The Spanish Main

Dutch colonization of the Americas sea captain Laurent van Horn (Paul Henreid) is shipwrecked off the coast of the Spanish colonization of the Americas settlement of Cartagena, Colombia. After being held and sentenced to death, Van Horn and his crew manage to escape. Five years later, Van Horn has established himself as the mysterious pirate known only by the name of his ship: The ''Barracuda''. After infiltrating the vessel ferrying her to her wedding, they capture Contessa Francisca Alvarado (Maureen O'Hara) who has been arranged to marry the corrupt governor (Walter Slezak). Wishing to avoid further bloodshed aboard the escort ship, Francisca offers to marry Van Horn if he will spare the escort, to which he agrees. Over time Francisca and Van Horn become attracted to each other and set out to defeat the villainous governor Don Juan Alvarado and treacherous pirates Du Billar (John Emery (actor)) and Capt. Black (Barton MacLane).