Captain Calamity

1h 5m 1936

Brief Synopsis

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In the South Seas, Bill Jones (George Houston), captain of the schooner "Marigold", is known as Captain Calamity as he is quick to fight or frolic. Stone broke on the island of Quica and with his ship in need or re-stocking, Bill accepts an ancient Spanish doubloon from a young Australian named Carr (Barry Norton)in exchange for taking him to Tapillo, where Carr can take a ship to Sidney. Bill gives the doubloon to trader Joblin (Louis Natheaux)for supplies, and does not bother to correct the trader's impression that he has found a fabulous horde of pirate gold. With Madame Gruen (Margaret Irving), a slatternly jade who runs a waterfront boarding house, and Samson (the ever-oily Roy D'Arcy), her paramour, Joblin schemes to seize Captain Bill's supposed treasure trove. Together, they gather a a crew of cutthroats, led by Black Pierre (George J. Lewis), leader of the scum of the waterfront dives, to seize the treasure. Bill also meets Dr. Kelkey (Crane Wilbur), loser in many bouts with a brandy bottle, and his ward, Madge Lewis (Marian Nixon), on a mission to find the man who murdered and robbed her father in Australia. Bill agrees to help her, but does not remember her as the young girl he had saved from a sinking ship a dozen years before.

Cast & Crew

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John Reinhardt

Director

George Houston

Captain Calamity

Marian Nixon

Madge

Vince Barnett

Burp

Juan Torena

Mike

Movita

Annana

Film Details

Also Known As
Captain Hurricane, El capitán Tormenta
Genre
Adventure
Release Date
Nov 29, 1936
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Condor Pictures, Inc.; Regal Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
Grand National Films, Inc.; Regal Productions, Inc.
Country
United States
Location
Santa Catalina Island, California, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "Captain Calamity" by Gordon Young in Adventure (publication date undetermined).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 5m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Hirlicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

Captain Calamity, a skipper on the South Seas, pretends to be holding Spanish pirate treasure and, consequently, is pursued by a host of island thieves. While single-handedly fending them off, he falls in love with a young woman named Madge. Eventually, all the crooks are killed or jailed, and Madge and the captain are united.

Director

John Reinhardt

Director

Cast

George Houston

Captain Calamity

Marian Nixon

Madge

Vince Barnett

Burp

Juan Torena

Mike

Movita

Annana

Crane Wilbur

Dr. Kelkey

Roy D'arcy

Samson

George Lewis

Black Pierre

Margaret Irving

Madame Gruen

Barry Norton

Carr

Louis Natheaux

Joblin

Lloyd Ingraham

Trader Jim

Maria Kalamo

Albert Gandero

Harold Howard

Charles Moyer

Crew

Edward L. Alperson

Presented By

Sam Diege

Assistant Director

Glen Glenn

Sound Recording

George Hirliman

Executive Producer

Charles Hunt

Associate Producer

Tony Martinelli

Editing

Louis Rantz

Associate Producer

Bobby Ray

Assistant Director

Mack Stengler

Photography

Jack Stern

Composer

Harry Tobias

Composer

Crane Wilbur

Screenwriter

Gordon Young

Original Story

Film Details

Also Known As
Captain Hurricane, El capitán Tormenta
Genre
Adventure
Release Date
Nov 29, 1936
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Condor Pictures, Inc.; Regal Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
Grand National Films, Inc.; Regal Productions, Inc.
Country
United States
Location
Santa Catalina Island, California, United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the short story "Captain Calamity" by Gordon Young in Adventure (publication date undetermined).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 5m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Hirlicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Film Daily reviewed this film's preview under the title Captain Hurricane. Most sources list Regal as the production company, although some list it as a Condor picture. Both Regal and Condor were owned by producer George Hirliman. The Spanish language version of this film, El capitán Tormenta, was produced by Metropolitan Pictures Corp., a company set up by Hirliman to make Spanish versions of some of his films. Both versions were shot simultaneously at Talisman Studios. According to the Hollywood Reporter review, portions of both versions were shot on location on Santa Catalina Island, CA. The Spanish version was presented by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp. A news item in Hollywood Reporter on January 25, 1936 states that George Hirliman was negotiating with actress Lupita Tovar to appear in the Spanish and English versions of this film; however, she appeared only in the Spanish version. According to a May 5, 1936 Hollywood Reporter news item, a pig that appeared in the film was barbequed and served to the cast.

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