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Pirates (1986)

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Average Rating: 4.2/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 6

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Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1

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Movie Info

Although the title evokes a swashbuckling adventure, Roman Polanski's Pirates tuns out to be a seagoing tale with a bit of a difference. Captain Red (Walter Matthau) runs a hardy pirate ship with the able assistance of Frog, a dashing young French sailor (Cris Campion). One day Capt. Red is captured and taken aboard a Spanish galleon, but thanks to his inventiveness, he raises the crew to mutiny, takes over the ship, and kidnaps the daughter of the governor of Maracaibo (Charlotte Lewis, soon to

PG-13, 2 hr. 4 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Roman Polanski

Written By: G�rard Brach, John Brownjohn, Roman Polanski

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1986 Wide

Cannon Film Distributors

Pirates Trailer & Photos

Cast

Walter Matthau
Capt. Thomas Bartholome...
Damien Thomas
Don Alfonso
Richard Pearson
Padre
Cris Campion
Frog
Charlotte Lewis
Dolores
Olu Jacobs
Boumako
David Kelly
Surgeon
Roy Kinnear
Dutch
Bill Fraser
Governor
Jos� Santamar�a
Master at Arms
Anthony Peck
Spanish Officer
Georges Trillat
Pockmarked Sailor
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Moonhead
Sydney Bromley
Drooler
Josine Comelas
Passenger's Wife
Richard Dieux
Spanish Officer
Robert Dorning
Commander of Marines
Ian Dury
Meat Hook
Michael Elphick
Sentry
Daniel Emilfork
Hendrik
John Gill
Carpenter
Jacques Maury
Spanish Officer
Ferdinand "Ferdy" Mayne
Capt. Linares
Bernard Musson
Passenger
Cardew Robinson
Lawyer
Emilio Fernandez
Angelito
Bill Stewart
Ginge
Raouf Ben Amor
Armoury Guard
Angelo Casadei
Sentry
Denis Fontayne
Sailor
David Foxxe
Cook
Carole Fredericks
Surprise
Allen Horst
Fiddler
Luc Jamati
Pepito Gonzalez
Wladyslaw Komar
Jesus
Bill MacCare
Jailor
Brian Maxine
Boatswain
Smilja Mihailovitch
New Duenna
Georges Montillier
Duenna
Eugeniusz Priwieziencew
Hunchback
Antonio Spoletini
Palace Guard
Anthony Dawson
Spanish Officer

Critic Reviews for Pirates

All Critics (12) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (6)

The joke lies in the contrast between the beauty of Polanski's framing and the scurvy visuals being framed

March 15, 2010 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

If Roman Polanski has done a worse film than Pirates I certainly haven't seen it.

October 5, 2005 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Uneven, misunderstood Polanski film deserving another look.

June 16, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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Audience Reviews for Pirates

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Quirky, uneven comedy that coming from Polanski I expected a little bit more out of. Now I understand why it doesn't have a legitimite release on DVD.

April 7, 2009

A.D. Villarreal

Super Reviewer

An atypical and charming adventure. It's great to see an auteur like Polanski shaping his vision no matter what genre or tone he's in, but in this case he forgot to apply a little more carefree attitude. some parts are great but still most of the film lacks sparkle and rhythm. Walter Matthau is amazingly cool in his

July 4, 2007

Pierluigi Puccini

Super Reviewer

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