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Captain Kidd's Treasure (1938)
Captain Kidd's pirate treasure chest full of coins
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The 1938 short film "Captain Kidd's Treasure" is loosely based on the story of the famous British
sea captain and suspected pirate Captain William Kidd (1645-1701).
The film was part of a "Historical Drama" series. In the film a promoter claims that he has the original map
and attempts to convince two other men to finance a search for Captain Kidd's buried treasure.
There was a treasure chest as Captain Kidd captured a Mughal Indian merchant ship the
Quedagh Merchant and took away a chest. But was it later buried intact or split up by his crew?
The film shows a treasure chest full of jewelry and coins.
The prop coins appear to be copies of ancient Greek and Roman coins.
1. Title
The film begins with a prologue set in 1701 with Captain Kidd in a British prison writing a letter
claiming to have buried a treasure on an island and offering to reveal the location in exchange
for his life. The British refuse his offer and hang him.
An expedition was outfitted to search for the treasure of which he wrote.
That first expedition failed and others took up the quest.
And for more than 200 years adventurers from all over the world have searched for Kidd's plunder.
A British sailing ship appears.
2. British sailing ship
This ship is the "Bounty" from the 1935 film "Mutiny on the Bounty."
The prologue continues into modern times.
They have all failed, yet there are men who believe that Captain Kidd's treasure can still be found.
Even today expeditions are being planned.
3. Modern coastal house
Three unnamed modern gentlemen are at a house in America.
4. Three modern gentlemen
The man on the right is promoting a treasure hunt to the other two, the man on the left is eager
to invest money in the hunt, and the middle man is a skeptic.
The promoter claims to have Captain Kidd's map showing that the treasure is buried on an island
off the coast of Africa east of Madagascar.
5. Off the coast of Africa
The film now moves to the 1600's and Captain Kidd has spotted a target.
6. Captain Kidd ready
The captain sends his men to board the merchant ship Quedagh Merchant.
7. Pirate attack
The pirates locate and enter the treasure room and find a chest.
8. The treasure chest
The captain uses a block to break open the chest lock.
9. The treasure!
The scene shows the chest and the contents.
10. Treasure coins and jewelry
The coins appear to be copies of ancient Greek and Roman coins.
The coin at the bottom with "S C" on it is an imitation of a Roman coin and the coin on the right
with a man's head facing right is an imitation of a Greek coin.
Similar coins have appeared in the films "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and "Jungle Book."
Captain Kidd takes his ship to an island where he orders two crewmen to bury the chest.
11. The burial detail
The men discuss coming back for the treasure but the captain has a solution for that.
He tells the men "A good job. Well done, lads and your passports for a better world."
12. The captain's permanent solution
Captain Kidd then draws a treasure map.
13. Captain's treasure map
The map appears to be pretty simple.
The film returns to modern times and the three gentlemen.
14. Three modern gentlemen
The skeptic reminds the other men that Captain Kidd's crew later mutinied and took the chest.
The skeptic continues:
Other expeditions have had maps, too but they didn't find anything.
On the contrary, to assume you can find a treasure that people have searched for for over
200 years is downright foolish. I wouldn't advise you to waste your money.
The film's narrator ends the film with a conclusion.
We don't know either but one thing we do know.
A vast treasure was taken from the Quedagh Merchant.
If Kidd's mutinous crew did steal it that treasure was scattered all over the world.
If, however, his last letter told the truth a fabulous fortune in pirate gold still waits for the first
lucky adventurer who comes to claim it on its far-off island.
Only the sea knows the secret.
15. Treasure Island?
Cast, Directors, Writers:
Leslie Fenton as Narrator
Wade Boteler as modern-day expedition promoter
Edward LeSaint as modern-day expedition member
Ian Wolfe as modern-day expedition skeptic
Stanley Andrews as Captain William Kidd
Charles Irwin as First Mate Palmer
Director: Leslie Fenton
Writers: Herman Boxer
Wade Boteler as modern-day expedition promoter
Edward LeSaint as modern-day expedition member
Ian Wolfe as modern-day expedition skeptic
Stanley Andrews as Captain William Kidd
Charles Irwin as First Mate Palmer
Writers: Herman Boxer
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