The Pirate (1948)
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Synopsis: Gene Kelly and Judy Garland star in this swashbuckling musical, brilliantly directed by Vincente Minnelli. A cloistered young girl in the Caribbean, who's about to enter into an arranged marriage with an older man, dreams only of a famous pirate -- and the exciting love she wants to share... Gene Kelly and Judy Garland star in this swashbuckling musical, brilliantly directed by Vincente Minnelli. A cloistered young girl in the Caribbean, who's about to enter into an arranged marriage with an older man, dreams only of a famous pirate -- and the exciting love she wants to share with him. And Serafin, a performer who's come to town, will do anything he can to play the part and win her heart. [More]
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Starring: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Owen, George Zucco
Producer: Arthur Freed
Composer: Cole Porter
Screenwriter: Anita Loos
Story: S. N. Behrman
Screenwriter: Albert Hackett
DVD Info
Release:
Jul 24, 2007
DVD Features:
- Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
- Mono 1.0 English
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
...it does a lot better with its singing, dancing, and staging than it does with its acting, characterizations, and storytelling.
The Pirate takes place in some Caribbean of the mind, with lots of shadows and lace and high mantillas, and it's all about the promise of sex; the film keeps tapping into a nervous, adolescent sort of fear and desire.
Consciosuly campy, this musical was misunderstood at the time. While Cole Porter's songs lack his trademark wit, the sumpruous sets and exotic costumes compensate for the slender fable,the highlight of which is Judy's rendition of "Be a Clown."
All told it's an enjoyable work, albeit one of the director's minor films.


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