Not Great, But its Still Flynn
I've always enjoyed Errol Flynn movies. He was the epitome of manhood and charisma. I guess at some point, we all have to move on. His performance in this film reminded me of Roger Moore as James Bond in A View to a Kill. They both should have stopped playing these types of roles about 5 years earlier.
Flynn is Scottish Lord Jamie Durie. He has a close relationship with his father and brother, Henry (Anthony Steele) and is in engaged to Lady Allison (Beatrice Campbell). He also has an affair with a commoner, Jessie (Yvette Furneaux). When Scotland rebels against the English crown, Jamie sides with the rebels and his father and brother side with the crown. This is done for strictly practical reasons as regardless of who wins, the Durie fortune would remain in the family. Ultimately the rebels lose and Jamie has to flee, but not before meeting up with Irishman, Burke (Roger Livesey), who becomes his closest ally. While trying to leave the country, Jamie is betrayed to the British soldiers and barely escapes. He believes it was his brother, Henry who has betrayed him. The two become pirates and have several adventures before returning to Scotland to learn the truth about Henry, Allison and Jessie.
The Master of Ballantrae is a very well made film. The Scottish scenery is gorgeous, the ship battles are as well done as any from that time period, and the chemistry between Flynn and Livesey is reminiscent of Flynn and Alan Hale Sr. Ms. Campbell is beautiful, but has little to do. Ms. Furneaux looks like a carbon copy of GWTW's Vivien Leigh and she does a really nice job as the jealous mistress. There was some real spark between Flynn and Anthony Steele as well. There seemed to be a real story to tell about the brothers, but it got kind of rushed through. I would have liked to have seen some more character development of that relationship.
A good, not great film and the last time Flynn played a swashbuckler. It also marked the end of director William Keighley's career. He had directed Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood, so it was a nice bookend to these Flynn vehicles.
My memory foam pillow says it can't remember my face. I can tell its lying.