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Yer Piratical Movie Guide
by Captain Ned Slaye
These films are recommended for various reasons, from excellent quality, to "all out fun". For ideas on pirate
personas, carefully watch the secondary characters in any of these movies. Whereas the leading character is
restricted by his (or her) role, the secondary characters have more leeway to act the part of a picturesque pirate.
Highly recommended movies are indicated by the three skulls:
Abbott & Costello Meet Capt. Kidd - 1952, (comedy, musical), Bud Abbott, Lou Costello,
Charles Laughton.
Against All Flags - 1952, (Laserdisc), Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn: King's spy
infiltrates pirate colony in Madagascar.
Anne of the Indies - 1951, Jean Peters, Louis Jordan, Debra Paget: Don't even think this is based
on the historical Anne Bonney, but it is a fun movie.
The Black Pirate - 1926 (silent), Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.: Great swordsmanship. Especially watch
secondary characters.
The Black Pirates - 1954, Lon Chaney Jr.
The Black Swan - 1942, Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hare, Anthony Quinn. Wonderful adventure
movie, based on the Sabatini book of the same title.
Blackbeard's Ghost - 1968 (Disney), Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones, Elsa Lancaster: Peter Ustinov is
a hoot as Blackbeard.
Blackbeard the Pirate (or The Pirate Blackbeard) - 1952, Robert Newton, Linda Darnell, Irene
Ryan: Newton caricatures his "Long John Silver" role in this role as Blackbeard.
The Boy & the Pirates - 1960 (adolescent), Charles Herbert, Susan Gordon: A modern boy
mysteriously finds himself amongst cutthroat pirates of the 18th C.
Breed of the Sea - 1926 (silent)
The Buccaneer - 1938, Frederic March: Jean Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans.
The Buccaneer - 1958, Yul Brynner: a remake of the 1938 movie. Watch both and compare -
they are both excellent.
Buccaneer's Girl - 1950 (not a musical, but lots of singing), Yvonne de Carlo, Frederick de
Cordova: a New Orleans entertainer falls in love with a pirate.
Captain Blood - 1924 (silent) - from Vitagraph
Captain Blood - 1935, Errol Flynn: Flynn's first swashbuckler, based on Sabatini's novel of the
same name.
Captain Horatio Hornblower - 1951, Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo: Though not really about
pirates (though Hornblower is accused of being one), watchthis movie for all the small details of
nautical life. The sea battles are amazing (they used real ships), and Gregory Peck is outstanding.
Compare this to his role as Capt. Ahab in "Moby Dick".
Captain Kidd - 1945, Charles Laughton, Randolph Scott: King of England asks the pirate to
escort ships from India.
Captain Kidd & the Slave Girl - 1954, Lew Landers, Eva Gabor, Alan Hale Jr. (Green Acres
meets Gilligan's Isle)
Captain Pirate - 1952, Louis Hayward: This is a sequel to "Captain Blood", based on Sabatini's
book "Capt. Blood Returns". It's a fun romp.
Carribean - 1952, John Payne, Arlene Dahl, Sir Cedric Hardwicke: A pirate seeks vengeance on
a greedy & cruel plantation owner. Mostly land based scenes.
Clothes Make the Pirate - 1925 (silent) - First National
Cold Steel for Tortuga - 1960's, Guy Madison, Inge Schoner.
The Crimson Pirate - 1952, Burt Lancaster, Nick Cravat: This spoof of pirate movies is a fun
romp. Especially watch the secondary pirate roles.
Daphne and the Pirate - 1916 (silent) - Triangle Film Corp.
The Devil Ship Pirates - 1963, Christopher Lee: mostly set on land.
Doctor Syn - 1937, George Arliss
Doctor Syn Alias the Scarecrow - 1962 (Disney), Patrick McGoohan:
Double Crossbones - 1951 (or 1950??)(musical), Donald O'Connor, Will Geer: a light satire.
Fortunes of Captain Blood - 1950, Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina. A remake of "Captain
Blood".
Frenchman's Creek - 1944, Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Cordova, Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce: A
French pirate is discovered taking shelter in an Englsihwoman's cove. Based on the novel by
Daphne du Maurier.
The Golden Hawk - 1952, Rhonda Fleming, Sterling Hayden: Spanish and English fight against
France in 17th C. Caribbean. Based on the book by Frank Yerby.
The Goonies - 1985: A group of kids go in search of lost pirate treasure.
HMS Pinafore - 1982 (Laserdisc, British musical), Peter Marshall, Meryl Drower
The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd - 1953 (Serial, 12 chapters)
Hero's Island - 1962, James Mason
Hook - 1991, Dustin Hoffman, Robin Willimas, Bob Hoskins, David Crosby. Peter Pan is grown
up and battles with Hook.
Hurricane Island - 1951 - from Columbia
Island - 19??, Michael Caine. Movie version of Peter Benchley's book. Set in 20th C., but
definitely a pirate tale.
The King's Pirate - 1963 (or 1967??), Doug McClure, Guy Stockwell: a remake of "Against All
Flags".
Last of the Buccaneers - 1950, Paul Henreid - from Columbia
Long John Silver - 1954, Robert Newton, Kit Taylor, connie Gilchrist: Further adventures of LJS
as he resuces Jim Hawkins & the daughter of the Governor of Jamaica from other pirates, returns to
Treasure Is. for more treasure & struggples to avoid matrimony.
The Love Pirate - 1970 - CineWorld Corp
The Marauder (or The Lion of St. Mark) - 1963, Gordon Scott: Pirate girl falls in love with the
heir of Venice.
The Master of Ballantrae - 1953 (or 1952??), Errol Flynn: After the Battle of Culloden (1746) a
Scottish lord finds himself on a ship bound for the West Indies.
The Master of Ballantrae - 1984 (made for TV),
Moonfleet - 1955, Stewart Granger
Morgan the Pirate - 1961 (Italian), Steve Reeves, Valarie Lagrange: Great tavern scenes, and
real ships.
Muppet Treasure Island - 1996, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, the Great Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat,
Tim Curry: The usual Muppet silliness, with great songs (esp. "Shiver my Timbers" and "A
Professional Pirate").
Nate & Hayes - 1983, Tommy Lee Jones, Michael O'Keefe: Though not in the typical pirate era
(takes place in late 19th C), it's a good adventure movie. It is based (vaguely) on the real life of the
S. Pacific rogue, Bully Hayes.
Old Ironsides - 1926, (silent), Wallace Beery, from Fox
Peg of the Pirates - 1928 (silent), Fox
Peter Pan - 1924 (silent)
Peter Pan - 1953 (Disney, animated)
The Pirate - 1948 (musical), Gene Kelly, Judy Garland
The Pirate & the Slave Girl - 1961 (Italian), Lex Barker: Good pirates oppose an evil governor.
The Pirate Movie - 1982 (musical spoof), Kristy McNichol, Christopher Atkins: A butchered
verions of "Pirates of Penzance", but some fun scenes.
Pirates - 1986, Walter Matthau, Damien Thomas: The story is lacking, but the costumes, sets, and
backgrounds are greats. Very realistic look.
Pirates of Blood River (aka. The Pirate Ship, & The Mutineers) - 1962 (or 1961??),
Kerwin Matthews, Christopher Lee: American Huguenot colonists fight off pirate band. Mostly land
scenes. Rather depressing, but some very good lines to "borrow".
The Pirates of Capri - 1944, Louis Hayward: Neapolitan natives against an evil tyrant.
Pirates of Dark Water - ??
The Pirates of Monterey - 1947, Alfred Werher, Maria Montez: Pirates in California during
Mexican rule.
The Pirates of Penzance - 1983 (musical), Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury: Fun,
though not faithful to the original G&S.
Pirates of the Seven Seas (aka. Sandokan the Great) - 1965 (Italian), Steve Reeves: Based
on the novel "The Pirates of Malaya".
Pirates of Tortuga - 1961, Ken Scott, John Richardson: Sir Henry Morgan's exploits.
The Pirates of Tripoli - 1955 (or 1952??), Paul Henreid, Patricia Medina.
Prince of Pirates - 1953, John Derek, Barbara Rush: Very enjoyable, set during French-Spanish
War.
The Princess & the Pirate - 1944 (musical), Bob Hope, Virginia Mayo, Walter Brennan, (& a
surprise cameo). Typical Bob Hope romp.
Rage of the Buccaneers (aka. Pirate Warrior), - 1962, Ricardo Montalban, Vincent Price:
mostly land-based scenes.
Raiders of the Seven Seas - 1953, John Payne, Donna Reed & Lon Chaney, Jr.: the pirate
Barbarossa (at least the Hollywood version) starts in Morocco and ends up in the West Indies.
Return to Treasure Island - 1954, Tab Hunter, Dawn Adams: Standard tale.
Return to Treasure Island - 1985 (6-part mini-series, Disney), Brian Blessed, Christopher
Guard: A grown-up Jim Hawkins becomes entangled again with Long John Silver. Filmed on
location. Great source for accurate costuming ideas. Has my vote for best pirate name: "Keelhaul".
The Road to Romance - 1927, (silent), Ramon Novarro
Sea Devils - 1953, Yvonne de Carlo, Rock Hudson: Smugglers & privateers during the
Napoleonic era. Filmed around the Calif. Channel Islands.
The Sea Hawk - 1940, (Laserdisc), Errol Flynn: Elizabethan sea dogs battle the Spanish. Great
ship scenes.
The Sea Panther - 1918 (silent) - Triangle Dist. Co.
The Sea Wolf - 1993, Charles Bronsen & Christopher Reeves: Not a pirate movie, but a good
natical adventure based on the novel by Jack London.
Seven Seas to Calais - 1962 - MGM
Shipwrecked - 19??, (Disney), Gabriel Byrne: A young boy's encounter with pirates.
The Son of Captain Blood - 1964, Sean Flynn: Son of Errol.
The Spanish Main - 1945, Paul Henreid, Maureen O'Hara. Dutch pirate captain versus
gluttonous Spanish governor.
Such a Little Pirate - 1918 (silent)
Swashbuckler - 1976 (Laserdisc), Robert Shaw, James Earl Jones, Peter Boyle: Great
swordfighting scenes, costuming, and sets. Fun story.
Treasure Island - 1918, (silent)
Treasure Island - 1934, Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper: Classic story of R.L. Stevenson.
Treasure Island - 1950, Robert Newton: The Long John Silver everyone knows. After this
movie, Newton continued his role of LJS in the Disney TV series.
Treasure Island - 1972, Orson Welles, Kevin Burfield. A very Orson-Wellian Silver.
Treasure Island - 1990 (made for TV), Charlton Heston, Christian Bale: Very realistic, music by
the Chieftains.
Two Years Before the Mast - 1946, Alan Ladd: Though not a pirate flick, it is a good story of
life at sea, base on Richard Henry Dana's voyage aboard the "Pilgrim".
Yankee Buccaneer - 1952, Jeff Chandler, Scott Brady: Basic pirate tale with a good cast.
Yellowbeard - 1983, Peter Cook, Graham Chapman, Peter Boyle: Complete satire, good
costuming, great party movie.
(Special thanks to Kristie Markwell, DC "Blind" Smith, and Will Howard).
Sources for movies: Critic's Choice Video (PO Box 749, Itasca, IL 60143-0749), (800)
367-7765. Shipping & handling on any order is $5.50.
Copyright © 1995 "No Quarter Given". All rights reserved.
Revised: February 11, 1997.
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