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Customer Reviews of The Master of Ballantrae

HIGHLANDER ROGUE PIRATE - NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN FLYNN
Robert Louis Stevenson's swashbuckling tale is given the royal Hollywood treatment as Errol Flynn plays Ballantrae Castle's Jamie Durisdeer. A courageous Highlander turned pirate to gain riches for his beloved home. A costume adventure that leaps out at you with it's breathtaking color and rousing score. Flynn is not as young here as he appeared in earlier outings such as, "The Sea Hawk" and "Captain Blood," but he's as entertaining as ever and top notch in his sword fighting scenes. Flynn is to wed his true love, however, his brother, played by Anthony Steel, is in love with her too. As the story progresses, Flynn gets betrayed to the British, and believes it was his own brother that did it. Beatrice Campbell and Yvonne Furneaux play Flynn's love interests. Once again Warner Bros. has done an exceptional job transferring the film to dvd, it looks amazing. I highly recommend this movie, as well as the "Errol Flynn Signature Collection" box set, which contains five great movies and a documentary of Flynn's career. The swashbuckler's "Captain Blood" and "The Sea Hawk" are included here, plus a fine period piece, "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," co-starring the legendary Bette Davis. I also recommend the 1952 Stewart Granger adventure, "Scaramouche," En garde!

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A Good, Poorly Known Swashbuckler
Errol Flynn was the master of swashbucklers and this one is a good example why. He slashes a swath through Scotland, down into the Caribean and back to Scotland again. The action takes place in the highlands, aboard pirate ships and in exotic parts. It involves love lost and lovers scorned. Brother is pitted against brother and treachery plays its part. It has all the elements and makes the most of them. <
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>Flynn plays a Scottish noble. When the Jacobin rebellion reignites for the climax, the noble family hatches a plan for its own security. One son will fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie and the other will remain loyal to German George. That way, whichever way the rebellion goes, the family's title will remain safe. Flynn plays the elder, Jacobite son and his side loses. A personal betrayal makes the situation even more tenuous. Flynn has to flee the country for his life. The rest of the story concerns his ability to return to his love, and seek vengeance for his betrayal. <
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>The action is pretty constant is this one and well done. The obligatory swooping around on available rigging, drapes etc. is present as is the swordplay. It's a winner. <
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Later Flynn Movie, Not Bad
By 1953, Errol Flynn, possibly the greatest screen swashbuckler of all time, had declined considerably due to years of drinking, partying and carousing were catching up with him, and within six years of this movie he would be dead of alcohol-related illnesses. Still, even at his worst, he was a lot better than the rest. It's a good actioner with a cast of largely unknown supporting actors that has a little, but not much to do, with Robert Louis Stevenson's dark and compelling novel. It's sad to watch Flynn in his later movies, because you can see the slow but steady decline of one of Hollywood's greatest icons. Still, even then, he was still one of the best. I therefore recommend this movie on the basis that any Errol Flynn movie is better than none!