The Buccaneer (1938)

Semi-fictional account of pirate Jean Lafitte's involvement in the War of 1812.

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Edwin Justus Mayer (screenplay), Harold Lamb (screenplay),

Stars:

Fredric March, Franciska Gaal, Akim Tamiroff

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fredric March	...	Jean Lafitte
Franciska Gaal	...	Gretchen
Akim Tamiroff	...	Dominique You
Margot Grahame	...	Annette de Remy
Walter Brennan	...	Ezra Peavey
Ian Keith	...	Senator Crawford
Anthony Quinn	...	Beluche
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Governor William C.C. Claiborne
Beulah Bondi	...	Aunt Charlotte
Robert Barrat	...	Captain Brown
Fred Kohler	...	Gramby (as Fred Hohler Sr.)
Hugh Sothern	...	General Andrew Jackson
John Rogers	...	Mouse
Hans Steinke	...	Tarsus
Stanley Andrews	...	Collector of the Port

Storyline

In the War of 1812, the British have sacked Washington and hope to capture New Orleans, where pirate Jean Lafitte romances blueblooded Annette de Remy and openly sells his loot in a pirates' market. But he never attacks American ships. Can the British bribe Lafitte to help them? Can Lafitte persuade American authorities of his loyalty? Will a love triangle between Annette and pretty Dutch girl Gretchen (survivor of a pirates' prize) bring about Lafitte's undoing?

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Plot Keywords:

pirate | war of 1812 | ship | great britain | battle of bladensburg | 

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Taglines:

To the world he was a ruthless adventurer!.. To her the most romantic man that ever lived! Yet she unwittingly destroyed the hero she loved!

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Genres:

Adventure | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French

Release Date:

4 February 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les flibustiers

Filming Locations:

Baldwin Oaks, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lafitte's home in the movie was furnished with some of a famous collection of silver valued at $250,000.

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Connections

Referenced in The Day of the Locust (1975)

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Soundtracks

"Yankee Doodle"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the pirates

User Reviews

A pirate's life without a home country

Plenty of action! Not a movie anyone will ever sleep through! The highs and lows of pirate life well depicted, even a "walking the plank" episode.

When Lafitte the notorious pirate (Fredric March) comes a-courtin' to the home of his lady-love, Annette (Margot Grahame), a matron cries out in alarm to hide the silver as he might steal it. Here was an instant recall of similar words uttered in the film "Les Miserables," an earlier role March played so well, where as Jean Valjean he was looked on with suspicion by the housekeeper after seeking shelter in a priest's home. But as the pirate Lafitte he has plenty of stolen goods to pass on.

Gretchen (Franciska Gaal) as a young Dutchwoman has a little terrier in tow at the beginning, and both are spunky! She soon encounters and falls in love with Lafitte and lets him know about it but sadly, his heart is elsewhere.

I really enjoyed seeing Akim Tamiroff portray Dominique with such flair. As a supporting actor his fine style has always been colorful and convincing in serious or lighter roles. He's fun to watch in this one.

Andrew Jackson (Hugh Sothern) gives us a glimpse of what war and fighting was really like in those early frontier days when militiamen were more often local recruits ill-prepared and ill-equipped.

One can only wonder what would have been the course of American history if Lafitte had lived elsewhere.