John Paul Jones
Directed by John Farrow
Written by John Farrow and Jesse Lasky Jr. from a story by Clements Ripley
1959/Spain
Samuel Bronston Productions/Suevia Films P.C. S.A.
First viewing/YouTube
Captain Richard Pearson: Captain, are you surrendering? Do you ask for quarter?
John Paul Jones: No sir! I have not yet begun to fight!
Well, this proved to be an entirely forgettable biopic.
The film tells the story of Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones (Robert Stack) from his humble origins in Scotland to his command at key battles and sojourns at the courts of Louis XV and Catherine the Great (Bette Davis). There are a couple of frustrated romances thrown in for good measure. We see Jones struggle as he is passed over constantly for more influential captains with better pedigrees. With Charles Coburn as Benjamin Franklin and McDonald Carey as Patrick Henry.
Robert Stack just isn’t my idea of the heroic type and the picture sinks or swims on his stolid shoulders.
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