History Film / CaptainClegg

* WorthyOpponent: Blyss and Collier, to each other.

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:Rash, and later, Clegg]].

* InspectorJavert: Collier.

* AdaptedOut: Rather oddly, Syn’s “Scarecrow” SecretIdentity, one of the Best-known features of the source novels, largely disappears in the film. Blyss and his followers ride around dressed as scary “marsh goblins”, and one of the gang stands around disguised as a scarecrow and so hidden in plain sight as their lookout, but the idea of the Scarecrow as the formidable leader of the smugglers is never even mentioned.
* CharacterTitle -- although with a twist.
* ChandelierSwing: Used as a means of escape. [[spoiler: But is interrupted by a bullet.]]

* TheCoronerDothProtestTooMuch: [[spoiler: Oliver Reed]] gave himself a bullet wound in his arm while shaving. Also [[spoiler: the death of Tom Ketch.]]
* DeadGuyJunior: [[spoiler: Is Imogene named after a ship?]]

* FinalSpeech

* GreyAndGreyMorality: The smugglers are willing to [[spoiler: murder a man who threatens to expose their operation]], but Collier can be a real {{Jerkass}}, too, as he exercises the JackBauerInterrogationTechnique. For most of the movie, you don't know which side you're supposed to support.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler: Rash, and later, Clegg]].

* LetsGetDangerous: [[spoiler: Blyss/Clegg]] is a severe badass when the need arises.

* TheManTheyCouldntHang: [[spoiler: Clegg [[FakingTheDead faked his own]] death. The hangman was one of his guys, implicitly Mipps. But he still has a big old scar.]]

* NonIndicativeName: It was released as ''Night Creatures'' in some places because Hammer had promised its American distributor a movie of that title. The original plan was to do yet another adaptation of the novel ''Literature/IAmLegend'' under that name, which fell through after finding out that their original plan would probably be banned in Britain.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted, as Collier's boatswain observes: both the local barmaid and Clegg's pirate ship are given the fairly uncommon name of "Imogene". [[spoiler: Although he doesn't realize the significance of this...]]

* TheReveal: Generally averted, as the film prefers to more subtly let us figure out that [[spoiler: Blyss and Clegg are the same person]].

--> '''Collier''': "Why did you flinch when I took your arm?"
--> '''Dr. Blyss''': "Oh, it wasn't my arm, Captain.--You trod on my foot."
* ScaryScarecrows: Used as lookouts by the smugglers. Nevertheless, there's something creepy about [[spoiler: Oliver Reed]]'s eyes looking out of a scarecrow's mask.

* SinisterMinister: Parson Blyss smuggles liquor...
** SaintlyChurch: ...and donates the proceeds to charity.
* ScoobyDooHoax

* TheSpeechless: The mulatto. Clegg cut the man's tongue out, split his ears, and left him to die on some island, before Collier found him. Although it's hard to feel too sorry for him, considering that he [[AttemptedRape "attacked"]] Clegg's wife, [[spoiler: causing her to [[DeathByChildbirth die in childbirth]].]]

* ThatManIsDead
* UndyingLoyalty: Both Mipps and [[spoiler: Harry]] are unwilling to betray Blyss under any circumstances.

With the Napoleonic War looming, Britain and France increase their mutual tariffs, which is really too bad for any Englishman who wants fine wine, brandy, or gin. Therefore, the south-east coast quickly becomes a haven for smuggling, and the navy sends Captain Collier (Patrick Allan) down to that area to investigate the town of Dimchurch, in the supposedly-haunted Romney Marshes. The town is also the burial place of the notorious pirate Captain Nathaniel Clegg, whom Collier chased halfway around the world. The town's sweet-natured vicar, Parson Blyss (Cushing, at his most stork-like) receives the sailors with all friendliness, but is peculiarly unhelpful. The audience quickly learn that Blyss is the chief of the smuggling operation, which also includes the witty undertaker, Jeremiah Mipps (the always-delightful Michael Ripper), and the town innkeeper, the aptly-named Mr. Rash (Martin Benson). Rash's young ward/waitress, Imogene (the incredibly sexy Yvonne Romain) is in love with Harry Cobtree (a young Creator/OliverReed), son of the local squire (Derek Francis), and they plan to run away together.

* CoolHat: There's actually a minor arc built around Captain Collier's bicorn hat. Early in the film, Blyss asks him to remove his hat in church, and Collier responds that he would if he were "here in service of my Maker", but at the moment, his duty to the King supersedes his religious duties. See WorthyOpponent below for how this finally resolves itself.

* WorthyOpponent: Blyss and Collier, to each other. Acknowledged by [[spoiler: Collier]] at the end when he [[spoiler: finally removes his hat]], paying respects to his fallen opponent.

With the Napoleonic War looming, Britain and France increase their mutual tariffs, which is really too bad for any Englishman who wants fine wine, brandy, or gin. Therefore, the south-east coast quickly becomes a haven for smuggling, and the navy sends Captain Collier (Patrick Allan) down to that area to investigate the town of Dimchurch, in the supposedly-haunted Romney Marshes. The town is also the burial place of the notorious pirate Captain Nathaniel Clegg, whom Collier chased halfway around the world. The town's sweet-natured vicar, Parson Blyss (Cushing, at his most stork-like) receives the sailors with all friendliness, but is peculiarly unhelpful. The audience quickly learn that Blyss is the chief of the smuggling operation, which also includes the witty undertaker, Jeremiah Mipps (the always-delightful Michael Ripper), and the town innkeeper, the aptly-named Mr. Rash (Martin Benson). Rash's young ward/waitress, Imogene (Yvonne Romain, who, as has been noted elsewhere, makes Jessica Alba look like Wayne Knight) is in love with Harry Cobtree (a young Creator/OliverReed), son of the local squire (Derek Francis), and they plan to run away together.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: "Clegg was bad, but he was never a traitor or a coward."

* NonIndicativeName: It was released as ''Night Creatures'' in some places because Hammer had promised its American distributor a movie of that title. (The original plan was to do yet another adaptation of the novel ''Literature/IAmLegend'' under that name, which fell through after finding out that their original plan would probably be banned in Britain.)
* NoNameGiven: The mulatto guy. Justified, because he can't talk: he had his tongue cut out by Captain Clegg for treason (specifically, attacking Mrs. Clegg). Also Collier's boatswain, who serves as a sort of RecurringExtra type character.

* PietaPlagiarism: The final scene of the movie..

* WorthyOpponent: Blyss and Collier, to each other.

* NonIndicativeName: It was released as ''Night Creatures'' in some places because Hammer had promised its American distributor a movie of that title. (The original plan was to do yet another adaptation of the novel ''Literature/IAmLegend'' under that name, which fell through after finding out that their original plan would probably be [[VideoNasties banned in Britain]].)

* ShoutOut: One of the sailors is named [[PeterPan Smee]].

With the Napoleonic War looming, Britain and France increase their mutual tariffs, which is really too bad for any Englishman who wants fine wine, brandy, or gin. Therefore, the south-east coast quickly becomes a haven for smuggling, and the navy sends Captain Collier (Patrick Allan) down to that area to investigate the town of Dimchurch, in the supposedly-haunted Romney Marshes. The town is also the burial place of the notorious pirate Captain Nathaniel Clegg, whom Collier chased halfway around the world. The town's sweet-natured vicar, Parson Blyss (Cushing, at his most stork-like) receives the sailors with all friendliness, but is peculiarly unhelpful. The audience quickly learn that Blyss is the chief of the smuggling operation, which also includes the witty undertaker, Jeremiah Mipps (the always-delightful Michael Ripper), and the town innkeeper, the aptly-named Mr. Rash (Martin Benson). Rash's young ward/waitress, Imogene (Yvonne Romain, who, as has been noted elsewhere, makes Jessica Alba look like Wayne Knight) is in love with Harry Cobtree (a young OliverReed), son of the local squire (Derek Francis), and they plan to run away together.

'''''Captain Clegg''''' is a 1962 movie produced by [[Film/HammerHorror Hammer]], starring Creator/PeterCushing. Although Hammer are known for their horror movies, and this one was even released as ''Night Creatures'' in North America, this isn't a particularly frightening movie, and it doesn't try to be one. It's more of a crime thriller, set in the late 1700s.

* LetsGetDangerous: [[spoiler: Blyss/Clegg]] is a severe {{Badass}} when the need arises.

* AdaptationNameChange: In the novel ''[[Literature/DoctorSynTheScarecrow Doctor Syn]]'', on which the film is based, the central character is named -- well, [[CharacterTitle Doctor Syn]]. This film changed it to "Doctor Blyss" to avoid legal issues with {{Disney}}, who had produced their own adaptation of the story.

'''''Captain Clegg''''' is a 1962 movie produced by [[HammerHorror Hammer]], starring Creator/PeterCushing. Although Hammer are known for their horror movies, and this one was even released as ''Night Creatures'' in North America, this isn't a particularly frightening movie, and it doesn't try to be one. It's more of a crime thriller, set in the late 1700s.

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Both Mipps and [[spoiler: Harry]] are unwilling to betray Blyss under any circumstances. Although they're still, you know, breaking the law.

* RevealingInjury

* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Disney owned the name at this point. Still, it's hard to disguise that Parson Blyss is in fact the Reverend Doctor Syn, under an alias (appropriately enough).

[[TheMovie Actually an adaptation]] -- see ''Series/DrSynTheScarecrow''.

* AdaptationNameChange: In the novel ''[[Series/DrSynTheScarecrow Doctor Syn]]'', on which the film is based, the central character is named-- well, [[CharacterTitle Doctor Syn]]. This film changed it to "Doctor Blyss" to avoid legal issues with {{Disney}}, who had produced their own adaptation of the story.

* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Parson Blyss is in no way similar to the Reverend Literature/DoctorSyn. Disney, please don't sue.
** I'm not sure that Hammer ever tried to hide the fact that it was based on the same source material (Russell Thorndike's Doctor Syn stories). Wasn't it just the name that Disney owned?

* AdaptationNameChange: In the novel ''DoctorSyn'', on which the film is based, the central character is named-- well, [[CharacterTitle Doctor Syn]]. This film changed it to "Doctor Blyss" to avoid legal issues with {{Disney}}, who had produced their own adaptation of the story.
* CharacterTitle

''Captain Clegg'' is a 1962 movie produced by [[HammerHorror Hammer]], starring Creator/PeterCushing. Although Hammer are known for their horror movies, and this one was even released as ''Night Creatures'' in North America, this isn't a particularly frightening movie, and it doesn't try to be one. It's more of a crime thriller, set in the late 1700s.

* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: Parson Blyss is in no way similiar to the Reverend Literature/DoctorSyn. Disney, please don't sue.

''Captain Clegg'' is a 1962 movie produced by [[HammerHorror Hammer]], starring PeterCushing. Although Hammer are known for their horror movies, and this one was even released as ''Night Creatures'' in North America, this isn't a particularly frightening movie, and it doesn't try to be one. It's more of a crime thriller, set in the late 1700s.

* MrFanservice: Oliver Reed.
** MsFanservice: Yvonne Romain.