THE GOLDEN HAWK
US, 1952, 83 minutes, Colour.
Sterling Hayden, Rhonda Fleming, John Sutton, Helena Carter, Paul Cavanagh.
Directed by Sidney Salkow.
The Golden Hawk is one of the many pirate movies that were so popular in the early '50s - often as supporting features. This one is based on a novel by Frank Yerby, shows the clash between the British and the French and the Spanish in the Caribbean. It is fairly predictable in its plot and characterisations.
However, it is as colourful as any other and has a good cast, although Sterling Hayden is not exactly persuasive as a French pirate of the 17th century. Rhonda Fleming is vigorous as the Englishwoman who becomes a pirate to save her plantation. The supporting cast includes John Sutton as the Spanish adventurer, Helena Carter as a Spanish beauty and Michael Ansara as Hayden's lieutenant.
If you are devoted to pirate stories, you will enjoy this.
1. The popularity of pirate stories? The 17th century and the Caribbean?
2. Locations and period, French and the British and the Spanish? The galleons? Costumes and decor? Mansions and plantations? The siege of the city? Musical score?
3. The title, Gerardo's nickname? As a pirate chief? For the French?
4. Sterling Hayden as Gerardo - how persuasive? The ladies' man? His spiel to the ladies? His lieutenant? The plans for attacking the Spanish? His hostility towards Del Toro and the death of his mother? The battles? Rouge coming on board? The clashes with her, falling in love? Adventures, her disappearance? The encounter with Bianca, with Del Toro and the taking of the ship? Del Toro letting him go? The British plan with the French against Cartagina? The preparation of the siege, the destruction of the plantations and the meeting with Rouge? Going into the city, Bianca's betraying him, the trial, Del Toro revealed as his father and trying to save him? Rouge helping them escape, the firing of the explosives? The happy ending?
5. Rouge, the mysterious woman from the ship, her shooting Gerardo, disappearing? Lady Jane and her plantation? The money to save the plantation? Hatred of Gerardo, going to his trial and condemning him, Bianca changing her mind, the rescue? The happy ending?
6. Bianca, attracted to Gerardo, marrying Del Toro, yearning for Gerardo, his coming to get information from her, her giving him over? Her change of heart during the trial, persuading Rouge to rescue him?
7. Del Toro, the Spanish grandee, piracy in the Caribbean, defeating Gerardo, letting him go? Telling Bianca the truth about Gerardo as his son and the death of his mother? The court case, having to condemn him? The reconciliation?
8. Bernardo as his assistant, sharing the adventures, the Englishman and his ship, the other pirates?
9. The popular ingredients of galleons and piracy in the Caribbean, international struggles, the opening up of colonies, the possibility of wealth? The perennial popularity of the pirate film?
