I just finished watching the whole 1-season, 39 epps on Amazon, having not watched The Buccaneers since it came to America when I was about ten. Unlike the other UK import to impact American TV culture, Robin Hood, this series did not live on in my memory, save for the catchy sea-chantey song played over closing credits. Somehow, the words to the song had stuck in my head. The plots are simple, the production is pretty lean and at times the actors chew the scenery, but overall, I found myself compelled to watch all the episodes. About ten years later when I saw Robert Show as the villain in 'From Russia With Love' I did not make the connection, nor in 'Jaws.' His Captain Dan Tempest was vibrant, physically imposing and humorous, but at times, he really goes over the top, even for a 50s show. One thing that surprised me was how the Brits referred to the acting governor as Lieutenant, the way we pronounce it here, vs. 'Leftenant,' how they say it there. For the US market only? Anyway, a pleasant enough guilty pleasure to watch.

For a low budget series this one comes off quite well. The only obvious flaws are the small cast and limited sets. Substituting Cornwall for the Caribbean is an odd choice indeed, but again,they seem to carry it off! Shaw is excellent as "Dan Tempest" the nice-guy pirate. "Dan Tempest" sounds like a Gerry Anderson character from one of his puppet series. There was "Troy Tempest" in Stingray. Compare this series to 1954's "Long John Silver" shot in Australia. The one redeeming factor in that series was Robert Newton reprising his Disney role. All in all an enjoyable series. You could spot Shaw as an up and comer. He reminds me of Richard Greene's Robin Hood from the same era. Low key but he got the job done.

I was about 10 or so when I discovered this on TV in the States in first run. I had no clue as to first run, repeats, or anything like that, only that I found some shows and would watch them intently. And what an enjoyable time watching swordplay, great sailing ships go at it in battle, feats of derring-do tempered with some humor. And what a role model Dan Tempest was for a young boy. How could you not imagine yourself on some privateer battling the Spaniards or other pirates.I remember seeing him next in From Russia With Love and it took me some time to realize who he was and where I had seen him before.A very enjoyable series, along with The Three Musketeers (which I have reviewed) and Adventures of Robin Hood (which will come). TV series like these are only a dream today where the basic set is just an apartment living room and a coffee shop. Give me the world!If you can get a copy, just sit back and enjoy. And I hope current or future versions will include the original theme song - that alone was fun to sing along with.

great show i have got it on DVD i was not born when it came out in 56 and 57 but it is full of true pirates like black beard and Anne bonny and calico jack it is full of well know Brits stars that i have grown up with roger del gardo the master in Dr who Joan Sims in the carry on films and Derek nimo from all gas and gaiter's and some well known films and Paul eddington from the good life and yes minister and bill Owen from the carry on films and the last of the summer wine and Jane asher she stared in the film Mandy and Alfred Burk as well sid jamesi can see why it done well in the 50s and not long after the buccaneers came out thay made the t.v series of long john silver with the Brit star Robert newton the buccaneers covered all things pirate great to see on DVD