Series: Feature

Director: Richard Wallace
Producer: Hal Roach
Screenplay: Grover Jones
Photography: Norbert Brodine
Editor: James E. Newcom
Art director: Nicolai Remisoff
Sound: William Randall

Stars: Victor Mature, Louise Platt, Leo Carrillo, Bruce Cabot
Company: United Artists
Released: 09 October 1940
Length: 9 reels
Production No.: F-32
Filming dates: July 1940
Rating: -/10


Captain Caution
On board the American freighter ship the Olive Branch, the captain's stubborn daughter Corunna is below decks practicing her piano and singing, whilst the captain and Dan Marvin, a man he rescued from a shipwreck years before, are conversing. Down below, the sailors discuss the blossoming relationship between Dan and Corunna, as she flirts with him up on deck. Eventually Dan gives in to her persistence and announces he will marry her. Her father laughs at the notion and gives Dan his sympathy. At that moment a pirate ship bearing a British flag fires a warning shot at the Olive Branch, bringing the crew to scramble around and prepare for retaliation. Dan tells the captain that the crew ought to surrender, but the captain prepares to fight. It is a decision he would regret, as the pirate ship fires and kills him. Corunna swears her revenge before the 'pirates' board their boat and tell the crew they are at war with England, but having been at sea for so long, the crew of the Olive Branch were unaware (they didn't have internet and mobile phones back in those days!)
A funeral procession takes place on board the ship with the bodies buried at sea. The ship docks and the crew from the Olive Branch are taken as slaves. Corunna is introduced to the captain's wife, Victorine, who shows some sympathy towards her.

REVIEW COMPLETE TO 18 MINUTES...

Trivia
Copyrighted September 3, 1940.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording.
The ship is called the "Olive Branch".
When Corunna is playing her piano in the opening scene she hits the wrong notes. She seems to miss the notes with her right hand, which would indicate a higher-sounding note, though the sound heard is a bass (lower) note.
The nickname of 'Captain Caution' is given to Dan Marvin by a frustrated Corunna, because he won't commit to a relationship with her.

Victor Mature
Dan Marvin
Louise Platt
Corunna
Leo Carrillo
Argandeau
Bruce Cabot
Slade
Robert Barrat
Captain Dorman
Vivienne Osborne
Victorine
Miles Mander
Lieutenant Strope
El Brendel
Slushy
Roscoe Ates
Chips
Andrew Tombes
Sad Eyes
Aubrey Mather
Mr. Potter
Alan Ladd
Newton
J. Pat O'Malley
Fish peddler
Lloyd Corrigan
Captain Stannage
Ted Osborne
Captain Decatur
Ann Codee
Landlady
Romaine Callender
English officer
Pierre Watkin
American consul
Clifford Severn
Travers
Bud Jamison
Blinks
Ted Billings
Prisoner in Brig
Stanley Blystone
Tough sailor in Brig
Sven Hugo Borg
Sailor
Tom Coleman
Sailor
Jack Curtis
Sailor
Jean Del Val
French officer
James Dime
Sailor/Barfly in pub
Martin Faust
Marty, lookout
Budd Fine
Sailor
Bud Geary
Sailor
John George
Sailor
Leyland Hodgson
English ship's brig officer
Olaf Hytten
Stannage's officer aide
Colin Kenny
Jim, English ship's brig officer
Frank Lackteen
Mr. Furneaux, Slade's mate
Ethan Laidlaw
Prisoner in brig
George Lloyd
Sailor drinking Emetic
Colin Mackenzie
Sailor
Eddie Morgan (Anthony Marsh)
Lieutenant Briggs
Francis McDonald
French seaman in pub
Gene Morgan
Hatch
Charles Morton
Sailor
Carl Mudge
Sailor
William H. O'Brien
English sailor who pleads for water
Jack Perry
Sailor
John Rice
English sailor
Constantine Romanoff
Sailor
Philip Sleeman
Barfly in pub
William Sundholm
Bill, sailor

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

POSTERS
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LOBBY CARDS
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STILLS
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Acknowledgements:
Chris Bungo (review copy)

This page was last updated on: 09 October 2023