NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective disc.

ADDITION: Criterion 4K UHD (February 2026): Criterion have transferred Michael Curtiz’s Captain Blood to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. It is cited as a "New 4K digital restoration" with "one 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features". The Blu-ray is also sold separately. We reviewed the Warner DVD from The Errol Flynn Signature Collection back in 2005 HERE. The new transfers are a shade brighter while showing more grain textures. It also corrects the common SD glitch of vertical stretching and there is also much more information in the frame in this 1080P and 2160P - notably the right edge. Cinematographically, the film dazzles with Hal Mohr's (Underworld U.S.A., The Gun Runners, The Lineup, The Wild One, Rancho Notorious, Woman on the Run, An Act of Murder, Destry Rides Again, Bullets or Ballots, The Walking Dead) black-and-white compositions, utilizing matte paintings, process shots, and elaborate sets to evoke vast seas and exotic locales. The battle sequences, blending full-scale ships with miniatures, convey epic scale, while the sword fights' raw energy - filmed amid crashing waves - adds visceral realism. Technical innovations, such as synchronized sound for cannon fire and dynamic lighting to heighten drama, contribute to its immersive quality. Shadows play a pivotal role in the film's atmospheric realism, with elongated silhouettes heightening introspection (as in Blood's contemplative moments) or ominous outlines amplifying tension during escapes and battles, while crisp contrasts of light and darkness add striking visuals to otherwise routine sequences, like the doctor's hurried dressing amid slanting swaths of illumination.

Like 4K UHD transfers of The Long Wait, I, the Jury, and many others below, Criterion's 2160P transfer of Captain Blood does not have HDR applied (no HDR10, HDR10+, nor Dolby Vision.) We have seen many other 4K UHD transfers without HDR; Mondo Macabro's Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf, Cult Film's Django 4K UHD, Umbrella's 4K UHD transfer of Peter Weir's The Last Wave, Radiance's Palindromes, and Criterion's 4K UHD transfers of Hell's Angels, Shoeshine, The Burmese Harp, Captain Blood, Killer of Sheep, Chungking Express, Winchester '73, The Mother and the Whore, I Am Cuba, The Others, Rules of the Game, Branded to Kill, In the Mood For Love, Night of the Living Dead, and further examples, Masters of Cinema's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Kino's 4K UHDs of Bob le Flambeur, Last Year at Marienbad, Nostalghia, The Apartment, For a Few Dollars More, A Fistful of Dollars, In the Heat of the Night, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, as well as Koch Media's Neon Demon + one of the 4K UHD transfers of Dario Argento's Suspiria.  

Though minor quibbles exist regarding the lack of HDR and a more expansive grayscale, the overall presentation revitalizes the film's kinetic energy and romantic flair for modern audiences, solidifying its status as a genre cornerstone and earning a strong recommendation for collectors and newcomers alike.   

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray and 4K UHD, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Sound design, though rudimentary by modern standards in this early talkie, integrates synchronized effects like booming cannon fire and clashing swords to heighten realism, while dialogue delivery - Flynn's crisp, sarcastic barbs and de Havilland's spirited retorts - benefits from clear recording that underscores the witty banter without overwhelming the orchestral underscoring. Erich Wolfgang Korngold's (The Sea Wolf, Deception, The Sea Hawk, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Adventures of Robin Hood,) score, his first original Hollywood composition (completed in three weeks), is a symphonic triumph that elevates the film's adventure and romance. The Main Title bursts with Allegro con brio fanfares in Bb major, featuring brass swells, harp glissandi, and rhythmic triplets to set a heroic tone. Lyrical motifs, like the Arabella theme in D major with flowing violin melodies and harp arpeggios, underscore tender moments, while action cues employ dominant 7ths and rinforzando accents for tension. Korngold borrows sparingly from Liszt's tone poems (e.g., Prometheus and Mazeppa for battle cues) but innovates with a balanced chord palette often inverted for fluidity - creating atmospheric context through contrasts in dynamics, ranges, and instrumentation, from soft woodwind whispers in intimate dialogues to thunderous brass swells during cannonades. This seamless fusion of music and effects not only propels the swashbuckling energy but also subtly reinforces themes of resilience and romance, influencing later composers like John Williams and solidifying Korngold's role in shaping Hollywood's "classical" sound era. The uncompressed transfer faithfully reproduces the film's original sound design with impressive clarity for its era, ensuring that dialogue - delivered with Flynn's charismatic barbs and de Havilland's spirited retorts - remains crisp and intelligible throughout, even amid the bustling crowd scenes and chaotic battles. Sound effects like clashing swords, cannon fire, and creaking ships add immersive punch. Though inherently limited by 1930s recording technology, the mix provides a splendid auditory experience that complements the visuals and elevates the swashbuckling energy. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray. and Region FREE 4K UHD.

Criterion's 4K UHD package offers supplements. Available on both discs we start with an engaging audio commentary by film historian Alan K. Rode, who delves into Michael Curtiz's directorial style, the production's tumultuous history, and the breakout performances of Flynn and de Havilland, drawing from his book Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film including the director's unprecedented twenty-seven year tenure at Warner Bros. The rest of the extras are relegated to the second disc Blu-ray with a 23-minute 2005 documentary exploring the making-of details, including casting challenges and the film's influence on the genre; an hour-long 1937 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation reunites Flynn, de Havilland, and Basil Rathbone for a dramatic audio retelling. Lastly a three-minute trailer showcases the original marketing hype. There is an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme (Missing Reels: A Novel) provides thoughtful analysis in the included booklet, all housed in packaging with a new cover by artist David Talaski.

Michael Curtiz’s Captain Blood stands as a seminal swashbuckler that revitalized the adventure genre during Hollywood's Golden Age, blending high-seas piracy, romance, and rebellion against tyranny into a rousing escapist tale adapted from Rafael Sabatini's 1922 novel. The story centers on Dr. Peter Blood (Errol Flynn - The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Dawn Patrol, Dodge City, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Virginia City, The Sea Hawk, They Died with Their Boots On, Gentleman Jim, Objective, Burma!, Cry Wolf, Adventures of Don Juan, Against All Flags,) an Irish physician in 1685 England who, after treating a wounded rebel during the Monmouth Rebellion against King James II, is unjustly convicted of treason and sold into slavery in Port Royal, Jamaica. There, he endures brutality under the despotic Colonel Bishop (Lionel Atwill - Doctor X, Mystery of the Wax Museum, The Vampire Bat, Secret of the Blue Room, The Song of Songs, The Devil is a Woman, Mark of the Vampire, The High Command, The Last Train from Madrid, Son of Frankenstein, Man Made Monster, The Mad Doctor of Market Street, The Strange Case of Doctor Rx, Night Monster, The Monster Maker, Lost City of the Jungle) but finds a spark of humanity in Bishop's niece, Arabella (Olivia de Havilland - Gone with the Wind, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Hold Back the Dawn, They Died with Their Boots On, In This Our Life, Thank Your Lucky Stars, The Dark Mirror, The Snake Pit, The Heiress, My Cousin Rachel, Not as a Stranger, The Proud Rebel, Libel, Lady in a Cage, Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte, The Screaming Woman, The Swarm,) who purchases him to spare him harsher labor. Blood orchestrates a daring escape with fellow slaves, commandeers a Spanish galleon, and becomes a pirate captain, forging a code of honor among his crew while raiding the seas, clashing with rivals like the treacherous French pirate Levasseur (Basil Rathbone - The Bishop Murder Case, The Last Days of Pompeii, David Copperfield, The Garden of Allah, If I Were King, The Dawn Patrol, Son of Frankenstein, Tower of London, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Hound of the Baskervilles and entire Sherlock Holmes series from late 30s to 1945, The Mad Doctor, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Crossroads, The Black Sleep, The Last Hurrah, Tales of Terror, The Magic Sword, Queen of Blood,) and ultimately seeking redemption and reunion with Arabella amid shifting political allegiances, including the ascension of King William III. Performances anchor the film's emotional core, with Flynn's breakout role as Blood embodying the ideal swashbuckler hero: a blend of noble defiance, witty sarcasm, and physical prowess that made him an overnight star and the spiritual successor to Douglas Fairbanks. His portrayal conveys vulnerability beneath the bravado, particularly in courtroom scenes where quiet conviction underscores his principles, and in romantic interludes where unspoken longing adds depth. De Havilland's Arabella is no mere damsel; she is vivacious, strong-willed, and intellectually sparring with Blood, their chemistry - marked by flirtatious banter and charged silences - sparking a legendary screen partnership that spanned eight films. Rathbone's Levasseur provides a suave foil, his fencing expertise (choreographed by Fred Cavens - The Robe, Buccaneer's Girl, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, The Sea Hawk, Tower of London, The Man in the Iron Mask, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Queen Christina) culminating in an iconic beach duel that set the standard for cinematic swordplay, while supporting players like Ross Alexander (A Midsummer Night's Dream) as the loyal Jeremy Pitt add layers of camaraderie and pathos. The ensemble's interplay highlights the film's balance of individual heroism and collective brotherhood. Thematically, Captain Blood explores freedom, loyalty, and honorable rebellion, critiquing despotic authority through Blood's transformation from healer to pirate as a metaphor for reclaiming agency against injustice. The "articles" his crew swears - emphasizing fair shares, protection of women, and mutual respect - contrast with the barbarity of colonial slavery and piracy's lawless reputation, reflecting Sabatini's Romantic influences from authors like Dumas and Stevenson. Romance intertwines with adventure, as Blood's yearning for Arabella symbolizes a return to civility, while revenge against figures like Colonel Bishop (Atwill) drives the plot without descending into cynicism. Set against the Glorious Revolution, the film affirms loyalty to a reformed England, offering Depression-era audiences hope through themes of resilience and moral integrity. Though the supplements of Captain Blood could be more expansive, this dual-format set (with a 4K UHD disc and Blu-ray) is, in summation, a triumphant upgrade that honors this seminal swashbuckler with impressive video and audio restorations, making it essential for fans of classic Hollywood adventure and Errol Flynn's star-making turn, while the targeted extras still provide meaningful depth. Absolutely recommended.

Gary Tooze