Swashbuckler
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Movie Reviews of Swashbuckler
Movie Review: More a disappointment than a disaster
Summary: 3 Stars
In the scathing but short-lived satire of amoral movie producers, Action!, the first and most important thing uberproducer Peter Dragon teaches his daughter is "No pirate movies." Certainly before Pirates of the Caribbean finally broke the curse, the industry was littered with the sporadic wrecks left by those few foolhardy producers who would try at least once a decade to revive the genre only to end up with costly disasters like the rival 1982 versions of The Pirates of Penzance, Roman Polanski's Pirates or Renny Harlin's Cutthroat Island. 1976's The Scarlet Buccaneer (aka Swashbuckler) is certainly no exception to the rule. It even has a pirate called Polanski in it.
On paper it has everything it needs for an enjoyable romp but on screen it doesn't make the most of the hand it's been dealt. The script is more than serviceable, there's no shortage of talent among the cast - Robert Shaw, Genevieve Bujold, James Earl Jones, Geoffrey Holder and Peter Boyle - though none are at their best, the Mexican locations are good, Philip Lathrop's scope photography pleasing, The Golden Hinde, the full scale replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship, earns its own above-the-titles screen credit as the kind of galleon any pirate would be proud to command and John Addison's infectiously easygoing score is a treat. Yet as Ned Lynch and the men of his Blarney Cock (it's the name of his ship, and at one time the working title for the film) free the poor people of Jamaica from its corrupt and tyrannical "English" governor you get the distinct impression that while most of the cast had fun making it, it's not particularly infectious, translating more as laziness than a good time had by all.
Shaw may have made his name as a pirate in the low-budget 50s children's adventure series The Buccaneers but as a big screen buccaneer he might have his moments but often lacks lustre. It doesn't help that at times he seems to be modelling the hero on both Albert and Harold Steptoe rather than Burt Lancaster or Errol Flynn. He's also rather visibly a little worse for wear in the finale when a sudden turn very obviously leaves him unsteady on his feet after what you suspect was a long liquid lunch. Still, Genevieve Bujold makes a fine and rather gorgeous heroine, throwing in some gratuitous nudity for good measure (how times have changed: at the time the studio were so worried she might look underweight they put her on a diet of double-helpings to pad her out!).
Holder and Jones overdo it mightily, though neither can compare to Beau Bridges, who displays all the lightness of touch of a stampeding elephant in tap shoes, possessed of the curious delusion that the LOUDER and slllooowwweeerrr he shouts the funnier his lines become. Even Gordon Brown has better comic timing. But the film's biggest problem is the pantomime villain, with Peter Boyle's corrupt and perverted governor so staggeringly hammy and unmenacing that the only ones with anything to fear from him are Jewish cannibals. Spending most of his screen time going through a personal grooming routine or playing with toy boats in the bath with his toy boy while a silent Angelica Huston lurks on the sidelines, he's a less convincing adversary than he is a persistent irritant who all but holes the film below the waterline every time he appears.
With no English actors but Shaw in the cast there are plenty of bad accents on display, the initially clumsy editing does little to disguise the under-rehearsed action scenes and poor swordsmanship, yet somehow despite everything the film somehow manages to right itself enough to improve a lot around the halfway point as it starts to get the tone right and there's finally some real fun to be had. The result is more a disappointment than a disaster, but still a modestly entertaining one if you dial down your expectations.
The Region 1 DVD is a disappointing disc, but those with multi-region players might want to seek out the English-friendly German PAL DVD, which includes trailer, a making of featurette from the film's release, stills gallery and even a 16-minute Super 8mm cutdown version of the film!
Movie Review: A Piece of Fluff Sure to Take you Away From it All
Summary: 3 Stars
For a piece of video that will surely make you forget your problems for at least the length of it, this 1976 release of the action-packed, stunt-riddled, SWASHBUCKLER will foot the bill! While Robert Shaw is best remembered for his performance in JAWS, this movie is in no danger of being classed as one of his best. Reminiscent of his earlier days in THE PIRATES in Great Britain, Robert Shaw is clearly the hero in this film. James Earl Jones, Geoffrey Holder, Beau Bridges, Peter Boyle and Genevieve Bujold fill out the cast nicely. Anjelica Huston makes her first appearance in a movie and utters not one word! Who would believe from this introduction she would go on to win an Academy Award! Set in Jamaica, the film is lavishly photographed and just seeing The Golden Hind skimming the waves of the Caribbean is a sight unto itself. While the film does have some semblance of a plot, it seems the writer forgot to fill it in a bit more. The finish comes far too soon and ends much too abruptly. It made me wish for more.Movie Review: Ok pirate movie...maybe not for the kids
Summary: 3 Stars
Ordered from Amazon based on the reviews below and watched last night. It is an OK attempt at a pirate movie. Lacks the authenticity of something like "Damn the Defiant" and is campy....a little too campy for me.
That being the case, I thought maybe a fun movie for the kids. I have a 5 yo girl and 2 boys, 8 and 12. They have been busy playing Sid meiers pirates on the computer so I was hoping to feed their interest in history. They had enjoyed "Damn the Defiant" (I highly recommend that movie) but this one is not going to be shown. Too much lewedness, a lot of innuendo, some bawdy limmericks about losing viginity, the many brothel scenes and the nude heroines buttocks when she is swimming deep sixed the main purpose I bought the movie for.
As an adult, it is easy watching and tame. Just remember that it was made in the 70's so it shows its age. History buffs may wish to stay well clear.
Movie Review: Good Rainy Day Movie
Summary: 3 Stars
I first saw this film as a kid on a double-bill with "The Hindenburg" and enjoyed it immensely. Revisting it for the first time since then, it's still a good film but lightweight fodder. Director James Goldstone is going for the rollicking and high-spirited and he succeeds for the most part. I thought that Robert Shaw and Genevieve Bujold, for the most part, were just phoning in their performances. On the other hand, Peter Boyle as the evil Lord Durant relishes his chance to play villainy. The always dependable James Earl Jones gives a high-spirited rendering of Nick, Shaw's Red Ned Lynch's co-hort. This is the kind of film you don't so much as seek out but stumble upon. I will say this much, though. I enjoyed this old-fashioned homage to high-seas fare more than the CGI dominated "Pirates of the Caribbean".Movie Review: One Star is reserved for Airport 79
Summary: 2 Stars
I have recently viewed some of my favorite worst films ever. Airport 79 takes top (bottom?) billing. If you recall, these were a series of airplane disaster flics (Airport, Airport 75, Airport 77, and the grand turkey of all time: Airport 79). These movies gave birth to the spoof, Airplane, though after Airport 79 there is no longer a need for a spoof movie.
Swashbuckler is supposed to be a light comedy action pirate movie a la the current rage Pirates of the Caribbean. Though the cast is tremendous, the acting, the action scenes, the drama, the love story, the building tension leading to the finale is anything but tremendous. About the best thing I can say for this movie is that it is not quite as bad as Airport 79. This movie is far and away the worst pirate movie I have seen. I cannot think of a near competitor.
I was surprised by the number of very generous 5 star ratings. About half the reviews give this film top honors.