The Spanish Main
“Loving her . . . taming her . . . called for all his reckless daring!”
Synopsis
Laurent van Horn is the leader of a band of Dutch refugees on a ship seeking freedom in the Carolinas, when the ship is wrecked on the coast of Cartagene, governed by Don Juan Alvardo, a Spanish ruler. Alvarado has Laurent thrown in prison, but the latter escapes, and five-years later is a pirate leader. He poses as the navigator on a ship in which Contessa Francesca, daughter of a Mexican noble, is traveling on her way to marry Alvarado, whom she has never seen. Laurent's pirates capture the ship and Francesca, in order to save another ship, gives her hand-in-marriage to Laurent, who sails her to the pirate hideout. This irks his jealous pirate comrades Anne Bonney and Captain Benjamin Black. They overpower Laurent and send Francesca to Alvarado, and then Mario du Billar, a trusted right-hand man, makes a deal to deliver Laurent to Alvarado.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Spanish Main (Preview Clip)
Type: Clip • Published 2012-11-06
Top Cast
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Paul Henreid
Capt. Laurent Van Horn
Maureen O'Hara
Contessa Francesca
Walter Slezak
Don Juan Alvarado
Binnie Barnes
Anne Bonney
John Emery
Mario Du Billar
Barton MacLane
Capt. Benjamin Black
J.M. Kerrigan
Pillery Gow
Fritz Leiber
Bishop
Nancy Gates
Lupita
Jack La Rue
Lt. Escobar
Mike Mazurki
Erik Swaine
Ian Keith
Captain Lussan
Victor Kilian
Santa Madre Captain
Curt Bois
Paree
Antonio Moreno
Commandante
John George
Pirate (uncredited)
Leo Schlesinger
Spanish Guard
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 1, 1945
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Frank Borzage
- Screenplay & Story
- George Worthing Yates, Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Original Score
- Hanns Eisler
- Original Title
- The Spanish Main
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Studios
- RKO Radio Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Frank Borzage
George Worthing Yates, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Aeneas MacKenzie
Hanns Eisler
George Barnes
Ralph Dawson
Frank Borzage, Robert Fellows
Department Leadership Roster
George Worthing Yates
Screenplay
Frank Borzage
Director
Herman J. Mankiewicz
Screenplay
George Barnes
Director of Photography
Edward Stevenson
Costume Design
Frank Borzage
Producer
Ralph Dawson
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Spanish Main.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Spanish Main.
list2
Pirate
Missing Mine
Oscar Best Cinematography Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Cinematography Nominees
Oscars 1946
Nominees and selected films for the 18th Academy Awards (ceremony year 1946).
BD Release: Past-1960
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - Past-1960
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Spanish Main
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Spanish Main about?
Laurent van Horn is the leader of a band of Dutch refugees on a ship seeking freedom in the Carolinas, when the ship is wrecked on the coast of Cartagene, governed by Don Juan Alvardo, a Spanish ruler. Alvarado has Laurent thrown in prison, but the latter escapes, and five-years later is a pirate leader. He poses as the navigator on a ship in which Contessa Francesca, daughter of a Mexican noble, is traveling on her way to marry Alvarado, whom she has never seen. Laurent's pirates capture the ship and Francesca, in order to save another ship, gives her hand-in-marriage to Laurent, who sails her to the pirate hideout. This irks his jealous pirate comrades Anne Bonney and Captain Benjamin Black. They overpower Laurent and send Francesca to Alvarado, and then Mario du Billar, a trusted right-hand man, makes a deal to deliver Laurent to Alvarado.
Who directed The Spanish Main?
The Spanish Main was directed by Frank Borzage.
Who stars in The Spanish Main?
The principal cast of The Spanish Main includes Paul Henreid, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak, Binnie Barnes, John Emery.
When was The Spanish Main released and how long is it?
The Spanish Main was released in 1945 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for The Spanish Main?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Spanish Main was composed by Hanns Eisler.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Spanish Main?
The Spanish Main holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).