I just saw him for the first time last week, what a presence and character. I didn’t think it was just how the roles were written, either. The two movies I saw were Gentleman Jack and Dive Bomber, not exactly swashbuckling action flicks, but fun. I just looked at his filmography and saw how many historical figures he has portrayed. I’ll be on the lookout for more.
One of my favorites - particularly his first great hit, Captain Blood. Sea Hawk is great, too.