Captain Caution

Captain Caution is a 1940 American adventure film directed by Richard Wallace set during the War of 1812. The film stars Victor Mature, Bruce Cabot and Alan Ladd. It was based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. Elmer Raguse was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound Recording.

Cast

 * Victor Mature as Daniel 'Dan' Marvin
 * Louise Platt as Corunna Dorman
 * Leo Carrillo as Lucien Argandeau
 * Bruce Cabot as Lehrman Slade
 * Robert Barrat as Capt. Dorman
 * Vivienne Osborne as Victorine Argandeau
 * Miles Mander as Lieut. Strope
 * El Brendel as Slushy
 * Roscoe Ates as Chips
 * Andrew Tombes as Sad Eyes
 * Aubrey Mather as Mr. Henry Potter
 * Alan Ladd as Newton – Mutinous Sailor
 * Leyland Hodgson as British Ship's Brig Officer
 * Lloyd Corrigan as Capt. Stannage
 * Pierre Watkin as American Consul
 * Cliff Severn as Travers
 * Bud Jamison as Blinks
 * James Dime as a sailor
 * Olaf Hytten as Stannage's Aide (uncredited)
 * Ethan Laidlaw as Prisoner (uncredited)

Production
Kenneth Roberts' novel was published in 1934 and became a best seller. Film rights were bought by Hal Roach, who made the film as part of a five-picture deal he had with United Artists. (The others were The Housekeeper's Daughter, One Million Years BC, Of Mice and Men and a novel by Thorne Smith. ) Eugene Sollow was assigned to write the script.

Plans to make the film were pushed back following the entry of Britain into World War II out of fear the film could be seen as anti British. However "sea pictures" were in vogue at the time (e.g. The Sea Hawk, South of Pago Pago) so Roach decided to proceed.

The anti-British tone of the novel was softened and the script rewritten by producer Grover Jones, who said "in the main we won't be giving them much time to think about whether they like the theme of the picture or not. We'll be giving them action and more action. And if we let a little plot to trickle in to let them know why they are getting all that fighting, we do it only because the camera needs a new set up now and again." Filming started April 1940 under the direction of Richard Wallace.