Captain Caution

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