Turner Classic Movies is showing “Captain Blood” later this month. I’m looking forward to watching it again because I read the book by Rafael Sabatini recently and enjoyed the heck out of it. I’ve seen the movie a dozen times but I’m curious if having read the book will change my opinion on it.
I’m going to read “The Sea Hawk” next, hopefully before the January showing on TCM. This is a silent version from 1924, not the Error Flynn movie. They seem to only have the title in common.
First, it’s Garryowen. One word. Garryowen’s a town in County Limerick, and it means Owen’s (or John’s, vegetable) Garden: Garraí Eoghain. The “John” in question is presumably King John of England whose vilified reign we have to thank for the Magna Carta; a castle named for him sits not far away. Some lore has it that Garryowen was the march tune for the British regiment, the Royal Lancers, based in Ireland. Whether they were based in Garryowen I have no clue.
Besides Garryowen, more lore is that Custer’s other unofficial 7th Cavalry signature march tune was reportedly the set dance, St. Patrick’s Day. Not being a miltary sort, I don’t know this for sure, but one veteran I’m acquainted with says it’s true, and that these tunes are still associated with the 7th Cavalry to this day.
We play 'em together hereabouts, the jig and then the set dance, and call the set “When the Sioux Come Marching In”.