Errol Flynn

Maureen O'Hara

Anthony Quinn

Alice Kelley

Mildred Natwick

Robert Warwick

Harry Cording

John Alderson

Phil Tully

Lester Matthews

Tudor Owen

Maurice Marsac

James Craven

James Fairfax

John George

George Sherman

Joseph Hoffman

Æneas MacKenzie

Howard Christie

Hans J. Salter

Frank Gross

Russell Metty

Kenneth Smith

Max Nippell

Rydo Loshak

Henry Janssen

Bernard Herzbrun

Leslie I. Carey

Bud Westmore

Joe Lapis

Russell A. Gausman

Edward Stevenson

Oliver Emert

Joan St. Oegger

David S. Horsley

Alexander Golitzen

Adventure

Against All Flags

Universal International Pictures

United States of America

Rot my guts! The cannons are blowing up! 

Against All flags is directed by George Sherman and written by Joseph Hoffman and Aeneas MacKenzie. It stars Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn, Alice Kelley and Mildred Natwick. A Technicolor production out of Universal with cinematography by Russell Metty and music scored by Hans J. Salter.

In 1700 A.D. the Pirate Rebublic of Libertatia on the Island of Madagascar was in constant menace to the rich trade routes to India. Several days sail from this pirate fortress is the British merchant ship, Monsoon...

Plot, in simple terms, sees Flynn as a British officer who goes under cover to smash the pirate ring operating on the coast of Madagascar. Swooning, jealousy, heroics, moustache twirling villainy and big hoorays do follow. It's a lesser Flynn swashbuckler that came at a time when he was fighting some personal issues as well as the onset of age. Filmed mostly on the Universal stages in California, with a small amount of location work shot at Palos Verdes, picture is far better than it probably had right to be.

Duel with landing pikes!

OK! This is hardly a rip snorter akin to Flynn's triumphs of the past, nor is it a particularly potent story, but it's a picture full of lovely optical delights whilst the lead performers have an ebullience that's utterly beguiling. Colour photography and costuming lead the way, both of which off set some of the cheapo corner cutting by producer Howard Christie. Direction is steady, with the actors comfortable with the jovial material to hand, and the finale doesn't lack in the crash, bang, wallop & hooray department. Flynn oozes laid back charisma, his unassuming kisses stealing the ladies hearts, Quinn enjoys being the dandy dastardo, O'Hara wields a good blade and broods a sexuality to knock the boys off of their feet, while Mildred Natwick is as always worthy of observation since  her visual acting is most enjoyable.

The flaws are evident from the off, making it an easy film to kick and dismiss if in a particularly demanding mood. Therefore, as pirate adventures go, or as Flynn swashers go in fact, it's very much a minor work. But that doesn't mean it isn't colourful or fun, for it happens to be both. Universal's Region 1 Pirates of the Golden Age release of Against All Flags comes in full frame and is a rather good transfer to disc. 7/10

CinemaSerf

A still very charismatic Errol Flynn is slightly past his best in this seafaring swashbuckler as "Brian Hawke" - a Royal Navy Lieutenant gone undercover to discover the secret defences of the pirate stronghold of Suarez Bay on Madagascar. He falls for a deceptively glamorous Captain of the Coast - "Mistress Stevens" (Maureen O'Hara) who has lost none of her natural feistiness. Soon he is sparring with Anthony Quinn and after they inadvertently capture the daughter of the Mogul they all have to spar with Mildred Natwick (her nurse) doing her best Una O'Connor impression. It is still too much of a dawdling romance, with a soporific score from Hans Salter and way too much dialogue but is a perfectly watchable yarn, with an action-packed ending.

English

Against All Flags ≣ 1952 ≣ Trailer