1.33:1, close to its original ratio of 1.37:1. It is obviously not 16x9 enhanced. This almost 70 year old Technicolor print looks fabulous for its age. The colours can be a little dull and flat on occasion, yet other times they are deep and rich, especially the reds. Brightness and skin tones vary but are never unacceptable. Sharpness and clarity are on the soft side when back projection is used but otherwise the print is wonderfully clear and detailed. Blacks are mostly very good although some shadow detail can be indistinct.

     There are small dirt marks and evident grain but nothing distracting. This would be the best the film has looked in years.

     There are no subtitles.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     Audio is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono at 192 Kbps that sounds pretty good. Dialogue is clear and understandable, and in fact the effects, especially the cannons, are far more booming than I had expected. The score swells and I did not notice any hiss or distortion. Very enjoyable.

     The lush orchestral score by Alfred Newman is excellent, adding to the epic feel of the film.

     Lip synchronization is fine.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     Absolutely nothing.

     The Region 1 US release is NTSC and has an audio commentary by Rudy Behlmer and Maureen O’Hara, a restoration comparison and a theatrical trailer, as well as trailers for other films. These give it the edge over the Region 4 release.

     With majestic sailing ships going cannon to cannon, shore attacks, pirates, sword fights, a beautiful feisty heroine, a handsome dashing star, wonderful Technicolor photography and a rousing score The Black Swan is colourful Saturday afternoon matinee entertainment of the highest level.

     It is presented on a disc with exceptional video and audio for an almost 70 year old film but, alas, none of the extras available in Region 1.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall