In 1728, Dick Lindsay is taken prisoner by Captain Barclay and incarcerated aboard the Black Panther, his pirate ship. Also on board against his will is Robert MacAllister, nephew of Barclay's nemesis, Andrew MacAllister.
The pirate kidnapped Robert as retribution for MacAllister having long ago done likewise to Barclay's infant daughter, Christine. The feud has continued for more than 20 years. Now the pirate intends to settle it once and for all. He propositions Dick to impersonate Robert and return to his uncle, going so far as to duplicate a distinctive scar on Robert's face.
Dick does as told, hoping to gain his freedom. He is a welcome sight to MacAllister, but others are not quite sure what to make of this newcomer, including Shively, a brutal overseer of the men, and particularly Christine, now a grown woman with a volatile disposition.
Put in charge of the mill, Dick gains the trust of MacAllister's slaves, who are plotting a revolt. The real Robert's dead body washes up, however, so MacAllister now knows he is being deceived. Christine's growing love for Dick is a factor in not having him killed at first, but soon Shively and Dick are engaged in a knife fight to the death.
Captain Barclay and his men await a signal to invade the island. When a stash of explosives is detonated, they storm the isle. MacAllister is killed by Barclay, who is savoring his revenge when Christine gains some of her own, mortally wounding Barclay. She remains unaware that she has just killed her own father, and with his dying words, Barclay implores Dick to keep it a secret.
The film was based on a 1926 novel by Ellery Clark, Carib Gold.[3]
In January 1951 the film rights were bought by Pine Thomas Productions, who had a deal to make films for Paramount. Mark Stevens was to star and Edward Ludwig to direct.[4] However, by March, Stevens was out and the film was to star John Payne, who had made a number of movies for Pine Thomas. Curtis Kenyon and Morton Grant were to write the script.[5]
In June 1951 John Payne signed a contract with Pine Thomas Productions to make two films a year for three years. The first of them were to be The Green Grass of Nevada and Caribbean Gold.[6] In July Arlene Dahl was announced as Payne's co star; it would be the first under a deal for her to make two films a year for Pine Thomas over three years.[7]
Filming was to begin October 1951 but Paramount had a backlog of unreleased films and asked Pine Thomas to push the shooting date back to January.[8]
"It's strictly entertainment", Payne said of the film, adding that Hardwicke and Sullivan were "two of the finest actors in the business."[9]
Dahl signed a nine-picture contract with Pine-Thomas.[10]
Reception
It earned an estimated $1.4 million at the US box office in 1952.[11]
Pine Thomas announced they would reteam Payne and Dahl in Lost Treasure of the Andes, Thunderbolt and High Tension.[12] In the final event they did not appear together again. Neither was a remake of Old Ironsides, which Pine Thomas said they would make with Payne and Hardwicke.[13]
References
^'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
^"HOLIDAY NOVELS (Book Review)". The Spectator. Vol. 137, no. 5120. London. Aug 14, 1926. p. 255.
^THOMAS F. BRADY (Jan 30, 1951). "PARAMOUNT BUYS TWO NEW STORIES: Giler Melodrama and Clark Adventure Acquired by Studio --Jean Arthur Gets Role". New York Times. p. 21.
^Schallert, Edwin (Mar 10, 1951). "Drama: Payne to Swashbuckle in 'Carib Gold;' Crime Probe Stars New Films". Los Angeles Times. p. 7.
^"Drama: Anne Baxter to Star as Birds' Defender". Los Angeles Times. 27 July 1951. p. A6.
^THOMAS M. PRYOR (30 July 1951). "KRAMER WILL FILM FORTH COMING BOOK: He Is Expected to Pay $40,000 for Screen Rights to John Fante's 'Full of Life' Starting Espionage Film". THE NEW YORK TIMES. p. 12.
^"ESTHER WILLIAMS SIGNS METRO PACT". New York Times. Sep 5, 1951. p. 40.
^Hopper, H. (Sep 14, 1952). "JOHN PAYNE--the star who likes people". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest178342888.
^'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Sep 11, 1952). "WENDY HILLER SET FOR NEW FOX FILM: She Will Play Role of Mother in 'Sailor of the King,' Based on C. S. Forester Story". New York Times. p. 36.
^"Drama: 'Old Ironsides' Will Sail for Pine-Thomas". Los Angeles Times. 8 July 1952. p. 12.
