CUTTHROAT ISLAND
US, 1997, 119 minutes, Colour.
Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella, Maury Chaykin, Patrick Malahide, Stan Shaw, Harris Yulin.
Directed by Renny Harlin.
An attempt to do an `old-fashioned' pirate movie with all the well-known ingredients and a kind of pseudo Treasure Island dialogue. While the plot is obvious enough, rival pirate gangs fighting to find buried treasure on a Caribbean island, the film is quite spectacular in its widescreen location photography (Maltese towns and Thai islands). Also, the film scarcely draws breath, with battles and chases and derring-do. What makes the film different (apart from its big budget and special effects) is that it is a lady pirate who is at the heart of the action, Geena Davis trying to be both Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara at once. For realists, there is an alarming body count, but this is cartoon Saturday matinee stuff not to be taken literally. Piratical derring-do.
1.The popularity of pirate films? The critical condemnation of this film? As a popular adventure?
2.The period settings, costumes and décor, the ships and the ocean? Storms at sea? Battles? The West Indies and the towns? The musical score?
3.The title, expectations? Pirates, buried treasure, searches for treasure? Clashes?
4.The focus on Morgan Adams? A woman pirate? Geena Davis’s presence, height, commanding? Her relationship with her father? His final words? The map? Her taking over the ship? The clash with William Shaw? William Shaw and his reading Latin, the information about the map? Her setting out on an expedition? Her clash with her uncle, his rivalry? The battles, the governor, John Reed and his bookshop? Her relying on his friendship? His later betrayal? The fights with Dawg Brown? Her falling in love with William Shaw?
5.William Shaw, the conman, at the governor’s dance, chatting up the woman, robbing her, his being arrested, smooth talker? In prison? His being sold to Morgan Adams? Helping her with the map, his deceit? His joining in the expedition? The fights?
6.Dawg Brown, the villain of the piece, clashes with his brother, with Morgan, the map? His men, the betrayal of Morgan, his condemnation of the traitor? The confrontation with Morgan, the fights – and the cannon and his death? The members of his pirate crew?
7.John Reed, the bookseller, not knowing Latin? The governor putting pressure on him, the betrayal of William Shaw?
8.The governor, his associates, at the dance, interest in the treasure? His bribery, wanting to be part of the plan? His finally getting Morgan and William Shaw? The escape? The members of his court?
9.Going to the island, the various parts of the map, the hand with the longitudes? The storm, going through the storm, finding the treasure, the final fights? The capture by Dawg Brown, Morgan and William at the end of the rope, their deciding to jump? Their being reunited?
10.The popular ingredients of a pirate story? A big-budget extravaganza?
