Captain Kidd (1945)
Notorious pirate William Kidd cons his way into a royal privateering commission, recruits a crew of condemned criminals, and buries a fortune in stolen treasure — until his own misdeeds catch up with him at trial.
Captain Kidd was the final film directed by Rowland V. Lee, who built his career on lavish costume adventures, and it gave Charles Laughton one of his most theatrical villain roles opposite Randolph Scott’s steadier heroics; the production earned an Academy Award nomination for Werner Janssen’s score.
Background
Captain Kidd is a 1945 costume adventure directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Charles Laughton as the title pirate and Randolph Scott as the hero who opposes him. Barbara Britton and John Carradine appear in the cast. Lee was known for lavish period adventures, and this film was made for the swashbuckling market that was popular in mid-1940s Hollywood. The production received an Academy Award nomination for its score by Werner Janssen, a recognition that stands out for a film of this kind.
What to watch for
Laughton’s performance is the film’s centerpiece, and he plays Kidd with the broad theatricality of a stage villain. The story follows his con into a royal privateering commission, his recruitment of condemned criminals as crew, and the treasure he buries. Scott supplies the steadier heroics against him, so the contrast in acting styles drives many scenes. Watch the sea sequences and the trial near the end, where Kidd’s misdeeds finally catch up with him. The costume design and period sets reflect the conventions of the adventure genre at the time.
