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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Captain Applejack remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for those early 1930s movies that feel like they were filmed inside a giant tin can, then yes. It’s perfect for a rainy afternoon when you don’t want to think too hard.
Action fans or anyone who needs fast pacing will probably hate it. It moves like a turtle in peanut butter for the first twenty minutes.
I found myself actually liking the lead guy, Claud Allister. He has this very specific way of looking surprised that makes his face look like a confused owl. 🦉
Ambrose Applejohn is just so... bored. He lives in this huge house with his aunt and a ward named Poppy, and he’s basically just waiting for something, anything, to happen.
Then these gangsters show up. They aren't very scary gangsters, to be honest. They look like they’d apologize if they stepped on your toe.
They’re convinced there is treasure buried on the property because Ambrose’s ancestor was a literal pirate named Captain Applejack.
The whole movie feels like a play. Probably because it was one. Everyone stands in a semi-circle and talks very loudly toward the middle of the room.
There’s this one scene where a woman named Anna Valeska shows up claiming she’s a Russian dancer in trouble. Her accent is so thick you could probably use it as a doorstop.
It’s obviously a ruse. The movie doesn't even try to hide it, which is sort of refreshing in a way? No big twists you can't see coming from a mile away.
The lighting in the library is strange. It’s supposed to be night, but there are these huge, harsh shadows that don't seem to come from any actual lamps.
I noticed a moment where a character closes a secret door and the whole wall shakes. Classic early cinema budget problems.
The middle of the movie is the best part. Ambrose falls asleep and we get a long dream sequence where he’s the pirate ancestor.
Suddenly, the guy who was stuttering and nervous is screaming at his crew and swinging a cutlass. It’s pretty funny because he still has that same mustache.
The pirate ship set looks like it was made of cardboard and hope. I loved it. It has more personality than most CGI sets today.
If you like this kind of 'mystery in a big house' vibe, you might also want to check out Black Waters. It has that same sort of stagy, early-talkie energy.
There’s a bit of a romance subplot with Poppy, played by Mary Brian. She’s fine, but she doesn't have much to do besides look worried while Ambrose acts like a lunatic.
The dialogue is very period-accurate. Lots of people saying "By Jove" and calling things "beastly." It’s charming if you’re in the right mood.
I did find the ending a bit rushed. One minute they are fighting over a parchment, and the next, everything is just... wrapped up? 🤷♂️
One thing that bothered me—the sound of the rain outside. It sounds more like someone is just frying bacon in the next room.
It reminded me a little of The Lightning Raider in how it just goes for the pulp adventure stuff without worrying if it makes total sense.
The costumes are surprisingly good though. Ambrose’s pirate outfit has these giant cuffs that look like they’d get in the way of actually doing any pirating.
I also caught a glimpse of a cat in one of the background shots that I’m pretty sure wasn’t supposed to be there. It just wanders across the frame and disappears. 🐈
It’s these little mistakes that make these old movies feel real to me. Not like the polished, scrubbed-clean stuff we get now.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it better than Stolen Goods? Hard to say, they’re different beasts.
But there is something about the way Allister delivers his lines. He has this rhythmic way of speaking that is almost musical.
Even when the plot drags, you’re just waiting for him to do something silly with his hands again.
It’s a movie about a man having a mid-life crisis and deciding the solution is to pretend to be a criminal. Honestly, relatable.
Anyway, it’s short. It doesn't overstay its welcome. If you find a copy that isn't too grainy, give it a go on a quiet night.
Just don't expect any actual pirates until halfway through. 🏴☠️
IMDb —
1920
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