Pavillon noir

SYNOPSIS

This hopelessly inadequate swashbuckler is partially redeemed by its ravishing 1940s Technicolor, which is used to best effect when photographing red-headed Maureen O'Hara, who here proves more than a match for leading man Paul Henreid. The Casablanca star attempts to demonstrate action-man mettle as a sea captain who turns to piracy after being wrongfully imprisoned. Walter Slezak makes a splendidly corrupt villain, but overrated director Frank Borzage hasn't a clue how to buckle a swash, and the overall result is very studio-bound and dull for long stretches.