Howard Pyle's painting Attack on a Galleon
Hollywood Pirates and Heroines: Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine Sisters in Pirate Films Written by Teresa Knudsen. Published on Suite 101 April 09, 2009.
Republished January 11, 2012 on Sweet Suite Writings
Hollywood Pirates and Heroines
Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine: Sisters in Pirate Films
During Hollywood's Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s, two sisters starred in two different pirate films: Captain Blood and Frenchman's Creek.
In the Pirates of the Caribbean films, heroine Elizabeth Swan transforms from a proper governor's daughter into a pirate captain. While this change reflects modern times, two films from the Golden Age of Hollywood offer two heroines as spirited as Elizabeth Swan.
For these parts, Hollywood producers selected Olivia de Havilland and her younger sister Joan Fontaine. These two actresses gave performances that illustrated why a proper young woman would fall in love with a pirate, and why a pirate would fall in love with her.
Captain Blood with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland
In 1935, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland were paired as the lovers in the film version of Rafael Sabatini's novel, Captain Blood. Olivia plays the spoiled niece of Port Royal's governor. As Arabella Bishop, Olivia shows spirit and compassion during a slave auction, as she buys Dr. Peter Blood in order to save him from being punished for his defiant attitude. He later escapes for a life of piracy, and takes Arabella as captive.
Olivia de Havilland was only 18 when she starred in Captain Blood with the romantic Errol Flynn. In an interview, she remembers that she was immediately drawn to him:
“… I walked onto the set, and they said, "Would you please stand next to Mr. Flynn?" and I saw him. Oh my! Oh my! Struck dumb. I knew it was what the French call a coup de foudre."
The dashing Errol and the demure Olivia turned their chemisty into box office gold, opening the door to their careers and many other films together.
Frenchman's Creek with Joan Fontaine and Arturo de Cordova
In 1944, Joan Fontaine starred in Daphne du Maurier's classic, Frenchman's Creek. Joan plays Dona St. Columb, the darling of London court in the year 1669. She is married to a nobleman more interested in drinking and gambling than in noticing that his best friend, Lord Rockingham, is trying to seduce his wife.
Dona flees with her children and nanny to the family manor home on the Cornish coast, where she finds refuge, a strange servant, and a pirate who has been anchoring in her creek and sleeping in her bed. Joan's performance captured the effervescent Dona, bright as a candle and in love with a dashing pirate who gives away most of what he takes, with a sense of humor as he puntures the vanity of the local nobles.
Yet, in her autobiography No Bed of Roses, Joan regrets doing Frenchman's Creek, saying that the pirate film hurt her career.
What is it about pirates that causes level-headed high-born women to suddenly forsake their corsets and crinolines, and escape their narrow existence by jumping aboard a pirate ship and sailing the seas? Again and again in pirate films, the heroine finds life, love, and freedom in the arms of rebel mariners.
As the sisters Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine show us, the heroines are just as spirited and independent as the pirates.
The only remaining question is if Arabella Bishop and Dona St. Columb were in Pirates of the Caribbean, whom would they choose? Captain Jack Sparrow or Captain Will Turner?
Joan Fontaine Interview. Proust Questionnaire Vanity Fair. February 2008.
“Olivia de Havilland Interview, Legendary Leading Lady: The Last Belle of Cinema.” The Academy of Achievement: A Museum of Living History. October 5, 2006, Washington, D.C.
For these parts, Hollywood producers selected Olivia de Havilland and her younger sister Joan Fontaine. These two actresses gave performances that illustrated why a proper young woman would fall in love with a pirate, and why a pirate would fall in love with her.
Captain Blood with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland
In 1935, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland were paired as the lovers in the film version of Rafael Sabatini's novel, Captain Blood. Olivia plays the spoiled niece of Port Royal's governor. As Arabella Bishop, Olivia shows spirit and compassion during a slave auction, as she buys Dr. Peter Blood in order to save him from being punished for his defiant attitude. He later escapes for a life of piracy, and takes Arabella as captive.
Olivia de Havilland was only 18 when she starred in Captain Blood with the romantic Errol Flynn. In an interview, she remembers that she was immediately drawn to him:
“… I walked onto the set, and they said, "Would you please stand next to Mr. Flynn?" and I saw him. Oh my! Oh my! Struck dumb. I knew it was what the French call a coup de foudre."
The dashing Errol and the demure Olivia turned their chemisty into box office gold, opening the door to their careers and many other films together.
Frenchman's Creek with Joan Fontaine and Arturo de Cordova
In 1944, Joan Fontaine starred in Daphne du Maurier's classic, Frenchman's Creek. Joan plays Dona St. Columb, the darling of London court in the year 1669. She is married to a nobleman more interested in drinking and gambling than in noticing that his best friend, Lord Rockingham, is trying to seduce his wife.
Dona flees with her children and nanny to the family manor home on the Cornish coast, where she finds refuge, a strange servant, and a pirate who has been anchoring in her creek and sleeping in her bed. Joan's performance captured the effervescent Dona, bright as a candle and in love with a dashing pirate who gives away most of what he takes, with a sense of humor as he puntures the vanity of the local nobles.
Yet, in her autobiography No Bed of Roses, Joan regrets doing Frenchman's Creek, saying that the pirate film hurt her career.
Enduring Popularity of the Sisters' Pirate Films
Both Captain Blood and Frenchman's Creek were made over 50 years ago. Yet, the films and their stars are as well-known and popular as ever.What is it about pirates that causes level-headed high-born women to suddenly forsake their corsets and crinolines, and escape their narrow existence by jumping aboard a pirate ship and sailing the seas? Again and again in pirate films, the heroine finds life, love, and freedom in the arms of rebel mariners.
As the sisters Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine show us, the heroines are just as spirited and independent as the pirates.
The only remaining question is if Arabella Bishop and Dona St. Columb were in Pirates of the Caribbean, whom would they choose? Captain Jack Sparrow or Captain Will Turner?
References
Fontaine, Joan. No Bed of Roses. Berkeley Publishing Group, 1979.Joan Fontaine Interview. Proust Questionnaire Vanity Fair. February 2008.
“Olivia de Havilland Interview, Legendary Leading Lady: The Last Belle of Cinema.” The Academy of Achievement: A Museum of Living History. October 5, 2006, Washington, D.C.
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