After capturing an English warship through sheer cunning and imagination "Captain Vallo" (Burt Lancaster) makes a deal with one of his prisoners named "Baron Jose Gruda" (Leslie Bradley) that he will capture a prominent rebel leader and hand him over for a price. Unfortunately, things don't go exactly as planned and Captain Vallo is forced to come up with new ideas as everything unravels. Now, rather than reveal any more of the story and risk ruining the film for those who haven't seen it, I will just say that this is the type of movie that was probably ideal for the local drive-in or a Saturday matinée when it first played on the big screen. I say this because it is a light-hearted action movie with plenty of humor which was well-suited for a family night out and the kids probably loved it. However, I don't think it has aged well and I further believe that those who are looking for something a bit more serious will probably be a bit disappointed. Again, those who prefer films showcasing style over substance may enjoy this movie. Conversely, those who prefer more realism may need to look elsewhere. In any case, this wasn't a bad movie and I rate it as about average.

Technicolor swashbuckler with ample doses of humor. I wasn't expecting much from this film. The only classic swashbucklers I've ever really enjoyed were the Errol Flynn ones. This one always seemed very "kiddy" to me and in some ways it is. It does have an all ages appeal to it. But I tried it out because it has a great reputation and was directed by one of the premiere directors of the 1940's, Robert Siodmak. Needless to say I wasn't disappointed.The star of the film is Burt Lancaster but he's helped throughout by his real-life friend and former circus partner Nick Cravat. The two do many of their own stunts and it's very enjoyable to watch. Unusual opening where Lancaster talks to the camera seems like something that might have been shot for a trailer but then left in the movie. Rousing score and upbeat tempo throughout. Just a fun movie I would recommend to anybody who isn't a snob about the genre.

I watched this movie after hearing that the "walking underwater" scene in "Black Pearl" was in reference to it. The comments that Bloom and Depp make during that sequence, about genius and madness, may have been meant to apply, as well. "Crimson Pirate" is uneven, with high and very low points. Well, it's bad enough that it makes "Black Pearl" look like classic fiction; and yet there is a Pythonesque quality to it I think comes from the team of Lancaster and Cravat. I hadn't realized Lancaster was a true acrobat, and the performances he and his partner give here are sublime. The big fight scenes, particularly the last one, are extremely well choreographed, too. I would easily have given this a 10 on that basis, and there are some other good performances (especially among the pirates), but overall not everybody seems to have gotten the word it had become a comedy, and a few of the actors also seem rather wooden: hence the 6/10.I do think the luxury sea liner in the background on those shots was intended -- any Film-Making 101 student could easily have changed the setup to avoid it, particularly at this point in the movie, where there are so many near-vertical shots. Given Lancaster's instruction at the beginning of the film to only believe half of what you see (and he was exaggerating even then), it had to be part of the joke. Maybe it's considered a goof or anachronism because that type of humor wasn't very common in mainstream movies in the 50s.One thing to remember as you watch Lancaster's hair: they didn't have mousse back then, or blow dryers. Wow! Also bring sunglasses, because the reflection from his teeth when he grins can be blinding (BG).All in all, it's not "The Black Pearl," but it's overall fun to watch and the acrobatics and some of the fight choreographies are must-see scenes.

Captain Vallo, aka the Crimson Pirate, leads his band in a capture of a British ship headed to the Caribbean to capture a rebel, El Libre. Vallo says he will deliver the guns to the rebels, but plans to give them to El Libre to drive out the British from the island. Vallo, and his mute sidekick Ojo, are aided by El Libre's daughter Consuelo, but after Vallo and company rescue their target, they are betrayed by British representative Baron Gruda as well as Vallo's first mate Bellows. Vallo, Ojo, and traveler Professor Prudence are left adrift in a lifeboat while Gruda plans to marry Consuelo to the local governor to strengthen his rule, but Vallo plans to use the professor's scientific knowledge to win the final battle. A very rousing swashbuckler that ranks among the most entertaining of its genre. Lancaster and Cravat were some duo as you can see they did their own stunts and very well I might add. Alwyn's score is a plus in every place it is used with plenty of different tunes to go for all the scenes. The sound recording however is the big drawback of the film and all of the cartoonish sound effects during many of the action scenes left groans on my face. Excellent and action packed climax on the ship. Rating, 8.