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The Crimson Pirate

  • 19521952
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Crimson Pirate (1952)
During the 1700s, pirate Captain Vallo seizes a British warship and gets involved in various money-making schemes involving Caribbean rebels led by El Libre, British envoy Baron Jose Gruda, and a beautiful courtesan named Consuelo.
Play trailer2:48
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy

During the 1700s, pirate Captain Vallo seizes a British warship and gets involved in various money-making schemes involving Caribbean rebels led by El Libre, British envoy Baron Jose Gruda, ... Read allDuring the 1700s, pirate Captain Vallo seizes a British warship and gets involved in various money-making schemes involving Caribbean rebels led by El Libre, British envoy Baron Jose Gruda, and a beautiful courtesan named Consuelo.During the 1700s, pirate Captain Vallo seizes a British warship and gets involved in various money-making schemes involving Caribbean rebels led by El Libre, British envoy Baron Jose Gruda, and a beautiful courtesan named Consuelo.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Siodmak
  • Writer
    • Roland Kibbee
  • Stars
    • Burt Lancaster
    • Nick Cravat
    • Eva Bartok
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Siodmak
  • Writer
    • Roland Kibbee
  • Stars
    • Burt Lancaster
    • Nick Cravat
    • Eva Bartok
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 62User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:48
    Trailer

    Photos106

    Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster and Eva Bartok in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster and Eva Bartok in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Eva Bartok in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    Burt Lancaster and Eva Bartok in The Crimson Pirate (1952)
    James Hayter in The Crimson Pirate (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Burt Lancaster
    Burt Lancaster
    • Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)as Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)
    Nick Cravat
    Nick Cravat
    • Ojoas Ojo
    Eva Bartok
    Eva Bartok
    • Consueloas Consuelo
    Torin Thatcher
    Torin Thatcher
    • Humble Bellowsas Humble Bellows
    James Hayter
    James Hayter
    • Prof. Elihu Prudenceas Prof. Elihu Prudence
    Leslie Bradley
    Leslie Bradley
    • Baron José Grudaas Baron José Gruda
    Margot Grahame
    Margot Grahame
    • Biancaas Bianca
    Noel Purcell
    Noel Purcell
    • Pablo Murphyas Pablo Murphy
    Frederick Leister
    Frederick Leister
    • Sebastianas Sebastian
    Eliot Makeham
    Eliot Makeham
    • Governoras Governor
    Frank Pettingell
    Frank Pettingell
    • Colonelas Colonel
    Dana Wynter
    Dana Wynter
    • La Signoritaas La Signorita
    • (as Dagmar Wynter)
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Joseph - Military Attachéas Joseph - Military Attaché
    Ewan Roberts
    Ewan Roberts
    • Claw Pawas Claw Paw
    John Chandos
    • Stub Earas Stub Ear
    Derek Tansley
    • Patch Eyeas Patch Eye
    Charles Farrell
    Charles Farrell
    • Poison Paulas Poison Paul
    Violet Farebrother
    Violet Farebrother
    • Dowageras Dowager
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Siodmak
    • Writer
      • Roland Kibbee
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Burt Lancaster plays a pirate with a taste for intrigue and acrobatics who involves himself in the goings on of a revolution in the Caribbean in the late 1700s. A light hearted adventure involving prison breaks, an oddball Scientist, sailing ships, naval fights, and tons of swordplay. —John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
    • psychotronic film
    • camp
    • man tied up
    • blindfold
    • walking underwater
    • 28 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • MAN OF NINE LIVES AND 1000 SURPRISES! (original print ad - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ojo (Nick Cravat) is mute because Cravat had a thick New York City (Brooklyn to be exact) accent.
    • Goofs
      In the background of both shots showing the old crew tied up in the net is a luxury ocean liner.
    • Quotes

      Baron Jose Gruda: You may be over-confident, Captain Vallo. There are 200 of the King's marines aboard this vessel.

      Vallo: And only 20 pirates. That puts the odds slightly in my favour. Better surrender the ship.

    • Connections
      Edited into La Classe américaine (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?
      (uncredited)

      Traditional sea shanty

    User reviews62

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Amusing and funny adventure story deemed to be one of the best swashbucklers
    Burt Lancaster plays a 18th-century buccaneer called Capt. Vallo with a taste for action and acrobatics and pits his wits and brawn against the might of a villain nobleman ; as Vallo pretending to be a baron to infiltrate into a strongly-armed island and finding romance along the way . It starts when a ship of the king's Navy armed with thirty guns on a mission in the Caribbean late in the Eighteenth Century . There appears a famous pirate (Burt Lancaster who starred various swashbucklers and classic adventures) supported by bearded and short Ojo (Nick Cravat is mute because he had a thick East Coast accent and in actual life his previous circus partner) leading a band who involves himself in the goings on of a Caribbean revolution . As he saves the damsel (Eva Bartok as a hot-tempered woman who swoons over Vallo) in distress and , of course , seduces her ; furthermore he confronts a ruthless baron (Bradley) at an island . As Vallo poses as a Baron in order to penetrate a well-defended enemy stronghold .

    Agreeable pirate movie , plenty of action , thrills , bright cinematography and luxurious costumes . Although the story has been told before , tight filmmaking and nice acting win out . The picture is fast-moving , exciting and thrilling right up to the almost balletic climatic final confrontation between Burt Lancaster and Leslie Bradley . ¨The Crimson Pirate¨ results to be one of Lancaster's swashbuckling best and has achieved a classic status . This entertaining pirate movie is packed with noisy action , burlesque , poking fun , loads of ship battles , humor with tongue-in-cheek and impressive acrobatics adds interest to the ordinary swashbuckling . Considered by many to be one of the best pirate movies laced with comedy and enthusiastically paced . Interesting and enjoyable screenplay by Roland Kibbee ; however , the script started life as serious, nay solemn, but Robert Siodmak, the director, with all the sure touch of real tension behind him in "The Killers" and "The Spiral Staircase," took stock of the material in forty-eight hours and turned it into a comedy . Hight budgeted film , including expensive battles at sea , as it overruns ballooned the original $1.1 million dollar budget to $1.85 million . Burt Lancaster is a complete show including spectacular acrobatic in which Burt performing his own stunts . Lancaster played this pirate movie in the wake of his man-of-action epoch when he performed three magnificent adventure movies that included ¨His majesty O'Keefe¨ and ¨The Flame and the Arrow¨ . Because of cost overruns on "The Crimson Pirate" and "His Majesty O'Keefe," Warner Brothers insisted that future films from Hecht and Lancaster be limited to $900,000. Lancaster and Hecht's response was to strike a new deal with United Artists . Good support cast such as Torin Thatcher playing an astute pirate called Humble Bellows , James Hayter as Prof. Elihu Prudence and brief appearance of Christopher Lee who has a small character and gets to struggle with the main star .

    Colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Otto Heller , being filmed on location in Bay of Naples, Naples, Campania, and Ischia Island, Naples, Campania, Italy . Lively and jolly musical score composed by William Alwyn , well conducted by usual Muir Mathieson . The motion picture was splendidly directed by Robert Siodmak who realizes a skillful filmmaking . Robert had previously directed Burt Lancaster in two classic Noir films titled ¨The Killers¨ and ¨Criss Cross¨. The picture will appeal to Burt Lancaster fans . Burt plays at his best and he provides a lot of fun as his own acrobatic ability , ably assisted by little Nick Cravat . This is a real showcase for Lancaster and Cravat's acrobatic skills . Raing : Above average , 8 , very good good pirate movie , wonderful stuff . Essential and indispensable watching for swashbuckling enthusiasts .
    helpful•9
    1
    • ma-cortes
    • May 22, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 1952 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Crveni gusar
    • Filming locations
      • Bay of Naples, Naples, Campania, Italy
    • Production company
      • Norma Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,850,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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