Frenchman's Creek is a romance in the guise of a swashbuckler, which explains why it's heavy on talk and light on action. Ultimately, I don't think it's particularly satisfying as a member of either genre: it's not exciting enough (save for a fine scene with Basil Rathbone toward the end) for an adventure and too shallow for a romance. Still, it's an interesting story held together by Joan Fontaine's sympathetic performance.