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The Golden Hawk

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The Golden Hawk
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySidney Salkow
Written byFrank Yerby
Robert E. Kent
Based on
The Golden Hawk
1948 novel
by Frank Yerby
Produced bySam Katzman
StarringRhonda Fleming
Sterling Hayden
John Sutton
CinematographyWilliam V. Skall
Edited byEdwin Bryant
Music byMischa Bakaleinikoff
Production
company
Esskay Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • October 17, 1952 (1952-10-17)[1]
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Golden Hawk is a 1952 American Technicolor historical adventure film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Rhonda Fleming, Sterling Hayden and John Sutton. The screenplay is based on the 1948 novel of the same title by Frank Yerby.[2]

Plot

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During the 17th century, French sea captain Kit "The Hawk" Gerardo is on Basse-Terre Island with a crew but no ship. He duels the captain of the ship Sea Flower and commandeers his ship. His objective is to capture a much larger 60-gun ship under command of Spanish pirate Luis del Toro, partly for loot but also believing him responsible for the death of Kit's mother, Jeanne Buoyant.

A female pirate who calls herself Captain Rouge wears a disguise as a Dutch maid in order to board a vessel. The Hawk lends her his flintlock pistol to defend herself in her cabin at night, but she shoots and wounds Kit when he attempts romantic advances. Rouge escapes through the window and swims to an island.

After several battles against Spanish ships, Kit takes a prisoner named Bianca who is betrothed to del Toro, and he begins a love affair with her. He demands 10,000 pieces of gold for her safe return. Del Toro pays but then surrounds Kit with three of his ships to recover the payment. Kit floats a raft of gunpowder out to the ships in the night and destroys one. However, when he tries to escape, he is captured.

Rouge wants half of the loot for herself. In a raid of Jamaica on the orders of the king, Kit discovers that the property once belonged to Rouge, who is really British subject Lady Jane Golfin, and she is trying to retrieve the riches that have been illegally taken from her family.

Kit breaches the Spanish fortress to destroy it, hoping for the help of Bianca, who resides there, but he is captured. Del Toro reveals to Bianca that he is Kit's father and that the death of his mother was an accident.

Kit is tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. Rouge appears and confronts Bianca. Rouge disguises herself as a man and manages to reach Kit's prison cell. The Sea Flower and multiple French ships attack the fortress. Kit finds the gunpowder store and destroys the fortress. Del Toro is taken prisoner and father and son are reunited. Kit declares his love for Rouge.

Cast

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Production

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Frank Yerby's novel, also titled The Golden Hawk, was published in 1948. The book became a bestseller, selling 1,863,000 copies.[2] In 1951, it was announced that Sterling Hayden and Rhonda Fleming would star in the film adaptation.[3]

Reception

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In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "A deal of the sort of blood and thunder that is standard in sword-and-romance films is spewed in this Technicolored gee-gaw turned out by Columbia. ... [T]he product is rambling and confusing, just people milling around in bright costumes."[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Crowther, Bosley (October 18, 1952). "The Screen: At the Palace". The New York Times. p. 16.
  2. ^ a b "Rhonda Fleming to Play Lead in 'The Golden Hawk'". Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. September 18, 1951. p. 5.
  3. ^ "Filmland Briefs". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1951. p. 7, Part III.
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