Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Buccaneer

  • 19381938
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
699
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
  • Adventure
  • Biography
  • Drama
Semi-fictional account of pirate Jean Lafitte's involvement in the War of 1812.Semi-fictional account of pirate Jean Lafitte's involvement in the War of 1812.Semi-fictional account of pirate Jean Lafitte's involvement in the War of 1812.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
699
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Edwin Justus Mayer(screenplay)
    • Harold Lamb(screenplay)
    • C. Gardner Sullivan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Fredric March
    • Franciska Gaal
    • Akim Tamiroff
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Edwin Justus Mayer(screenplay)
    • Harold Lamb(screenplay)
    • C. Gardner Sullivan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Fredric March
    • Franciska Gaal
    • Akim Tamiroff
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos27

    Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Margot Grahame, Fredric March, and Hugh Sothern in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal and Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal and Akim Tamiroff in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal, Margot Grahame, and Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Thaddeus Jones, Fredric March, and George Reed in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Margot Grahame and Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Franciska Gaal, Fredric March, and Akim Tamiroff in The Buccaneer (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Jean Lafitteas Jean Lafitte
    Franciska Gaal
    Franciska Gaal
    • Gretchenas Gretchen
    Akim Tamiroff
    Akim Tamiroff
    • Dominique Youas Dominique You
    Margot Grahame
    Margot Grahame
    • Annette de Remyas Annette de Remy
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • Ezra Peaveyas Ezra Peavey
    Ian Keith
    Ian Keith
    • Sen. Crawfordas Sen. Crawford
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Belucheas Beluche
    Douglass Dumbrille
    Douglass Dumbrille
    • Gov. William C.C. Claiborneas Gov. William C.C. Claiborne
    Beulah Bondi
    Beulah Bondi
    • Aunt Charlotteas Aunt Charlotte
    Robert Barrat
    Robert Barrat
    • Capt. Brownas Capt. Brown
    Fred Kohler
    Fred Kohler
    • Grambyas Gramby
    • (as Fred Hohler Sr.)
    Hugh Sothern
    Hugh Sothern
    • Gen. Andrew Jacksonas Gen. Andrew Jackson
    John Rogers
    • Mouseas Mouse
    Hans Steinke
    • Tarsusas Tarsus
    Stanley Andrews
    Stanley Andrews
    • Collector of the Portas Collector of the Port
    Spring Byington
    Spring Byington
    • Dolly Madisonas Dolly Madison
    Montagu Love
    Montagu Love
    • Adm. Cockburnas Adm. Cockburn
    Eric Stanley
    • Gen. Rossas Gen. Ross
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Edwin Justus Mayer(screenplay)
      • Harold Lamb(screenplay)
      • C. Gardner Sullivan(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Buccaneer
    6.4
    The Buccaneer
    Knights of the Round Table
    6.2
    Knights of the Round Table
    The Savage Innocents
    6.8
    The Savage Innocents
    Hombre
    7.4
    Hombre
    The Plainsman
    6.8
    The Plainsman
    The Sundowners
    7.1
    The Sundowners
    Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
    6.8
    Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
    Frenchman's Creek
    6.2
    Frenchman's Creek
    Alias Nick Beal
    7.1
    Alias Nick Beal
    The Angry Silence
    7.3
    The Angry Silence
    Tom Jones
    6.4
    Tom Jones
    The Gilded Lily
    6.8
    The Gilded Lily

    Storyline

    Edit
    In the War of 1812, the British have sacked Washington and hope to capture New Orleans, where pirate Jean Lafitte romances blueblooded Annette de Remy and openly sells his loot in a pirates' market. But he never attacks American ships. Can the British bribe Lafitte to help them? Can Lafitte persuade American authorities of his loyalty? Will a love triangle between Annette and pretty Dutch girl Gretchen (survivor of a pirates' prize) bring about Lafitte's undoing? —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
    • brandy
    • tortoise shell
    • silk
    • cigar smoking
    • jean lafitte character
    • 67 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The most thrilling war scenes ever filmed!
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Anthony Quinn, who plays Beluche, directed the remake of this film (The Buccaneer (1958)). Douglass Dumbrille, who played Gov. Claiborne in this film, appeared in the 1958 remake, in which he played a prominent New Orleans citizen.
    • Connections
      Featured in Lights, Camera, Action!: A Century of the Cinema: What Price Hollywood? (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Yankee Doodle
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Sung by the pirates

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    surprisingly terrific
    I caught this movie on TCM today and found myself throughly entertained. To my knowledge this was my first ever viewing. The cast was simply superb.....practically everyone. Fredric March was so dashing and effective, I had never realized what a talent this guy was. He even pulled off a French accent flawlessly....whoa! This version of The Buccaneer is simply far superior to the 1958 film which I've seen a couple of times. There was real magic in Hollywood during the 1930s, I'm not sure that town has ever totally recaptured what they had back then. This movie definitely belongs in there with the A list that includes Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Captain Blood, Beau Geste, Tarzan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Gunga Din, King Kong and all the rest. The script was by a GREAT historical novelist named Harold Lamb. This was a huge bonus for this movie. The story sticks fairly close to history and has a terrific pace. My only complaints are relatively minor....the battle at the end didn't quite live up to my expectations(though it probably did realistically portray the excitement and confusion of the participants) and Lafitte could have simply told the truth about the ship Corinthian which was sunk on the orders of another Pirate, not Lafitte. This was the reason Lafitte got chased away from New Orleans (according to the movie at least) Great movie, great leading man, great writing, great cast, great direction, great sets.....a classic. Oh yes, the actor portraying Andrew Jackson was dead on.....not that I have actually met Old Hickory mind you!
    helpful•17
    2
    • asinyne
    • Apr 12, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Lafitte the Pirate
    • Filming locations
      • White's Landing, Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Fredric March in The Buccaneer (1938)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Buccaneer (1938) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.