This is not an adventure film as the title might suggest, but a slow moving melodrama, with some good scenes. The film was made independentley in France, and from the beginning there was to have been two versions, one english and one frenchspeaking. Director Robert Florey, was hired to helm the frenchspeaking version, but it was never made. Instead Florey stayed on as uncredited assistant director to William Marshall, some scenes show his influence, and he directed most of the final dockside fight. It was also Florey who brought in actors Victor Francen and Jim Gerald, as well as art director Eugene Lourie to the project. The film is good to look at, photography(by Marcel Grignon) and settings are intriguing, but the direction is to slow to really keep intrest, but a few scenes near the end are well made. The acting is ok, Agnes Moorehead gives a fine performence, and Errol Flynn is interesting as a rough seacaptain, a toned down role in comparision with Micheline Presles flambouyant creole girl. Vincent Price is properly slimy as a spineless dandy and Victor Francen is seen to briefley as his grim uncle. The story is very old fashioned, a little "Monte Cristoish" in style, and have some curiosity value. This film must unfortenatly go down as a missed opportunity, although an interesting one, like Vincent Price later said: this should have been a very good film". Altough the film has flaws, its visually interesting also the music by Rene Cloerc has its moments. if you like oldfashioned, romantic melodramas, this could be worth watching and the final scene is inspired.
17 Reviews
Hoary old Nonsense with Price & Flynn..
tim-764-29185612 July 2012
I saw this on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) channel.
This 1951 melodrama, with its Gothic overtones stars a dashing, if rather old looking Errol Flynn and a caddish Vincent Price. Lead actress is the French Micheline Presle and she's a dark haired gypsy looking type of seductress, falling for mariner Flynn, of the title.
It seems set in the early 19th century, has stilted and corny dialogue that only the movies could endure and is, frankly, fairly slow and boring. One wonders why a movie with such a cast is not available on DVD, at least not on Amazon, not even as a region 1 and maybe that one has discovered a long lost gem. I've not heard of director William Marshall before and I won't be rushing to track down his other work.
Those craving to own everything that the three leads have ever appeared in are the likeliest to get some enjoyment out of it, but it's difficult to find anything here for an everyday, modern audience. It's not actually terrible but when one often wonders what else one should be doing instead, that's not a good sign.
This 1951 melodrama, with its Gothic overtones stars a dashing, if rather old looking Errol Flynn and a caddish Vincent Price. Lead actress is the French Micheline Presle and she's a dark haired gypsy looking type of seductress, falling for mariner Flynn, of the title.
It seems set in the early 19th century, has stilted and corny dialogue that only the movies could endure and is, frankly, fairly slow and boring. One wonders why a movie with such a cast is not available on DVD, at least not on Amazon, not even as a region 1 and maybe that one has discovered a long lost gem. I've not heard of director William Marshall before and I won't be rushing to track down his other work.
Those craving to own everything that the three leads have ever appeared in are the likeliest to get some enjoyment out of it, but it's difficult to find anything here for an everyday, modern audience. It's not actually terrible but when one often wonders what else one should be doing instead, that's not a good sign.
Entertaining Film
jstudu10 January 2006
As stated in another review, bit of a slow mover this one. Not one of Flynn's best. Although Flynn is credited with writing this, it is believed the he didn't actually write any of this. In his biography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways", he stated that he did. But others from the time dispute that claim. Who knows, Flynn did author 2 books on his own, and would have preferred to be remembered as a good writer. But, all in all, this movie is good, not the best, but good and entertaining. Vincent Price does an excellent job, Anges Morehead, is as usual very dependable and shows why she is one of the better character actors in Hollywood. Errol Flynn, to me, appears half asleep though this movie. Strange, considering he boasted he wrote it. Not much of an adventure film.. But for Flynn fans, a good film, and should be seen..
Surprisingly...a good film with Screenplay by Errol Flynn....
tmpj16 April 2010
As one reviewer has already pointed out...not an adventure film. But it is a film filled with intrigue and treachery that stands up fairly well even in today's treacherous world. I found it on an old VHS tape...the leader had broken, and I had to break into the cassette housing to repair it and make it playable. It turned out to be well worth the effort. I had never seen it before, but I will be watching it again. There are definite flaws in the storyline, but the well written script by Errol Flynn helps compensate for some of those shortcomings. It's a story about lust, and greed and arrogance, and I think anyone who hasn't seen the film will find it very watchable and quite entertaining. Flynn, Aggie Moorhead and Vincent Price are, alone, worth the price of admission. Ms Moorhead was somewhat cast against type in this one, but she has the full character range that helps her to pull this off in somewhat believable fashion. In old New Orleans, just before the outbreak of the Civil War, the passions were already high, and it gets steamier--in the dramatic sense--as this film goes on. A good film that had greatness in its potential, an above average script, and some very compelling performances all combine to make this a film that I can recommend without hesitation.
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN FABIAN (William Marshall and, uncredited, Robert Florey, 1951) **1/2
Bunuel19765 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Given the title I expected this (which I had missed out years ago on a solitary Saturday morning screening on Italian TV) to be yet another of star Errol Flynn's swashbucklers, especially since he took it upon himself to pen its screenplay (perhaps following the example of his predecessor Douglas Fairbanks)! With this in mind, it is commendable that he opted for a change-of-pace vehicle (which has more of the Southern Gothic touch about it than anything else) and his character basically shares the protagonist role with co-star Micheline Presle (the film, in fact, is a French production shot in the English language and distributed in the U.S. by Republic Pictures!)!
The leading lady is a Creole girl serving (and mistreated by) an aristocratic family but still managing to attract the attention of lecherous prospective in-law Vincent Price. She swears revenge – with the help of batty sidekick Agnes Moorehead – and, in fact, the minute her masters are out of the house, the latter installs a load of beggars in their house (who would have thought that Flynn actually anticipated the most celebrated set-piece in Luis Bunuel's VIRIDIANA by 10 years?!). Anyway, Price's craving for the girl is too great to stay away for too long and, when he turns up unexpectedly, tragedy ensues – with Presle curtailing a drunken stable-boy's sinister intentions with repeated blows to the head courtesy of Price's walking-cane! The latter, however, proves typically diabolical and unceremoniously hands the heroine over to the Police (especially since her own mother had been convicted of a crime and was subsequently hanged for it!), while Moorehead promptly shows Price what she thinks of him by spitting in his face!
Thankfully, for Presle, docking seaman Flynn bears her accuser a grudge himself so, when he runs into the young Howard Vernon (a nervous clerk with the villain's firm) in a tavern, he manages to get wind of how things really went in the murder case and, consequently, turns up at the trial to literally blackmail the judge (Price's uncle no less) in dropping the charges and letting Presle go! Aware of her ambitions, he even buys the afore-mentioned establishment for her. The heroine, then, sees an opportunity to get even with Price when, unbeknownst to him, organizes his bachelor party at her pub and then leads him, tipsy as he is, back home and into his room, making sure another irascible uncle (Victor Francen, demeaning Price in much the same way he had the latter's future co-star Peter Lorre in THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS {1946}, coincidentally another Bunuel connection!) catches them in flagrante delicto! Once again, the situation escalates and Price strangles Francen to death (it is interesting how the mechanics of murder have been reversed from the previous crime) and, with Presle's complicity, buries the old man – the two, however, attempt to double-cross one another as, while she throws in his jacket in order to direct the finger of guilt towards him, he does the same with a watch in her possession but which had actually borne an inscription tracing it to the oblivious Flynn!
Jailed but eventually liberated by Moorehead's rallying of his shipmates, he discovers that Presle had wed Price in a marriage of convenience (by giving her what she wanted all along, he can rest assured she will not give him away) but, of course, she secretly pines for the hero. In any case, the actionful and fiery finale has a lynch-mob (led by Reggie Nalder who, like the afore-mentioned Vernon, is here several years away from acquiring a cult reputation in horror films!) attack first the prison and then the docks in an attempt to hasten Flynn's sentence – he finally gets the goods on Price but Presle herself perishes (with the closing shot depicting him carrying her lifeless body through the foggy streets, accompanied by a superimposed snippet from a previous scene wherein he asserts his undying love for her despite their obvious incompatibility). In the long run, the film – running a generous 100 minutes – is stylish and compelling (despite the production compromises and an unfamiliar 'official' director), not to mention a reasonably successful 'oddity' within the action/romantic star's canon that is entirely undeserving of Leonard Maltin's *1/2 rating.
The leading lady is a Creole girl serving (and mistreated by) an aristocratic family but still managing to attract the attention of lecherous prospective in-law Vincent Price. She swears revenge – with the help of batty sidekick Agnes Moorehead – and, in fact, the minute her masters are out of the house, the latter installs a load of beggars in their house (who would have thought that Flynn actually anticipated the most celebrated set-piece in Luis Bunuel's VIRIDIANA by 10 years?!). Anyway, Price's craving for the girl is too great to stay away for too long and, when he turns up unexpectedly, tragedy ensues – with Presle curtailing a drunken stable-boy's sinister intentions with repeated blows to the head courtesy of Price's walking-cane! The latter, however, proves typically diabolical and unceremoniously hands the heroine over to the Police (especially since her own mother had been convicted of a crime and was subsequently hanged for it!), while Moorehead promptly shows Price what she thinks of him by spitting in his face!
Thankfully, for Presle, docking seaman Flynn bears her accuser a grudge himself so, when he runs into the young Howard Vernon (a nervous clerk with the villain's firm) in a tavern, he manages to get wind of how things really went in the murder case and, consequently, turns up at the trial to literally blackmail the judge (Price's uncle no less) in dropping the charges and letting Presle go! Aware of her ambitions, he even buys the afore-mentioned establishment for her. The heroine, then, sees an opportunity to get even with Price when, unbeknownst to him, organizes his bachelor party at her pub and then leads him, tipsy as he is, back home and into his room, making sure another irascible uncle (Victor Francen, demeaning Price in much the same way he had the latter's future co-star Peter Lorre in THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS {1946}, coincidentally another Bunuel connection!) catches them in flagrante delicto! Once again, the situation escalates and Price strangles Francen to death (it is interesting how the mechanics of murder have been reversed from the previous crime) and, with Presle's complicity, buries the old man – the two, however, attempt to double-cross one another as, while she throws in his jacket in order to direct the finger of guilt towards him, he does the same with a watch in her possession but which had actually borne an inscription tracing it to the oblivious Flynn!
Jailed but eventually liberated by Moorehead's rallying of his shipmates, he discovers that Presle had wed Price in a marriage of convenience (by giving her what she wanted all along, he can rest assured she will not give him away) but, of course, she secretly pines for the hero. In any case, the actionful and fiery finale has a lynch-mob (led by Reggie Nalder who, like the afore-mentioned Vernon, is here several years away from acquiring a cult reputation in horror films!) attack first the prison and then the docks in an attempt to hasten Flynn's sentence – he finally gets the goods on Price but Presle herself perishes (with the closing shot depicting him carrying her lifeless body through the foggy streets, accompanied by a superimposed snippet from a previous scene wherein he asserts his undying love for her despite their obvious incompatibility). In the long run, the film – running a generous 100 minutes – is stylish and compelling (despite the production compromises and an unfamiliar 'official' director), not to mention a reasonably successful 'oddity' within the action/romantic star's canon that is entirely undeserving of Leonard Maltin's *1/2 rating.
Oh Captain, My Captain
bkoganbing15 March 2007
Adventures of Captain Fabian has the distinct aroma of tax write-off about it. Errol Flynn and friend William Marshall who was married to Ginger Rogers at one time, filmed this in France and released it through Herbert J. Yates's Republic films. In this case Yates might have been wise to put wife Vera Hruba Ralston in it because she couldn't have possibly made the film any worse.
For a man who led an adventurous and made so many action films, it's amazing that Errol Flynn when writing a screenplay could make it so deadly dull. Flynn, if in fact he wrote it, borrowed a bit from Saratoga Trunk and a bit from Mourning Becomes Electra and a touch of Tennessee Williams. All of which are beyond his reach as thespian. It's only in the last ten minutes of the film when Flynn who is framed for the murder of Victor Francen is being freed from jail. How it's done by the way is a bit bizarre.
In fact Flynn is barely in the film at all except for the last 40 minutes. He and Michelline Presle have both been done dirty by the family of which Vincent Price is the wastrel heir.
In Michelline's case, Price has had his fling with her, but now he's dumping her to make a proper marriage, New Orleans style. She ain't taking it lying down and her machinations get her, Price and Flynn in a whole lot of trouble.
The film was shot over in France, the interiors done in Paris and New Orleans of 1853 is represented by the French city of Villefrance. Flynn and Marshall were supposed to do a French language version simultaneously as per French law, but skipped the country before the authorities caught on. They also stiffed Vincent Price on his salary and Price had to sue both of them and he collected a few years later.
In fact Price is the one good thing about Adventures of Captain Fabian. He essentially takes his Shelby Carpenter character from Laura back to the previous century. Agnes Moorehead plays Michelline Presle's aunt, but she's got a terrible makeup job, she looks and acts like Flora Robson from Saratoga Trunk.
Knowing what Errol Flynn fans like, they are going to be terribly disappointed with Adventures of Captain Fabian.
For a man who led an adventurous and made so many action films, it's amazing that Errol Flynn when writing a screenplay could make it so deadly dull. Flynn, if in fact he wrote it, borrowed a bit from Saratoga Trunk and a bit from Mourning Becomes Electra and a touch of Tennessee Williams. All of which are beyond his reach as thespian. It's only in the last ten minutes of the film when Flynn who is framed for the murder of Victor Francen is being freed from jail. How it's done by the way is a bit bizarre.
In fact Flynn is barely in the film at all except for the last 40 minutes. He and Michelline Presle have both been done dirty by the family of which Vincent Price is the wastrel heir.
In Michelline's case, Price has had his fling with her, but now he's dumping her to make a proper marriage, New Orleans style. She ain't taking it lying down and her machinations get her, Price and Flynn in a whole lot of trouble.
The film was shot over in France, the interiors done in Paris and New Orleans of 1853 is represented by the French city of Villefrance. Flynn and Marshall were supposed to do a French language version simultaneously as per French law, but skipped the country before the authorities caught on. They also stiffed Vincent Price on his salary and Price had to sue both of them and he collected a few years later.
In fact Price is the one good thing about Adventures of Captain Fabian. He essentially takes his Shelby Carpenter character from Laura back to the previous century. Agnes Moorehead plays Michelline Presle's aunt, but she's got a terrible makeup job, she looks and acts like Flora Robson from Saratoga Trunk.
Knowing what Errol Flynn fans like, they are going to be terribly disappointed with Adventures of Captain Fabian.
Just one adventure and not much of it
schappe119 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Flynn and his partner William Marshall, did manage to get one film made and released, despite their 'Hello God' debacle and that was 'Adventures of Captain Fabian', which, according to Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer and/or Clifford McCarthy, the authors of "The Films of Errol Flynn" "is undoubtedly one of the dullest pictures existent."
I don't agree. Like most of Flynn's films of the 1950's, it's no classic but it is an 'A' level film and a reasonable entertainment, despite some valid criticisms. The fact that Flynn adapted the screen play from a novel is interesting. You wonder why Flynn, a published author of stories based on his own adventures, didn't do more of this, possibly a story of his younger days. The biggest problem with this movie is that there's not enough of Flynn, (Captain Fabian), who has only this one 'adventure'.
Most of the film is about a creole woman played French actress Micheline Presle, who was married to Marshall. She, and her mother, Jesebel, played by Agnes Moorehead, are trying to climb up in society by marrying into wealth in the person of Vincent Price, who loves her but has an upper-class fiancé already and would prefer her as a mistress. But she wants more than that. The result is two murders. The first one is by Presle of a drunken party goer who got fresh, witnessed by Price, who then tries to arrange through his family connections to get her convicted while he remains blameless. The second is by Price of his disapproving uncle in Presle's presence after which they decide to hide the body. Price adds in a gift Flynn gave to Presle, causing him to get arrested for the murder. Flynn had come to Presle's rescue after the first murder, persuading the Judge to drop the charges and put her in his custody. He also bears an old grudge against Price's family for ruining his father. It all ends with Price trying to get rid of Flynn by organizing a lynch mob. When Flynn escapes to his ship, the battle is on between his crew and the mob, which sets the ship on fire. Flynn winds up drowning Price in the water while the main mast falls over upon bad girl Presle, who has time only for some last words and a last kiss with the man she really loved.
It's all kind of over-wrought with Flynn mostly on the sidelines. But it's never really dull. There's a hint of Gone With the Wind, (which Jack Warner had wanted to make with Flynn and Bette Davis), with Presle as the fiery and ambitious heroine loved by the roguish sea captain. But she's not all that endearing and goes too far to achieve her aims, (and thus, under the production code, must die). Price gives his typical weaselly performance, that being his screen persona before he got into gothic horror movies a few years later. There's no action and no adventure to speak of until the final scene. But there were certainly many worse films audiences had to sit through in 1951.
I don't agree. Like most of Flynn's films of the 1950's, it's no classic but it is an 'A' level film and a reasonable entertainment, despite some valid criticisms. The fact that Flynn adapted the screen play from a novel is interesting. You wonder why Flynn, a published author of stories based on his own adventures, didn't do more of this, possibly a story of his younger days. The biggest problem with this movie is that there's not enough of Flynn, (Captain Fabian), who has only this one 'adventure'.
Most of the film is about a creole woman played French actress Micheline Presle, who was married to Marshall. She, and her mother, Jesebel, played by Agnes Moorehead, are trying to climb up in society by marrying into wealth in the person of Vincent Price, who loves her but has an upper-class fiancé already and would prefer her as a mistress. But she wants more than that. The result is two murders. The first one is by Presle of a drunken party goer who got fresh, witnessed by Price, who then tries to arrange through his family connections to get her convicted while he remains blameless. The second is by Price of his disapproving uncle in Presle's presence after which they decide to hide the body. Price adds in a gift Flynn gave to Presle, causing him to get arrested for the murder. Flynn had come to Presle's rescue after the first murder, persuading the Judge to drop the charges and put her in his custody. He also bears an old grudge against Price's family for ruining his father. It all ends with Price trying to get rid of Flynn by organizing a lynch mob. When Flynn escapes to his ship, the battle is on between his crew and the mob, which sets the ship on fire. Flynn winds up drowning Price in the water while the main mast falls over upon bad girl Presle, who has time only for some last words and a last kiss with the man she really loved.
It's all kind of over-wrought with Flynn mostly on the sidelines. But it's never really dull. There's a hint of Gone With the Wind, (which Jack Warner had wanted to make with Flynn and Bette Davis), with Presle as the fiery and ambitious heroine loved by the roguish sea captain. But she's not all that endearing and goes too far to achieve her aims, (and thus, under the production code, must die). Price gives his typical weaselly performance, that being his screen persona before he got into gothic horror movies a few years later. There's no action and no adventure to speak of until the final scene. But there were certainly many worse films audiences had to sit through in 1951.
The Price of weakness is a strong performance.
mark.waltz18 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
While top billed and the screenwriter, Errol Flynn is secondary to leading lady Micheline Presle who plays a servant girl desperate to live the high life on St. Charles Street in New Orleans. To do so (and to get revenge on her nasty employer), she manipulates her way into the affections (or lusts) of the amoral Vincent Price who will one day inherit the estate of aging uncle Victor Francen. Presle's schemes result in two murders, one she committed herself, and the other she witnessed. Price is forced to marry her and frames old foe Flynn (whom Presle really loves), and this leads to riots in the city of sin by the sea.
While Presle completely overacts and Flynn basically plays himself, this lets Price walk away with the film. Agnes Moorhead, as Presle's aunt, is commanding and unintentionally funny, but she really doesn't get a lot of screen time or memorable lines. Her dark makeup is embarrassing as well. This is a mixed bag of melodrama filled with vengeance, violence and unsympathetic characters. Still, justice seems served and a moral lesson is taught. Presle ain't no Vivien Leigh unfortunately which is perhaps why she is completely forgotten, and her scheming character of Leah is far from memorable.
While Presle completely overacts and Flynn basically plays himself, this lets Price walk away with the film. Agnes Moorhead, as Presle's aunt, is commanding and unintentionally funny, but she really doesn't get a lot of screen time or memorable lines. Her dark makeup is embarrassing as well. This is a mixed bag of melodrama filled with vengeance, violence and unsympathetic characters. Still, justice seems served and a moral lesson is taught. Presle ain't no Vivien Leigh unfortunately which is perhaps why she is completely forgotten, and her scheming character of Leah is far from memorable.
Period-piece melodrama with lots of backstage melodrama
AlsExGal12 August 2021
Micheline Presle stars as Lea Mariotte, a Creole maid in 1860 New Orleans. She gets accused of murder in order to cover up the misdeeds of local wealthy scion George Brissac (Vincent Price), but she gets freed thanks to the intervention of merchant sea captain Michael Fabian (Errol Flynn). Fabian has a score to settle with the Brissac family, but Lea sees George as her entry into posh society.
This odd movie doesn't really work, but I liked parts of it. Although a shirtless Flynn is featured in the promotional art, which combined with the title make this seem like a swashbuckler, he's really more of a supporting player, and this is Presle's film all the way (she was dating or married to the director at the time). To say that her character is complicated would be an understatement, as she's at times the most evil person in the movie, but then the script tries to make her actions seem justified. Many of the characters are morally dubious and hard to pin down.
The production values are excellent in some scenes, but amateurish in others. There's some nice (if obvious) miniature work, and some good crowd shots. Vincent Price is squirmy and entertainingly hammy, and Agnes Moorehead also chews the scenery as a Creole relative of Lea's. I also enjoyed seeing future European "B" movie staples Howard Vernon and Reggie Nalder in minor roles.
The production of this movie was troubled, with director Marshall being accused of incompetence and Robert Florey being brought in to shoot some scenes. Flynn himself is credited with the screenplay, although he was later sued by an associate who claimed to have worked on it. Speaking of litigation, there was more to go around, as Flynn sued Republic to try and get the film blocked from release (it would have violated his contract with Warner Brothers). It may not be good as in cohesive, but it is entertaining.
This odd movie doesn't really work, but I liked parts of it. Although a shirtless Flynn is featured in the promotional art, which combined with the title make this seem like a swashbuckler, he's really more of a supporting player, and this is Presle's film all the way (she was dating or married to the director at the time). To say that her character is complicated would be an understatement, as she's at times the most evil person in the movie, but then the script tries to make her actions seem justified. Many of the characters are morally dubious and hard to pin down.
The production values are excellent in some scenes, but amateurish in others. There's some nice (if obvious) miniature work, and some good crowd shots. Vincent Price is squirmy and entertainingly hammy, and Agnes Moorehead also chews the scenery as a Creole relative of Lea's. I also enjoyed seeing future European "B" movie staples Howard Vernon and Reggie Nalder in minor roles.
The production of this movie was troubled, with director Marshall being accused of incompetence and Robert Florey being brought in to shoot some scenes. Flynn himself is credited with the screenplay, although he was later sued by an associate who claimed to have worked on it. Speaking of litigation, there was more to go around, as Flynn sued Republic to try and get the film blocked from release (it would have violated his contract with Warner Brothers). It may not be good as in cohesive, but it is entertaining.
Not very exciting
Leofwine_draca21 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN FABIAN is something of a misnomer. It makes this sound like a typical Errol Flynn swashbuckler, but there's very little action until the climax which makes it a bit of a slog to sit through. Instead it sees Flynn playing the usual moustachioed hero type who becomes involved with a young woman who's the definition of social climber. Various character interventions lead to murder and eventual mayhem, but it's all a little too late and a little too relaxed. For horror fans, there's an interesting chance to spot Vincent Price as a different kind of slimy villain, alongside future baddies Howard Vernon (to become a staple in Euro horror and Jess Franco movies) and the one and only Reggie Nalder (SALEM'S LOT).
One of Flynn's earlier European pictures....and it's a pretty good one.
planktonrules8 September 2020
When the 1950s rolled around, Errol Flynn's fortunes in Hollywood began to dry up. While he still had a few good American films left in him, most of his later films were international productions, where the out of favor actor found a new lease on life. "The Adventures of Captain Fabian" is a film made in France...which is unusual because it's set in New Orleans. It's also VERY unusual because Flynn himself wrote the screenplay himself!
George Brissac (Vincent Price) is a pusillanimous weasel...albeit a rich one from a powerful family. Early in the film, he ducks out on his fiancee to have a good time with his plaything, Lea (Micheline Presle). But when they are confronted, the witness ends up being killed...and George promises to fix everything. Using his family influence, he ends up framing this servant for the murder...knowing his family who run the local court will make it stick. Unfortunately for George, Captain Fabian (Errol Flynn) is in town...and he knows enough dirt about the Brissacs that the court agrees to toss out the case in order to keep him quiet.
After arranging for her freedom AND buying Lea her own business, Captain Fabian leaves. Soon, Lea is kissing up to George again....and he's too dumb to see it's all a set-up. But George makes it easy for Lea when he murders his uncle, the family patriarch. She's witnessed it and insists he marry her instead of the rich and well-connected woman he's supposed to marry. Now this former servant is going to be the lady of the household...and one of the most powerful women in New Orleans. What's next? And, will Captain Fabian have anything more to do in this film since it IS named after him?!
Well, the name of the film is unfortunate. There really are no adventures to speak of and Flynn is actually more of a supporting character throughout much of the film. In fact, he doesn't even appear until 18 minutes into the movie is is rarely seen until late in the story. No, it's much more the story of the conniving Lea and how she fits in with or destroys the horrid Brissacs....as well as if George can possibly get away with yet another murder!
So is this film any good? Well, the characters certainly are interesting...particularly Lea. And, since the actress has a French accent already, she's pretty convincing as a resident of New Orleans. Odd, though how Price and many other Louisianans don't have such accents! Back in 1860, most well connected folks in the town would have had such accents. But there also are a couple problems with the picture...particularly when Lea declares her love for Fabian. This made little sense...especially since up until then she seemed more like a total sociopath. The other problem, though minor, was Agnes Moorehead's make-up. What was with THAT?!
By the way, I noticed a lot of low scores for this. Could this be because it is more unlike one of his films than almost any I'd seen up to this point in his career?
George Brissac (Vincent Price) is a pusillanimous weasel...albeit a rich one from a powerful family. Early in the film, he ducks out on his fiancee to have a good time with his plaything, Lea (Micheline Presle). But when they are confronted, the witness ends up being killed...and George promises to fix everything. Using his family influence, he ends up framing this servant for the murder...knowing his family who run the local court will make it stick. Unfortunately for George, Captain Fabian (Errol Flynn) is in town...and he knows enough dirt about the Brissacs that the court agrees to toss out the case in order to keep him quiet.
After arranging for her freedom AND buying Lea her own business, Captain Fabian leaves. Soon, Lea is kissing up to George again....and he's too dumb to see it's all a set-up. But George makes it easy for Lea when he murders his uncle, the family patriarch. She's witnessed it and insists he marry her instead of the rich and well-connected woman he's supposed to marry. Now this former servant is going to be the lady of the household...and one of the most powerful women in New Orleans. What's next? And, will Captain Fabian have anything more to do in this film since it IS named after him?!
Well, the name of the film is unfortunate. There really are no adventures to speak of and Flynn is actually more of a supporting character throughout much of the film. In fact, he doesn't even appear until 18 minutes into the movie is is rarely seen until late in the story. No, it's much more the story of the conniving Lea and how she fits in with or destroys the horrid Brissacs....as well as if George can possibly get away with yet another murder!
So is this film any good? Well, the characters certainly are interesting...particularly Lea. And, since the actress has a French accent already, she's pretty convincing as a resident of New Orleans. Odd, though how Price and many other Louisianans don't have such accents! Back in 1860, most well connected folks in the town would have had such accents. But there also are a couple problems with the picture...particularly when Lea declares her love for Fabian. This made little sense...especially since up until then she seemed more like a total sociopath. The other problem, though minor, was Agnes Moorehead's make-up. What was with THAT?!
By the way, I noticed a lot of low scores for this. Could this be because it is more unlike one of his films than almost any I'd seen up to this point in his career?
Say 'goodnight' Errol.
brogmiller15 August 2020
There is a myth perpetuated by film buffs that a film can be so bad that it's good.
This is absolute nonsense of course as there is no such animal.
Even allowing for the directorial inexperience of 'actor' William Marshall this lamentable opus is just plain bad.
The leading lady is Micheline Presle(here billed as Prelle so as not to challenge non-European viewers!) It is hard to believe that she had previously appeared in 'Diable au Corps' and 'Les Jeux sont faites'. Being married at the time to Marshall was probably her excuse although her role as a Creole femme fatale no doubt looked good on paper.
Agnes Moorhead and Victor Francen are wasted and Vincent Price's character is so obnoxious as to be almost unwatchable. This was not a happy experience for Price as he was obliged to sue for 'unpaid salary'.
The score by Rene Cloerec is atrocious and the screenplay, allegedly written by leading man Errol Flynn, is aimed at the slowest-witted person watching.
The professional relationship between Flynn and Marshall was short-lived and doomed from the outset, resulting in a legal dispute over a semi-documentary pacifist piece called 'Hello God'.
Watching Flynn in this is a sad spectacle indeed. An actor in his prime who has simply ceased to care.
Ten years were to elapse before Marshall was again let loose on a film set resulting in 'The Phantom Planet' which is no doubt yet another that falls into the category 'so bad it's good'!
This is absolute nonsense of course as there is no such animal.
Even allowing for the directorial inexperience of 'actor' William Marshall this lamentable opus is just plain bad.
The leading lady is Micheline Presle(here billed as Prelle so as not to challenge non-European viewers!) It is hard to believe that she had previously appeared in 'Diable au Corps' and 'Les Jeux sont faites'. Being married at the time to Marshall was probably her excuse although her role as a Creole femme fatale no doubt looked good on paper.
Agnes Moorhead and Victor Francen are wasted and Vincent Price's character is so obnoxious as to be almost unwatchable. This was not a happy experience for Price as he was obliged to sue for 'unpaid salary'.
The score by Rene Cloerec is atrocious and the screenplay, allegedly written by leading man Errol Flynn, is aimed at the slowest-witted person watching.
The professional relationship between Flynn and Marshall was short-lived and doomed from the outset, resulting in a legal dispute over a semi-documentary pacifist piece called 'Hello God'.
Watching Flynn in this is a sad spectacle indeed. An actor in his prime who has simply ceased to care.
Ten years were to elapse before Marshall was again let loose on a film set resulting in 'The Phantom Planet' which is no doubt yet another that falls into the category 'so bad it's good'!
The Amorous Adventures of Lea Mariotte
richardchatten17 August 2019
Despite being named after Errol Flynn's character, as several other writers have observed it's not remotely the Technicolor swashbuckler promised by the title but a gothic black & white melodrama complete with Vincent Price as the sort of good-looking weakling he played in 'Dragonwyck'. The film is actually 'about' proud Creole temptress Micheline Presle (who turns 97 next week, by the way) clawing her way up from an existence that began ignominiously with her mother being hanged, but who quickly loses our sympathy since having married money she immediately starts treating her servants just as badly as she herself had formerly been.
It's a tinny, unfocused affair with far too much talk and too little action for most of it's duration; but handsomely designed and photographed and added atmosphere by the occasional use of a theremin on the soundtrack. Agnes Moorehead's character turn as pipe-smoking Aunt Jezebel anticipates her eccentric supporting role in 'Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte' nearly fifteen years later; while for connoisseurs of sophisticated 60's cinema there are youthful cameos from Howard Vernon ('Alphaville'), Gilles Queant ('Last Year at Marienbad') and Reggie Nalder ('The Manchurian Candidate').
It's a tinny, unfocused affair with far too much talk and too little action for most of it's duration; but handsomely designed and photographed and added atmosphere by the occasional use of a theremin on the soundtrack. Agnes Moorehead's character turn as pipe-smoking Aunt Jezebel anticipates her eccentric supporting role in 'Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte' nearly fifteen years later; while for connoisseurs of sophisticated 60's cinema there are youthful cameos from Howard Vernon ('Alphaville'), Gilles Queant ('Last Year at Marienbad') and Reggie Nalder ('The Manchurian Candidate').
Worst ending ever
blues-199-7238896 November 2023
I won't reveal the ending for those who are gluttons for punishment and make it to the end.. at which point you'll be disappointed as they leave the biggest loose end in the history of cinema.
The sad part is that a quick rewrite could have easily wrapped the movie up in a far more satisfying way and actually made it at least mildly entertaining instead of a major let-down.
Other reviewers here have aptly described the movie, which is a better vehicle for Vincent Price than it is for Errol Flynn.
Added to the abysmal ending, the brevity of Flynn's screen time in the film makes the "love story," angle particularly difficult to take seriously.
The sad part is that a quick rewrite could have easily wrapped the movie up in a far more satisfying way and actually made it at least mildly entertaining instead of a major let-down.
Other reviewers here have aptly described the movie, which is a better vehicle for Vincent Price than it is for Errol Flynn.
Added to the abysmal ending, the brevity of Flynn's screen time in the film makes the "love story," angle particularly difficult to take seriously.
Flynn Wanders In Occasionally
boblipton30 November 2023
Serving girl Micheline Presle is mistreated by Agnes Moorhead and made love to by her nephew Vincent Price, but she's not good enough to marry. Instead, she's framed for an accidental murder Price commits, until sea captain Errol Flynn wanders by, gets her out of trouble, sets her up with a nice tavern and clothes, and leaves again. So, Mlle Presle decides to get her revenge by conniving her way into New Orleans elite society by marrying Vincent Price.
Considering Flynn wrote the screenplay this movie was based on, and has the starring position in the credits, he's not around that much, nor does his character seem particularly interested in any of the events or characters. He very well may be having adventures at sea, but mostly it's Price and Mlle Presle being angry with each other, and trying to frame each other, until a corpse shows up. It's not clear if Price or Mlle Presle killed it, but Price decides to frame Flynn, who's in town, and then leads a lynch mob against him.
No one is particularly well served by this movie, even though there's a spectacular explosion and fire towards the end. Robert Florey did some uncredited direction on it.
Considering Flynn wrote the screenplay this movie was based on, and has the starring position in the credits, he's not around that much, nor does his character seem particularly interested in any of the events or characters. He very well may be having adventures at sea, but mostly it's Price and Mlle Presle being angry with each other, and trying to frame each other, until a corpse shows up. It's not clear if Price or Mlle Presle killed it, but Price decides to frame Flynn, who's in town, and then leads a lynch mob against him.
No one is particularly well served by this movie, even though there's a spectacular explosion and fire towards the end. Robert Florey did some uncredited direction on it.
Mediocre.
filipemanuelneto7 September 2022
This is another of the films that Errol Flynn made during the 50s, a decade that corresponds to the physical and artistic decline of the actor. Increasingly sidelined by American studios, he settled in Europe. This film was filmed in France, and is the result of a partnership between Flynn and director William Marshall, with much of the script written by Flynn himself.
The story is a romantic drama set in New Orleans, during the years preceding the American Civil War, and shows the downfall of an important and wealthy family in the city. It all begins with the discreet romance between the Creole maid Lea Mariotte and her young boss George Brissac, an amoral bourgeois who plans to inherit his uncle's fortune and marry a young woman from a good family. After an incident where she kills a man, she is saved from the gallows by Fabian, a ship's captain, who has personal reasons for antagonizing the Brissacs. He takes care of her and falls in love with her, but doesn't tell her. She, in turn, takes the opportunity to return to her lover Brissac's arms, forcing him to marry her after seeing him murder his uncle. Of course, she's a smart, ambitious woman, and none of the men realized that.
The script has some good aspects, but overall it is very weak. The basic idea is good: a cunning woman, who uses various tricks to get where she wants, climbing an arduous social ladder dictated by money and family prestige. The character building also works decently: the three central characters (Lea, George and Fabian) are rich and psychologically elaborate. But the virtues of Flynn's text end there. His writing is excessively erratic, failing to create a uniform thread of logic. For example, it makes no sense for Lea to return to George after him, for fear of accusing himself, almost letting her be hanged, and it makes even less sense for her to say she is so in love with Fabian. His actions are also illogical: we never understand why he is angry with the Brissacs, or why he buys the tavern.
The cast features well-known names. Personally, I think Micheline Presle is the actress who deserves the most applause here, with a very consistent and intense interpretation of her character. In addition, she has a pleasant French accent that fits well in a film that takes place in a former French colony like Louisiana. Vincent Price also delivers a good dramatic performance, albeit a relatively restrained one. Agnes Moorehead barely appears on the scene. As for Flynn... if he had the idea of being the protagonist, he ended up becoming, in practice, a mere supporting actor in his own film.
Technically, the film has fairly regular cinematography and some good sets. The costumes are equally interesting, if not really remarkable. The characterization work is mediocre, though, and aside from some fire and explosions, there aren't any major effects to consider. The soundtrack is also very weak and the film's title is wrong.
The story is a romantic drama set in New Orleans, during the years preceding the American Civil War, and shows the downfall of an important and wealthy family in the city. It all begins with the discreet romance between the Creole maid Lea Mariotte and her young boss George Brissac, an amoral bourgeois who plans to inherit his uncle's fortune and marry a young woman from a good family. After an incident where she kills a man, she is saved from the gallows by Fabian, a ship's captain, who has personal reasons for antagonizing the Brissacs. He takes care of her and falls in love with her, but doesn't tell her. She, in turn, takes the opportunity to return to her lover Brissac's arms, forcing him to marry her after seeing him murder his uncle. Of course, she's a smart, ambitious woman, and none of the men realized that.
The script has some good aspects, but overall it is very weak. The basic idea is good: a cunning woman, who uses various tricks to get where she wants, climbing an arduous social ladder dictated by money and family prestige. The character building also works decently: the three central characters (Lea, George and Fabian) are rich and psychologically elaborate. But the virtues of Flynn's text end there. His writing is excessively erratic, failing to create a uniform thread of logic. For example, it makes no sense for Lea to return to George after him, for fear of accusing himself, almost letting her be hanged, and it makes even less sense for her to say she is so in love with Fabian. His actions are also illogical: we never understand why he is angry with the Brissacs, or why he buys the tavern.
The cast features well-known names. Personally, I think Micheline Presle is the actress who deserves the most applause here, with a very consistent and intense interpretation of her character. In addition, she has a pleasant French accent that fits well in a film that takes place in a former French colony like Louisiana. Vincent Price also delivers a good dramatic performance, albeit a relatively restrained one. Agnes Moorehead barely appears on the scene. As for Flynn... if he had the idea of being the protagonist, he ended up becoming, in practice, a mere supporting actor in his own film.
Technically, the film has fairly regular cinematography and some good sets. The costumes are equally interesting, if not really remarkable. The characterization work is mediocre, though, and aside from some fire and explosions, there aren't any major effects to consider. The soundtrack is also very weak and the film's title is wrong.
Adventures of a creole girl
jarrodmcdonald-11 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very entertaining action adventure yarn from Republic Pictures. It is really about the adventures, or should I say schemes, of a creole girl in old New Orleans. While Errol Flynn receives top billing as Captain Michael Fabian -Flynn's box office clout helped finance the project- he is clearly playing a supporting role to French actress Micheline Presle.
She's the main attraction. As the wife of producer-director William Marshall, it's understandable she would have such prominence on screen...especially since the picture was filmed in her native France. Mr. Marshall no doubt wanted to present Miss Presle in the most favorable light possible, and for the most part, succeeds.
Presle is playing a saucy servant girl who decides she's going to have the finer things in life. This includes a fancy manse on St. Charles Street and servants of her own to boss around. Of course, how she zigzags from point A to point B is what makes the picture a guilty pleasure to watch.
Aiding Presle in her efforts at achieving upward mobility is a shrewd relative known as Aunt Jezebel (Agnes Moorehead). Plans take an unexpected turn when a man (Vincent Price) engaged to her employer (Helena Manson) attempts to have a tryst with Presle. Price's lust for Presle puts him in the wrong place at the wrong time when a strange death occurs.
Price seeks to extricate himself from the scandalous situation. He turns Presle into the police for the crime, while feigning his own innocence. As a result of these machinations, Presle stands trial, and Moorehead looks on frustrated by the dramatic events.
This is when Errol Flynn enters the scene. He's a well-liked sea captain who'd been cheated in deals hauling cargo for Price and Price's uncle (Victor Francen). He shows up in the courtroom just as Presle is about to be found guilty and sentenced to hang.
Some of the dialogue is rather amusing. The judge asks Flynn: "Are you a member of the bar?" To which Flynn replies: "No, sir. The only bars I know are slightly more congenial." Because of witty remarks and his ability to reason with the magistrate, Flynn is able to broker a deal to get Presle off the legal hook. She is then released into Flynn's temporary custody.
Flynn is attracted to Presle but denies it. He purchases a tavern for her to run with her aunt which she intends to turn into a respectable eatery with the necessary upgrades. Meanwhile, Price's wedding to Manson moves ahead. On the night that Price's bachelor party occurs, he and his buddies wind up at Presle's establishment where they have a big party.
Flynn is away on a voyage, and Presle uses the opportunity to turn Price from the other woman and blackmail him into marrying her instead. She is able to accomplish this feat by luring Price from the tavern to his uncle's home, where the uncle is killed. It would seem that every time these two get together, someone dies!
Presle helps Price bury the uncle, and they concoct a ruse that the uncle is away on business. Price then marries Presle to keep her quiet. She now has the residence on St. Charles Street she's been coveting. But it's a marriage made in hell, complicated by Flynn's return from sea.
The last section of the film has Price trying to frame Flynn for the uncle's death. Presle tries to help Flynn, and so does Moorehead who gets killed for her troubles. Flynn is stuck in the slammer, but a spectacular jailbreak sequence allows him to escape through an underground tunnel and return to his ship.
This all leads to Flynn having a showdown with Price on the docks. Flynn's men fight off the police and try to hoist the sail and take off. Price dies in the skirmish, but not before he's able to set Flynn's vessel on fire. Presle arrives at the docks and is caught up in everything that is happening.
The ship's mast, still ablaze, falls and as it crashes down, it pins Presle underneath. Flynn comes to her rescue but it's too late.
This is a rousing tale from start to finish. It has an excellent cast, strong production values and not one moment of it is boring.
She's the main attraction. As the wife of producer-director William Marshall, it's understandable she would have such prominence on screen...especially since the picture was filmed in her native France. Mr. Marshall no doubt wanted to present Miss Presle in the most favorable light possible, and for the most part, succeeds.
Presle is playing a saucy servant girl who decides she's going to have the finer things in life. This includes a fancy manse on St. Charles Street and servants of her own to boss around. Of course, how she zigzags from point A to point B is what makes the picture a guilty pleasure to watch.
Aiding Presle in her efforts at achieving upward mobility is a shrewd relative known as Aunt Jezebel (Agnes Moorehead). Plans take an unexpected turn when a man (Vincent Price) engaged to her employer (Helena Manson) attempts to have a tryst with Presle. Price's lust for Presle puts him in the wrong place at the wrong time when a strange death occurs.
Price seeks to extricate himself from the scandalous situation. He turns Presle into the police for the crime, while feigning his own innocence. As a result of these machinations, Presle stands trial, and Moorehead looks on frustrated by the dramatic events.
This is when Errol Flynn enters the scene. He's a well-liked sea captain who'd been cheated in deals hauling cargo for Price and Price's uncle (Victor Francen). He shows up in the courtroom just as Presle is about to be found guilty and sentenced to hang.
Some of the dialogue is rather amusing. The judge asks Flynn: "Are you a member of the bar?" To which Flynn replies: "No, sir. The only bars I know are slightly more congenial." Because of witty remarks and his ability to reason with the magistrate, Flynn is able to broker a deal to get Presle off the legal hook. She is then released into Flynn's temporary custody.
Flynn is attracted to Presle but denies it. He purchases a tavern for her to run with her aunt which she intends to turn into a respectable eatery with the necessary upgrades. Meanwhile, Price's wedding to Manson moves ahead. On the night that Price's bachelor party occurs, he and his buddies wind up at Presle's establishment where they have a big party.
Flynn is away on a voyage, and Presle uses the opportunity to turn Price from the other woman and blackmail him into marrying her instead. She is able to accomplish this feat by luring Price from the tavern to his uncle's home, where the uncle is killed. It would seem that every time these two get together, someone dies!
Presle helps Price bury the uncle, and they concoct a ruse that the uncle is away on business. Price then marries Presle to keep her quiet. She now has the residence on St. Charles Street she's been coveting. But it's a marriage made in hell, complicated by Flynn's return from sea.
The last section of the film has Price trying to frame Flynn for the uncle's death. Presle tries to help Flynn, and so does Moorehead who gets killed for her troubles. Flynn is stuck in the slammer, but a spectacular jailbreak sequence allows him to escape through an underground tunnel and return to his ship.
This all leads to Flynn having a showdown with Price on the docks. Flynn's men fight off the police and try to hoist the sail and take off. Price dies in the skirmish, but not before he's able to set Flynn's vessel on fire. Presle arrives at the docks and is caught up in everything that is happening.
The ship's mast, still ablaze, falls and as it crashes down, it pins Presle underneath. Flynn comes to her rescue but it's too late.
This is a rousing tale from start to finish. It has an excellent cast, strong production values and not one moment of it is boring.
See also
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