The Children of Captain Grant
1936/Adventure/Russia
In our country, too, in the 1930s, they tried to make no less striking films, even if they did not have the same technical means as Hollywood. But the song about the wind from our film with Nikolai Cherkasov is still known to every schoolchild, and this film was also shown in the USA, even if, next to the color blockbusters of that time, it looked poor and pale.
The Crimson Pirate
1952/Adventure, Comedy/USA
The 1950s, with their wide screens and new advances in color, gave a new impetus to the development of adventure cinema. At this time, reference paintings were created, among which “The Red Corsair” is perhaps the best of its kind. At least, this is what millions of viewers around the world think, who are still fascinated by the adventures of Captain Vallo and his team, albeit on small TV screens.
The Buccaneer
1958/Drama, Adventure, Historical/USA
Again, a classic. The story of Jean Lafitte, played by Yul Brynner, our famous compatriot, is impossible to watch with indifference even today. Brynner’s Lafitte is ruthless, noble, and handsome, and although the pirate theme and American democracy do not get along well in one plot, if you ignore this, you can enjoy the pirate romance.
20000 Leagues Under the Sea
1954/Drama, Adventure, Family/USA
The most famous film adaptation of Jules Verne’s plot is about Captain Nemo and his submarine “Nautilus”. For Americans, the figure of Nemo is still devoid of the romantic halo that is familiar to us, he is a talented and exotic rebel for them, but still a barbarian, not an American. Therefore, the main star of the film, Kirk Douglas, does not play Nemo, but his antagonist, the independent and aggressive whaler Ned Land. The Soviet film turned out to be much more sophisticated and philosophical, but the American one was more popular.
Captain Fracasse
1961 / Adventure, Action / France, Spain, Italy
Although the action of the novel by Theophile Gauthier is in no way connected with the sea and sails, the theatrical clowning and numerous adventures of Captain Fracasse would seem very close and understandable to Captain Jack Sparrow if he had read at least one book in his life. The storm of women’s hearts, Jean Marais, did not look too much like a slender beggar baron, but few people cared. A good opportunity to resurrect this plot for yourself is to go to a performance at the Fomenko Theater staged by Yevgeny Kamenkovich; his Fracasse is no worse than a classic French painting.