Buccaneer's Girl (1950)

A New Orleans entertainer falls for a pirate who has another identity.

Director:

Frederick De Cordova (as Frederick de Cordova)

Writers:

Samuel R. Golding (story), Joseph Hoffman

Stars:

Yvonne De Carlo, Philip Friend, Robert Douglas

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Yvonne De Carlo	...	Deborah McCoy
Philip Friend	...	Frederic Baptiste
Robert Douglas	...	Narbonne
Elsa Lanchester	...	Mme. Brizar
Andrea King	...	Arlene Villon
Norman Lloyd	...	Patout
Jay C. Flippen	...	Jared Hawkins
Henry Daniell	...	Capt. Duval
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Capt. Martos (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Verna Felton	...	Dowager
John Qualen	...	Vegetable Man
Connie Gilchrist	...	Vegetable Woman
Ben Welden	...	Tom
Dewey Robinson	...	Kryl
Peggie Castle	...	Cleo

Storyline

Robin Hood-like pirate Baptiste takes only the ships of rich but wicked trader Narbonne. Fun loving Debbie, a passenger from his latest prize, stows away on the pirate ship and falls for the pirate; later, having become a New Orleans entertainer, she meets his alter ego, who's engaged to the governor's daughter. Sea battles and land rescues follow in lighthearted style.

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Plot Keywords:

champagne | red wine | woman slaps a man | pirate | breeding | 

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Taglines:

Universal-International's Fiery Swashbuckling Adventure!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the July 16, 1949 issue of Showmen's Trade Review, Yvonne De Carlo and Andrea King were already rehearsing their on-screen brawl before the leading man was cast.

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Quotes

Frederic Baptiste: Charming! You would've been wasted in the Tortugas.
Deborah McCoy: You're very kind, sir, but it's no thanks to you that I'm not there now.

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Soundtracks

Here's to the Ladies
Music by Walter Scharf
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Sung by unknown actor

User Reviews

Well, lower me jib a bustle!

Buccaneer's Girl is directed by Frederick De Cordova and jointly written by Samuel Golding, Joseph Hoffman, Joe May and Harold Shumate. It stars Yvonne De Carlo, Philip Friend, Robert Douglas, Elsa Lanchester and Henry Daniell. Music is scored by Walter Scharf and Technicolor cinematography is by Russell Metty.

Avast yee lubbers on the Universal lot as the radiant De Carlo plays a spitfire gal finding her man amongst much jollification on the piratical high seas.

Budget is cut close to the cloth, editing is C grade and the ending is so quick in coming you have to rewind just to check you didn't press the skip function on the remote control by mistake! While it's true, also, to say that the song and dance numbers inserted into the mix are badly choreographed and borderline embarrassing. This is one of those films where the trailer gives no real indication of just how jolly and cheap it is, a film that if I had paid at the cinema to see back on its release I would have been most annoyed. But many years later, with a pristine DVD transfer to sample along with a bottle of ice cold Chardonay? It's a pretty fun way to spend an hour and twenty minutes. On proviso, that is, you happen to be a fan of Technicolor swashbucklers made in knockabout fashion.

Russell Metty's colour photography is gorgeous, so much so it deserves a better movie, while costuming (Yvonne Wood) is of a high standard, particularly for the ladies. The cast, a mixed set of performers for sure, make the light weight material work, with the likes of Lanchester, Daniell & Douglas seriously knowing what is required. Friend cuts a handsome figure with his immaculate ruff's and pencil moustache, and in supporting slots Jay C. Flippen and Norman Lloyd leave favourable impressions. Scharf scores it with standard skull and crossbones flavours, which in turn sits easily with the frothy nature of the beast, and the fight sequences, resplendent with cheapo weapon props, are far from the worst in the genre.

With interesting twists and a good old sense of fun about it, there's enough here for the undemanding pirate fan to enjoy. Just don't expect the drama suggested by the trailer is all! 6/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Debbie's Escape

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1