It was shot at the General Service Studio using a boat that had been built for The Black Swan and used for The Princess and the Pirate. In January 1945 Randolph Scott signed to play the romantic male lead. Laughton said he had long been interested in playing Kidd and liked the opportunity to show his versatility. Frederick Worlock as Landers, Newgate Prison Governor (uncredited)Ĭharles Laughton's casting was announced in December 1944.Ray Teal as Michael O'Shawn (uncredited).Abner Biberman as Theodore Blades (uncredited).The King's men found the loot from The Twelve Apostles after searching Kidd's cabin. He learns that Mercy and Lady Anne have survived and preceded him to court. Shadwell sacrifices himself needlessly to cover their escape and Kidd blows up the jolly boat.īelieving himself safe, Kidd appears before King William with the Mughal's treasure to claim his reward (Lord Blayne's aristocratic title and estate). Mercy and a loyal crewman row Lady Anne away in the ship's jolly boat, but are spotted. While the others believe him dead, he swims secretly back to the ship. Outnumbered, Mercy is knocked unconscious, falls into the water, and does not resurface. Mercy is enraged and attacks Kidd, fighting him and Povey. When Mercy sees the Blayne crest he feigns indifference, but Kidd goads him by insulting his dead father's honor. Kidd, Orange Povey (his only surviving confederate, protected by an incriminating letter that will be sent to the crown authorities if he should die), and Mercy go ashore and dig up the loot from The Twelve Apostles. Kidd finds it and recognizes the Blayne family crest so he strongly suspects Mercy is really a relative of the murdered Captain Blayne. During the fight, Mercy's medallion is torn from his neck.
When a smitten Lorenzo tries to force himself on Lady Anne, Kidd is delighted when Mercy engages him in a sword fight. Mercy is really the vengeance-seeking son of Admiral Lord Blayne, the slandered captain of The Twelve Apostles. On the voyage home, Kidd schemes to rid himself of his three close associates (to avoid sharing the booty) and Mercy (whom he suspects of being a spy). He advises her to put her faith in Adam Mercy. When she mentions the recent battle with pirates, Shadwell tells her it never happened. She turns to the only man she thinks she can trust, Shadwell, Kidd's servant. Kidd also arranges a fatal "accident" for Lord Fallsworth, leaving only a frightened Lady Anne. Just as the transfer takes place, the Quedagh Merchant blows up.
Kidd's navigator Jose Lorenzo lights a candle in the ship's magazine.
Kidd's story about a pirate he fought nearby persuades Lord Fallsworth to switch ships with his daughter and the precious cargo. The Quedagh Merchant carries Lord Fallsworth, the King's ambassador to the Grand Mughal, his daughter Lady Anne Dunstan, and a chest of treasure from the Indian potentate to King William. The King sends Kidd and his ship the Adventure Galley to the waters near Madagascar to rendezvous with the ship Quedagh Merchant and provide an escort back to England. Kidd makes him the new master gunner because of his claimed prior service with pirate Captain Avery. Among them is the quarrelsome though cultured Adam Mercy. Kidd recruits a crew from condemned pirates in Newgate and Marshalsea prisons, promising them a royal pardon at the end of their voyage. The king is persuaded by Kidd that the captain of The Twelve Apostles was that pirate, who has disappeared with its treasure.
Kidd then presents himself at the court of William III of England as an honest shipmaster seeking a royal commission as a privateer after striking his colours to a pirate. He returns to London and hires a gentleman's gentleman. He and three confederates bury the stolen treasure on a remote island. In 1699, pirate William Kidd loots and destroys the English galleon The Twelve Apostles near Madagascar. In his memoirs, Nikita Khrushchev noted that this was one of Joseph Stalin's favourite films, and that Stalin identified with the mischievous captain. It has entered the public domain because the producers neglected to renew the copyright in 1972. The music was conducted by Werner Janssen. Lee, his last before he retired, and produced by Benedict Bogeaus and James Nasser. Captain Kidd is a 1945 American adventure film starring Charles Laughton, Randolph Scott and Barbara Britton.
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