Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952)

Honest Edward Maynard finds himself serving as ship's surgeon under the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Alan Le May (screenplay) (as Alan LeMay), DeVallon Scott (story)

Stars:

Robert Newton, Linda Darnell, William Bendix

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Newton	...	Edward Teach / Blackbeard
Linda Darnell	...	Edwina Mansfield
William Bendix	...	Ben Worley
Keith Andes	...	Robert Maynard
Torin Thatcher	...	Sir Henry Morgan
Irene Ryan	...	Alvina, a Lady in Waiting
Alan Mowbray	...	Noll
Richard Egan	...	Briggs
Skelton Knaggs	...	Gilly
Dick Wessel	...	Dutchman
Anthony Caruso	...	Pierre La Garde
Jack Lambert	...	Tom Whetstone
Noel Drayton	...	Jeremy
Pat Flaherty	...	Job Maggot

Storyline

In 1674, "reformed" pirate Sir Henry Morgan is a high official in Jamaica, but Edward Maynard hopes to win a large reward by proving Morgan still dabbles in piracy. Maynard goes undercover as ship's surgeon with a Morgan henchman...who's been supplanted by notorious Blackbeard himself. Also on the ship is Edwina Mansfield, seemingly a damsel in distress, to whom there's much more than meets the eye.

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Plot Keywords:

pirate | ship | flintlock pistol | flintlock rifle | treasure chest | 

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Taglines:

They took what they wanted...and they wanted the world!

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Genres:

Adventure

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 1953 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Blackbeard the Pirate

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,250,000, 31 December 1952

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening credits: This photoplay is based on certain actual and outstanding events in the lives of its principal characters, but the other events and the other characters, except those representing persons whose true names are used, are fictional.

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Goofs

After the sword fight between the doctor and one of crew members. The body is thrown over the ship's rail. During the wind up to throwing that body over the rail. The body is holding his head up.

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Quotes

Blackbeard: Ben, I believe I'm going to catch me a rat!
Ben Worley: Why, you hungry?
[motions to the rope Blackbeard is holding, which goes over the side of the ship]
Ben Worley: . Oh, you're goin' fishing for him, aye?
Blackbeard: NO, I ain't goin' fishin' for him, aye!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: During the 17th Century the Spanish Main was over-run with pirates, foremost of whom was Edward Teach, the evil and immortal Blackbeard. Sir Henry Morgan, who was then in the service of the king, had been sent to clear the seas of the very pirates he once had led.

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Connections

Referenced in The Wild Wild West: The Night of the Big Blast (1966)

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Soundtracks

The Miller of the Dee
Traditional
Performed by Robert Newton

User Reviews

The Most Entertaining Pirate Film

Between the opening credits and the first scene of "Blackbeard, the Pirate" viewers encounter the following verse:

The meeker the man, the more pirate he Snug in his armchair, far from the sea, And reason commends his position: He has all of the fun and none of the woes, Masters the ladies and scuttles his foes, And cheats both the noose and perdition!

It's called "The Armchair Pirate" and it serves as notice that what you're about to see isn't the true story of Blackbeard, but rather an everyman's fantasy of life on 18th Century seas.

Real pirate life must have been nasty, brutish, and short, but here it's spirited, colorful, and often uproarious. Most of the credit for this goes to Robert Newton who delivers a wonderfully unrestrained performance as Blackbeard. Critics routinely dismiss Newton's work as hamming, but it's the choicest, most savory ham acting you'll ever see.

Newton is ably supported by Keith Andes, Linda Darnell, William Bendix, and especially Skelton Knaggs as Blackbeard's henchman, Gilly. Well paced, cleverly plotted, and brimming with action, "Blackbeard" is the most entertaining pirate film of all. Just settle back in your armchair and enjoy the fun.