"CAPTAIN BLOOD."

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 13

"CAPTAIN BLOOD."

The still beauty of the tropic seas, the hard days when innocent people were shipped o£E to the West Indian plantations as slaves for the emalleat political offences, and all the romanco of the Spanish Main, is contained in beautifully executed photography in "Captain Blood," which will be shown at the Liberty and Grand Theatres on Friday. It is a red-blooded tale of the stirring times ot James 11., when men mado loriunes by tlieir courage and skill with the swoid, whe-i privateers tcoured tho torrid tropic seas, ana neither colonists nor peaceful liicrcr.itiiLrncii were safe, when I'rencii warships and Spanish buccaneers raided the coasts o£ the islands, and the Governors of tho British possessions overseas were more like military commanderb. Tho hero of Kafael Sabatim s vivid story ia ±* eter Blood, a young doctor, who is transported lor aiding a wounded rebel. In common with the other slaves ha is put to ltaul a plough. from, sunrise io sunset, but he attracts the attention of the daughter of a rich planter, and is taken off tho toil in tho fields to practise his art. In the course of a Spanish raid, with tba aid of the iorgot'.c-n slaves, Peter seizes the Spanish ship, and takes to tho life of a buccaneer. As tho~~ years pass he grows wealthy, ond his courage is a proverb Strangely tho paths of the planter's daughter cross his, and a pretty love story is unfolded. There arc magnificent scenes in deadly actions afloat, the great vessels pounding oich other broadside to broadside under full sail, and some ere blown up, whikt others sink. Through it all Peter leads the courso of history, and finally engages the whole of tho' French fleet to save Port Royal (Jamaica), and Arabella, the »irl ha "lores. The photography of this masterpiece of filmed action is superb, and the story ia thrilling throughout. The life of the planters in the West Indian Islts is shown, .and the customs of the day, and tho whippings in the stocks. Xbo extravagant dres3 and manners of the time give interest to the unfolding of the shore side of the story. Wirren Kerrigan plays Captain Blood with fire, and interprets the virue pirate character cf the book with skill and success. Jean Paige, cs Arabella vreara gowns in the acme of fashion of the day, and acts convincingly.