Hammer Studios was well known for the Gothic styled horror
films. But they made forays into other genres as well including film noir,
comedy and this gem, an actual pirate film. While the time period might be the
same as those Gothic films this movie is far from those with the exception of a
few actors who seemed to be in all their movies. What matters is the fact that
it ends up being an enjoyable one to watch.
On a small island in the Caribbean called Devon a group of
Huguenots has made a home for themselves. While the group sought religious
freedom here things have changed with men in power abusing their positions. The
man in charge is Jason Standing (Andrew Keir), a religious zealot who finds
himself forced to condemn his son Jonathan (Kerwin Matthews) to 15 years in a
labor camp. Jonathan was having an affair with the wife of one of the town
leaders, a woman who we watch eaten by piranhas as she fleas capture from Jason
and his men.
Jonathan is taken away to the work camp but eventually
escapes months later only to fall into the hands of a band of cutthroat pirates
led by Capt. LaRoche (Christopher Lee). Decked out in all black with a lame arm
and the perfect pirate eyepatch, LaRoche decides to put Jonathan to good use.
He wants him to escort him back to the settlement with two goals in mind. One
is to use the settlement as a safe haven to rest in and the other is that he
believes there is a treasure hidden there.
The settlers and the pirates come into conflict with one
another, a battle follows and eventually the pirates take over the town.
Demanding to know where the treasure is Jason tells them there is none.
Unwilling to accept that LaRoche tells him he will hang two people per day
until he reveals where it is.
An escaped Jonathan frees several of the men in town and
gets help from his sister’s boyfriend Henry (Glenn Corbett). Is there a secret
treasure on the island? Does Jason know where it is? And will the pirates kill
everyone on the island to find a treasure no one is certain exist?
The movie offers plenty of action, plenty of swordplay and
enough pirate clichés to fill several movies. What is most amazing is the fact
that this pirate movie never goes to sea or involves their ship! One scene shows
the ship in the harbor and one segment takes place in the Capt. LaRoche’s
quarters. Other than that it’s all on land!
Made in 1962 these movies were still a staple at the time, a
genre which demanded little reality and plenty of action. This film did the
genre well. The pirates are indeed scurvy dogs dress in tattered clothing,
drinking to excess and on the prowl for any women they can find. The crew turns
out to be a potentially mutinous group and LaRoche has his hands full with them
as well as the settlers.
All involved do a great job in the acting department. It was
nice to see Lee play something other than Dracula and his LaRoche comes with
the aforementioned accoutrements of a pirate along with a decent French accent.
Matthews was still making sword play films at the time and this is just another
in the notch on his belt. Corbett is wasted here but makes the most of his time
on screen. In a small role and just 6 years before his breakout performance in
OLIVER as Bill Sykes is Oliver Reed playing woman hungry Brocaire. My favorite
though is Michael Ripper as one of the most vocal of the pirates. Ripper was a
regular in nearly all Hammer movies that I can recall growing up.
Having never seen the film or even heard of it I found it to
be a treat. Twilight Time is presenting it in a beautiful presentation with the
cleanest possible widescreen offering found for the film. Extras include an
isolated music and effects track, an audio commentary track with writer Jimmy
Sangster, art director Don Mingaye and film historian Marcus Hearn and the
original theatrical trailer. As with all Twilight Time releases this one is
limited to just 3,000 copies so if interested order yours today.
Click here to order.
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