The Crimson Pirate (1952)

The movie was good but it wasn’t anything like the standard swashbuckling movie. It was a little entertaining and had some some action scenes in it.

the DVD was in excellent shape and the movie has humor and excitement.

I saw this movie in a theater on its original release. I was eight years old and could not believe that human beings were able to jump over walls (and everything else) while escaping the enemy. Everything about the movie amazed an eight year old boy. As an adult, I wasn't as thrilled, but I still enjoyed the movie. The movie had no cursing, no real violence, no sex.....it was an adventure movie, made as entertainment for children and adults. There was no CGI either. Burt and his circus friend did it all.JSM

NOTE: This is NOT a DVD. It's a 12" Laserdisc. These record album-sized predecessors of today's DVDs were visually superior. Until the advent of Blu-Ray technology, Laserdiscs were the best video format available..Burt Lancaster is THE CRIMSON PIRATE, so-named because of his red pantaloons. In this light-hearted swashbuckler, the bleached-blonde Lancaster as Capt. Vallo leads a Carribean island rebellion against a tyrannical Spanish colonial baron.Vallo is assisted in the struggle by his diminutive former acrobat partner Nick Cravat (he plays a mute due to a thick East Coast accent), and a Benjamin Franklin lookalike who invents such weaponry as an aerial bombardment balloon, primitive Molotov cocktails and a submarine-- fancy stuff for the early 18th Century!Considered the inspiration for "Pirates of the Caribbean," this one is in many respects superior. Highlight is an almost 20 minute battle sequence designed by the film's star in which Burt does some truly impressive stunts. An escapist delight throughout, "The Crimson Pirate" is highly recommended to all lovers of spectacle and adventure. BLACKBEARD, THE PIRATE  (starring the unparalleled Robert Newton) was released the same year as "The Crimson Pirate."Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 IMDb viewer poll rating.(7.4) The Crimson Pirate (USA/UK-1952) - Burt Lancaster/Nick Cravat/Eva Bartok/Torin Thatcher/James Hayter/Christopher LeeCAST TRIVIA--Self-taught actor BURT LANCASTER (Vallo) was an instant star after his very first screen appearance in  THE KILLERS [VHS ] (1946).NICK CRAVAT's (Ojo) most famous role was the airplane wing gremlin in the  TWILIGHT ZONE  episode, "Terror at 20,000 Feet," with Bill Shatner.To avoid certain death in a concentration camp, 15 year-old Hungarian Jew EVA BARTOK (Consuelo) married a German officer.TORIN THATCHER's (Bellows) next film role was Capt. Morgan in " Blackbeard the Pirate ."

Movies like this just aren't made anymore. Part of the problem is that this movie is politically incorrect in so many ways I just can't explain, but part is just the sheer whimsy of the tale.I mean who could have thought it out.Take an ex-trapese performer who's now a Hollywood leading man. Cast him as a pirate kingAllow one of his former partners from the circus to play his sidekick and friend, but give the man a part where he doesn't speak.Then add in a plot where the pirate will decide to sell guns to rebels and at the same time sell the rebel leader to the local baron who's being sent to the island specifically to capture the rebel leader. But then have the pirate captain fall in love with the rebel leader's daughter.Hijinks and Hilarity ensue. From the first chase seen through the streets of the island captial as Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat show off their acrobatic skills as they dodge and taunt the governor's guards. To the scene where Burt Lancaster pretends he's the baron so that he can get the rebel leader out of prison. To the fight where the rebels use very unconventional weaponry to defeat the baron's troops. Even the final fight onboard the baron's ship where Burt Lancaster leads his pirates in a boarding actoin that at times is played more for the comedy than the action.And some of the one liners and puns just have to be heard and watched to be believed. Such as one scene where Burt Lancaster is escaping back to his ship. The shore battery beleives that the baron is on the ship and signals for a broadside to be made on the small rowboat being used by Burt Lancaster.Pirate crewman: "Mr Bellows, the shore battery's asking for a broadside!"First Mate Bellows: "Well then give them a broadside"Pirate ship proceeds to shoot the shore battery.Wild, crazy, but fun. Sadly, comedies like this just aren't made anymore.

There seems to be some confusion here as to which DVD is being reviewed. This review is for the Korean DVD with small blue circle bottom right corner with Korean writing. This DVD is excellent quality. Bright colours, clear picture and good sound, with optional English subs (and Korean if you care). The ratio is 4.3, but it didn't seem cropped to me, and it never was widescreen to the best of my knowledge. The film is great fun, if you are in the right frame of mind. It's action all the way with Burt in top teeth form, and for me that was a bit of a problem. I like Burt, but here, director Robert Siodmak lets him (literally) run wild and overdo the chases and fights to the stage where I almost wondered if Abbot and Costello were going to say "Who's On Next"! It's "laughs all the way" as Burt and Nick Cravat run rings round everyone and he romances a rather subdued Eva Bartok Of course there is fun to be had, but viewed today it does seem just a bit too juvenile. Now if Flynn and O'Hara had starred....! Recomended to the young at heart and Burt's fans of whom there are quite a few!!

One of my favourites from when I was young. I brought this for my 15 year old Special Needs son, and the whole family watched it and lapped it up. A good old-fashioned romp that doesn't have the modern gratuitous violence or sex scenes. Lancaster is brilliant, and his partner in crime plays a superb mimic.The action sequences are outstanding, the plot works, and nobody is taking things too seriously, which is in stark contrast to the a lot of the overly serious stuff coming out of Hollywood at the moment.Love this one.

I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean with my daughters several years ago and embarrassed them both as I let out a yelp of recognition at one of the scenes in that film. 'It is an homage to the Crimson Pirate' I hissed to them both, neither of whom were the slightest bit interested and just wanted their mother to shut up. Therefore, I was delighted when a bloke sitting in front of me turned round said YES and gave me a high five. This is a fantastic movie. I first saw it when I was about 12 and remember it was shown at my local in a double bill with Calamity Jane. In those days you could sit and watch the programme over and over again and I duly did this one day during my school holidays.Burt Lancaster used to work in a circus and appeared in another great movie, Trapeze, where his skills are utilised to the full as in this film. Lots of fun, chases, acrobatics and derring do it is a fantastic movie and so glad it is available so I can watch and remember

Burt Lancaster is the daring pirate Captain Vallo, mixing plunder and politics with his plan to sell captured arms to rebels on the island of Cobra and then sell the information about the rebels to the corrupt island officals...until he falls for the pretty daughter of the captured rebel leader, El Libre.The Crimson Pirate could be regarded as the spititual grandfather of Pirates of the Carribbean; there's plenty of action for Lancaster and his one-time circus partner Nick Cravet to show off their acrobatic prowess, a broad streak of humour and a swashbuckling finale that made me laugh out loud (I won't spoil it; suffice to say it's the only pirate film I've ever seen that features a hot air balloon!).Despite other customer comments, the DVD picture quality on my copy was fine. Sadly not widescreen and no extras, but these are minor quibbles and only to be expected for a film that's over 50 years old! If you're looking for a family-friendly swashbuckler then this could be it.

This is a great swashbuckling movie starring one of my favourite actors Burt Lancaster.That Burt was a great acrobat before starting his career as an actor is clearly demonstrated in this film.Alongside Burt stars his fellow acrobat Nick Cravat who also played with Lancaster in 'The Flame and the Arrow'.This movie is doubtless a great asset to the Dvd -collection of any true Lancaster fan.