Top Ten (10) Favorite SWASHBUCKLER Movies
Below is a list of my top ten (10) favorite swashbuckler movies:
TOP TEN (10) FAVORITE SWASHBUCKLER MOVIES
1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (2006) - This is the second of the "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" franchise and much to my surprise . . . my favorite. This movie has Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann pitted against Davy Jones and the East India Trading Company. The finale is one of my all time favorites in film history.
2. "The Sea Hawk" (1940) - Vaguely based upon Rafael Sabatini's novel (and I do mean vaguely), this Errol Flynn swashbuckler is about the battle between an English privateer and the Spanish Empire during the late 16th century. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the movie co-starred Brenda Marshall, Henry Daniell, Claude Rains and Flora Robson.
3. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003) - This first movie in the "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" franchise introduced the world to roguish pirate Jack Sparrow (memorably portrayed by Johnny Depp), along with Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa. The story involved a cursed Aztec treasure.
4. "The Three Musketeers" (1973) - This seventh or eighth version of Alexander Dumas' classic adventure novel is my absolute favorite version. It starred Michael York, Oliver Reed, Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welsh, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay, Christopher Lee, Geraldine Chaplin and Charlton Heston.
5. "The Mark of Zorro" (1940) - Based on the Johnston McCulley story, "The Curse of Capistrano", this superb swashbuckler set in early California starred Tyrone Power as a Californio aristocrat who helps the locals resist the tyranny of a corrupt alcalde and his henchmen. The movie co-starred Linda Darnell and Basil Rathbone.
6. "The Four Musketeers" (1974) - This sequel to "The Three Musketeers" turned out to be just as superb as the original. Also directed by Richard Lester.
7. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1982) - Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen starred in what I consider to be the best adaptation of Baroness Orczy's tale about a British aristocrat who disguises himself to save the victims of France's "Reign of Terror".
8. "The Adventures of Robin Hood" - Errol Flynn became identified with his role as Robin, Earl of Locksley aka "Robin Hood" in this colorful and excellent adaptation of the famous English outlaw/freedom fighter. Directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, the movie co-starred Olivia DeHavilland, Basil Rathbone, Alan Dale and Claude Rains.
9. "The Princess Bride" (1987) - Rob Reiner directed this superb adaptation of William Goldman's novel about a classic fairy tale with swordplay, a pirate, giants, an evil prince, and a beautiful princess; as read by a kindly grandfather. Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Robin Wright, Fred Savage and Peter Falk co-starred.
10. "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) - Martin Campbell directed this exciting adaptation of Johnston McCulley's tale about a masked freedom fighter in California of the early 1840s. Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stuart Wilson co-starred.