Captain Kidd

Captain Kidd (1945)

Infamous 17th century pirate, Captain William Kidd is amply portrayed by Charles Laughton in this swashbuckler classic. Laughton is up to the demands of the role and manages to convey charm, guile and ruthlessness, all at the same time. The chutzpa of Kidd to persuade King William III (portrayed by veteran Henry Daniell) to act on behalf of the British crown to protect a royal British ship loaded with gold and jewels bound for London from India is a testament to Kidd’s genius. The steps he uses to eliminate his fellow pirates as their eyes bulge in anticipation of the new treasures that literally fall into their lap as a result of Kidd’s cunning plan, provides a most interesting sub-plot, however his efforts to eliminate top gunner Adam Mercy (Randolph Scott) who has discovered Kidd’s secret past as a pirate and murderer of his father, Captain of the 12 Apostles ship Kidd had pillaged, proves to be his undoing. (1945)

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