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:

....The thundering drama of the beloved rogue who saved a nation that swore to hang him!

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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

Paramount's shop facility made 63 functional cannons used in the battle sequences.

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Connections

Remade as The Buccaneer (1958)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Action Movie With A Touch Of History

An excellent action movie with good pacing and development. There is never a dull moment. The movie shows more of Laffite's business dealings than with his pirate actions. In actual fact Laffite was quite a businessman that the governor did want captured and did put a price on his head of $500. Laffite did respond to that but not for the $10,000 the movie stated. One must never accept a movie's version of history but "The Buccaneer" does a quite credible job of drawing you into life in 1814 in New Orleans. Laffite was offered $30,000 and other inducements by the British and the Americans did not believe him (this was very accurate). His base in Barataria was destroyed though at a later time. When the battle was over he did go back to sea as a pirate. His days in New Orleans were indeed over. So, sit back and enjoy a movie that is good entertainment and is also pretty good history. This movie is proof that you can learn history from the movies.