Captain Calamity (film)

Captain Calamity is a 1936 American South Seas adventure film directed by John Reinhardt and starring George Houston released by Grand National Pictures. It was filmed in an early colour process called Hirlicolor at Talisman Studios and Santa Catalina Island, California.

Captain Calamity
Original film poster
Directed byJohn Reinhardt
Written byGordon Ray Young (story)
Crane Wilbur (screenplay)
Produced byGeorge A. Hirliman (producer)
Charles J. Hunt (associate producer)
Louis Rantz (associate producer)
StarringGeorge Houston
Marian Nixon
Vince Barnett
CinematographyMack Stengler
Tom Galligan
Edited byTony Martinelli
Distributed byGrand National Films Inc.
Release date
  • April 17, 1936 (1936-04-17)
Running time
66 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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A penniless ship's captain is taking a passenger ashore after their voyage. The passenger throws a gold coin in the ocean that he says has been bad luck to him as it was a gift from his ex-fiancee. The Captain sends one of his men, an experienced underwater diver, to successfully retrieve it. The passenger explains that is a gold Spanish doubloon and the Captain is more than welcome to it.

Going ashore, the Captain decides to have some fun by telling stories indicating that he discovered four chests full of the coins, which were pirate treasure. The news spreads throughout the island and leads to kidnapping, torture, murder and an attack on the Captain's ship.

Cast

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Gordon Jones, Maria Kalamo and John Van Pelt appear uncredited. The pig that appeared in the film was barbecued and served to the cast.[1]

Soundtrack

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  • George Houston - "Riders of the Rolling Seas" (Written by Jack Stern and Harry Tobias)
  • George Houston - "A Drunken Sailor" (Written by Jack Stern and Harry Tobias)
  • George Houston - "Tell Me Why" (Written by Jack Stern and Harry Tobias)
  • George Houston - "Drop Your Anchor" (Written by Jack Stern and Harry Tobias)

Spanish version

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A Spanish-language version, El capitan Tormenta was filmed alongside Captain Calamity. Roy D'Arcy Juan Torena, Barry Norton and Movita reprised their roles (though most of the character names were changed). Fortunio Bonanova replaced Huston in the title role and Lupita Tovar served as Nixon's Spanish-language alternative, renamed Magda. Supposedly, producer Hirliman had wanted Tovar to play the female lead in both productions, but she only appeared in the Spanish version.

See also

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Notes

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