Very unusual for a 1950's Universal costume adventure, Captain Lightfoot sports expensive, elaborate production values. It benefits greatly from extensive location shooting, beautifully photographed, and fancifully but tastefully colorful sets and costumes.
Hudson and Rush are excellent as dashing hero and his spitfire lady.
There's an effective mix of action, romantic comedy, and melodrama--all well staged.
Too bad the script is weak; often the character relationships and decisions characters make stretch credibility to the point of distraction.
Contrary to what a couple of other reviewers here said, I thought most of the supporting cast so-so, Abby Players or not. None of the fun, charisma, and panache that British-Hollywood baddies like Basil Rathbone, Claude Raines, and Henry Daniel brought to similar material.