''Captain Caution'' is a 1940 American

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...

directed by Richard Wallace set during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

. The film stars

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

Bruce Cabot Bruce Cabot (born Étienne de Pelissier Bujac Jr.; April 20, 1904 – May 3, 1972) was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll in ''King Kong'' (1933) and for his roles in films such as ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1936), Fri ...

and

Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...

. It was based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. Elmer Raguse was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for

Sound Recording Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording te ...

Plot

Cast

as Daniel 'Dan' Marvin *

Louise Platt Louise Platt (August 3, 1915 – September 6, 2003) was an American theater, film, and TV actress. Early years Platt was born in Stamford, Connecticut, and grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. Her father was a dental surgeon in the Navy. Career ...

as Corunna Dorman * Leo Carrillo as Lucien Argandeau *

as Lehrman Slade * Robert Barrat as Capt. Dorman *

Vivienne Osborne Vivienne Osborne (born Vera Vivienne Spragg; December 10, 1896 – June 10, 1961) was an American stage and film actress known for her work in Broadway theatre and in silent and sound films. Career Osborne began her career on stage when s ...

as Victorine Argandeau * Miles Mander as Lieut. Strope * El Brendel as Slushy * Roscoe Ates as Chips * Andrew Tombes as Sad Eyes * Aubrey Mather as Mr. Henry Potter *

as Newton – Mutinous Sailor * Leyland Hodgson as British Ship's Brig Officer * Lloyd Corrigan as Capt. Stannage *

Pierre Watkin Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the b ...

as American Consul *

Cliff Severn Clifford Severn (September 21, 1925 – June 4, 2014) was an American cricketer and child screen actor. Clifford Severn was the son of Dr. Clifford Brill Severn (1890-1981). His parents emigrated from South Africa to Los Angeles after he was born. ...

as Travers * Bud Jamison as Blinks * James Dime as a sailor * Olaf Hytten as Stannage's Aide (uncredited) * Ethan Laidlaw as Prisoner (uncredited)

Production

Kenneth Roberts' novel was published in 1934 and became a best seller. Film rights were bought by

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

who made the film as part of a five-picture deal he had with

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...

. (The others were '' The Housekeeper's Daughter'', ''

One Million Years BC ''One Million Years B.C.'' is a 1966 British adventure fantasy film directed by Don Chaffey. The film was produced by Hammer Film Productions and Seven Arts, and is a remake of the 1940 American fantasy film ''One Million B.C.''. The film st ...

'', '' Of Mice and Men'' and a novel by

Thorne Smith James Thorne Smith, Jr. (March 27, 1892 – June 20, 1934) was an American writer of humorous supernatural fantasy fiction under the byline Thorne Smith. He is best known today for the two ''Topper'' novels, comic fantasy fiction involving se ...

.) Eugene Sollow was assigned to write the script. Plans to make the film were pushed back following the entry of Britain into World War II out of fear the film could be seen as anti British. However "sea pictures" were in vogue at the time (e.g. ''The Sea Hawk'', ''South of Pago Pago'') so Roach decided to proceed. The anti-British tone of the novel was softened and the script rewritten by producer Grover Jones, who said "in the main we won't be giving them much time to think about whether they like the theme of the picture or not. We'll be giving them action and more action. And if we let a little plot to trickle in to let them know why they are getting all that fighting, we do it only because the camera needs a new set up now and again." Filming started April 1940 under the direction of Richard Wallace.

References

External links

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Review of film
at Variety {{DEFAULTSORT:Captain Caution 1940 films 1940 adventure films American adventure films American black-and-white films Films directed by Richard Wallace Films based on American novels Films based on historical novels Seafaring films War of 1812 films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films