I have no idea if Maureen O'Hara liked roles such as the one she played in AGAINST ALL FLAGS or not. On the one hand, she got to play a woman with pluck and strength. On the other, she was a walking cliché--an anachronistic lady who never could have existed in 1700--let alone 1952. In the film, she is a female pirate--one that is the boss of bosses and makes men cringe. She is "the man"...something that never could have happened in real life. History DOES record two pirate women (Mary Read and Anne Bonney) but they were NOT the captain and it appears that the crew on board the tiny boat they served even knew that they were women. There were no boss-lady pirates except in film...and all too often, they were played by Maureen O'Hara. A silly idea really, as the way she played these petulant roles was rather cartoonish--a tough as nails lady who instantly is taken by the studliness of the male lead!
Despite this, the film is a very watchable piece of fluff that features Errol Flynn as an English naval officer who pretends to go pirate so that he can infiltrate their base. As for Flynn, while he was a serious hard-core drunk when he made the film, he doesn't show the puffiness and effects of alcohol like he did just a few years later. It's one of his last good roles.
In the role of the rival and hot-headed pirate is Anthony Quinn--playing a very typical role for him as well. However, despite his having made quite a few films in similar circumstances, he was quite well-suited to the role.
As far as the script goes, that is by far the worst part of the film--being mostly clichés and predictable outcomes. But, on the plus side, the color cinematography is nice, the film is lite and easy on the brain and is basically harmless escapist fluff.
By the way, my favorite line in the film was a great double-entendre:
Errol Flynn (to Maureen O'Hara): "I shall regret not having the honor of serving...under you". Umm....yeah.
Despite this, the film is a very watchable piece of fluff that features Errol Flynn as an English naval officer who pretends to go pirate so that he can infiltrate their base. As for Flynn, while he was a serious hard-core drunk when he made the film, he doesn't show the puffiness and effects of alcohol like he did just a few years later. It's one of his last good roles.
In the role of the rival and hot-headed pirate is Anthony Quinn--playing a very typical role for him as well. However, despite his having made quite a few films in similar circumstances, he was quite well-suited to the role.
As far as the script goes, that is by far the worst part of the film--being mostly clichés and predictable outcomes. But, on the plus side, the color cinematography is nice, the film is lite and easy on the brain and is basically harmless escapist fluff.
By the way, my favorite line in the film was a great double-entendre:
Errol Flynn (to Maureen O'Hara): "I shall regret not having the honor of serving...under you". Umm....yeah.