"Captain from Castile" is a lushly filmed historical adventure film directed by Henry King. In Technicolor, much of the film was shot on location in Mexico. In addition to being a great role for Tyrone Power, it was also the feature film debut of Jean Peters (not to mention Jay Silverheels, who later portrayed Tonto).
The first of the film follows Tyrone Powers' aristocratic background to the point where he gets in trouble with the Spanish Inquisition, resulting in the death of his young sister and the imprisonment of his mother, father, and himself...although, of course, they escape. Knowing he must leave the country, Power heads off to the New World (primarily Mexico) with conquistador Hernán Cortés. Apparently there's a fair amount of history here, though its primary function is a swashbuckling epic...and in that, it succeeds.
The 4 primary actors do an excellent job here. Tyrone Power is fine, though this is hardly his finest work. Jean Peters does a fine job as the commoner love interest. It's good to see Cesar Romero in a big-budget role as Hernán Cortéz. Lee J. Cobb's role is very different for him...seems like a mismatch, though he is entertaining. I was interested in noting Roy Roberts, who later ended up in many t.v. sitcoms (e.g., "The Lucy Show").
Fine locales (including a real erupting volcano), good acting, lavish color photography...but all that doesn't equal a superior film. There are places in the film where the action is exciting, but there are other long stretches where the film seems to sort of ramble along with no real goal...contributing to the overly long 2 hours and 21 minute length. And then, suddenly, the film ends...seemingly without building to any sort of climax. That's not to say this is an unwatchable film. It's reasonably entertaining. But what might have been a great film is merely a very good film. I love Tyrone Power, but this will not end up on my DVD shelf.
The first of the film follows Tyrone Powers' aristocratic background to the point where he gets in trouble with the Spanish Inquisition, resulting in the death of his young sister and the imprisonment of his mother, father, and himself...although, of course, they escape. Knowing he must leave the country, Power heads off to the New World (primarily Mexico) with conquistador Hernán Cortés. Apparently there's a fair amount of history here, though its primary function is a swashbuckling epic...and in that, it succeeds.
The 4 primary actors do an excellent job here. Tyrone Power is fine, though this is hardly his finest work. Jean Peters does a fine job as the commoner love interest. It's good to see Cesar Romero in a big-budget role as Hernán Cortéz. Lee J. Cobb's role is very different for him...seems like a mismatch, though he is entertaining. I was interested in noting Roy Roberts, who later ended up in many t.v. sitcoms (e.g., "The Lucy Show").
Fine locales (including a real erupting volcano), good acting, lavish color photography...but all that doesn't equal a superior film. There are places in the film where the action is exciting, but there are other long stretches where the film seems to sort of ramble along with no real goal...contributing to the overly long 2 hours and 21 minute length. And then, suddenly, the film ends...seemingly without building to any sort of climax. That's not to say this is an unwatchable film. It's reasonably entertaining. But what might have been a great film is merely a very good film. I love Tyrone Power, but this will not end up on my DVD shelf.