The Black Swan (1942)

72% of users liked it
(1,254 ratings)

Perhaps unintentionally, the 1942 Technicolor swashbuckler The Black Swan is a bondage fetishist's dream, with hero and heroine Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara taking turns being tied up and imprisoned throughout the film's brisk 85-minute running time. Very loosely adapted by Ben Hecht and Seton I.… More Perhaps unintentionally, the 1942 Technicolor swashbuckler The Black Swan is a bondage fetishist's dream, with hero and heroine Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara taking turns being tied up and imprisoned throughout the film's brisk 85-minute running time. Very loosely adapted by Ben Hecht and Seton I. Miller from a novel by Rafael Sabatini, the film casts Power as rogueish, hot-tempered buccaneer Jamie Waring, who considers the day wasted when he hasn't sacked a Spanish galleon or plundered a rich coastal town. Jamie's partner in crime is pirate king Henry Morgan Laird Cregar, an alliance that comes to an end when Morgan is appointed governor of Jamaica. Disgusted by this defection, Jamie considers joining the scurrilous Redbeard George Sanders, but eventually decides to reform his ways when he falls in love with Margaret Denby Maureen O'Hara, the gorgeous daughter of the former Jamaican governor Lord Denby George Zucco. Before the final obligatory sail into the sunset, however, Margaret is kidnapped and manhandled on a seemingly hourly basis, while Jamie is subjected to even more abuse at the hands of pirates and officials alike. Henry King handles the derring-do in Black Swan with commendable sobriety, leaving the story's tongue-in-cheek elements in the capable hands of the cast and the screenwriters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Henry King
Written By: Ben Hecht, Seton I. Miller
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 4, 1942 Wide
On DVD: Jul 11, 2006

Critic Reviews

James Plath, Reel.com
A solid script based on another pirate potboiler from Rafael Sabatini, great cinematography, and credible performances make The Black Swan one of the best examples of the genre.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A rousing adventure story where the actors seemed in their element with all the hokum.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

In 1942, The Black Swan was probably the greatest thing ever. I'm sure I would've gone to see it every night of the week if I saw this movie nearly 70 years ago. But since that's not the case and I recently saw the superior Adventures of Robin Hood, The Black Swan is… More
In 1942, The Black Swan was probably the greatest thing ever. I'm sure I would've gone to see it every night of the week if I saw this movie nearly 70 years ago. But since that's not the case and I recently saw the superior Adventures of Robin Hood, The Black Swan is merely just okay. The opening is pretty strong and the back and forth between Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara (if I had to narrow it down for only one reason for anyone to see this movie it would be her beautiful bitchiness) was fun. Throw in the rest of the cast and some fun action and its worth the watch.
AJ V

This is one of my favourite pirate movies. It has it all, action, adventure, excitement, drama, romance, even a bit of humour. I loved it.
Randy T

A lesser swashbuckler that's fun but much more about sword fights and cannon fire than it is about story or character development. NOTE: Look for a very young Anthony Quinn in a minor role.
jay n

One of the better Power adventure films, well directed and beautifully presented in Technicolor. Maureen O'Hara is her usual fiery self, Tyrone dashing and a supporting cast (Thomas Mitchell, Laird Cregar) that is really too good for this kind of thing, See if you can keep track… More
One of the better Power adventure films, well directed and beautifully presented in Technicolor. Maureen O'Hara is her usual fiery self, Tyrone dashing and a supporting cast (Thomas Mitchell, Laird Cregar) that is really too good for this kind of thing, See if you can keep track of how many times they say the word gibbet.
William S

Campy, very hokey, cliche-ridden and soooo much fun as it'stotally aware of it's limitations and sends itself up wonderfuly. It's also a perfect example of it's type. The cast is the best it can be (outside of a Rathbone/Flynn pairing). Laird Cregar, looking even… More
Campy, very hokey, cliche-ridden and soooo much fun as it'stotally aware of it's limitations and sends itself up wonderfuly. It's also a perfect example of it's type. The cast is the best it can be (outside of a Rathbone/Flynn pairing). Laird Cregar, looking even more enormous than usual in a series of outrageous costumes and massive wigs, smacks his chops marvelously as does a completely unrecognisable George Sanders in a ginger wig and beard. And the chemistry between Power and O'Hara is refreshingly sparky as they take it in turns to smack each other about - until (inevitably!) falling for each other's charms. Great stuff! Power is easily the equal of Flynnn when it comes to buckling his swash and, to be perfectly frank, neither are much to get excited about when it comes to screen acting but Power has the edge for me in the shirtless stakes - especially stretched out on the rack!
Mason W

The Black Swan starring Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, and Anthony Quinn is a fine movie. Maureen O'Hara is stunning as the red haired beauty whom resides in Jamaica and gets swept off her feet by Tyrone Power in this swashbuckling film...
xGary X

Tyrone Power once again buckles his swash in glorious technicolor in this sea-bourne adventure set in the Caribbean. The usual piratical shenanigans are in full effect, but I must admit the scenes in Jamaica weren't convincing; Power comes across as a wholly unsympathetic… More
Tyrone Power once again buckles his swash in glorious technicolor in this sea-bourne adventure set in the Caribbean. The usual piratical shenanigans are in full effect, but I must admit the scenes in Jamaica weren't convincing; Power comes across as a wholly unsympathetic arrogant thug, especially in his treatment of the lovely Maureen O'Hara, so the romantic element didn't really work for me. It gets better as the story takes to the sea though, and the action is handled effectively, but it's just not a patch on The Crimson Pirate or Captain Blood. A decent but dated diversion.
Burger S

I'm told that this is a classic!
Marion R

Pirate movie! I liked it. It was interesting and I liked the sword fighting.
Anthony V

Great pirate action.