The Golden Hawk


The Golden Hawk is a 1952 American adventure film, directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Rhonda Fleming and Sterling Hayden, based on the novel of the same name by Frank Yerby.

Plot

French sea captain Kit 'The Hawk' Gerardo sails the seas in the 17th century in command of the ship Sea Flower, seeking out Spanish pirate Luis del Toro, believing him responsible for the death of Kit's mother Jeanne Buoyant.
A female pirate who calls herself Captain Rouge disguises herself as a Dutch maid to board a vessel, then shoots and wounds Kit when he attempts to make romantic advances. Kit kidnaps a woman, Bianca, the betrothed of del Toro, and demands 10,000 pieces of gold for her safe return. Del Toro pays, then surrounds Kit with three of his ships to take it back. Rouge wants half the loot for herself. In a raid of Jamaica on orders of the king, Kit discovers that the property once belonged to Rouge, who is a British subject, Lady Jane Golfin, trying to retrieve the riches that have been illegally taken from her family.
Bianca, in love with Kit, betrays him and Kit ends up tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. Del Toro intervenes on his behalf, however, and reveals that Kit is his own son.

Cast

Frank Yerby's novel was published in 1948. The book was a best seller, selling 1,863,000 copies. In 1951 it was announced Sterling Hayden and Rhonda Fleming would star in a film version. Helena Carter played the second female lead.