The Pirate Movie (1982)

The crew of a large ship sail the high seas encountering other pirates from other ships. The boy from the ship ends up having to save his girlfriend who is kidnapped by a bunch of other pirates.

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writers:

W.S. Gilbert (based on: The Pirates of Penzance) (as Gilbert), Trevor Farrant (screenplay)

Stars:

Kristy McNichol, Christopher Atkins, Ted Hamilton

3 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kristy McNichol	...	Mabel Stanley
Christopher Atkins	...	Frederic
Ted Hamilton	...	Pirate King
Bill Kerr	...	Major General
Maggie Kirkpatrick	...	Ruth
Garry McDonald	...	Sergeant / Inspector
Chuck McKinney	...	Samuel
Marc Colombani	...	Dwarf Pirate
Linda Nagle	...	Aphrodite
Kate Ferguson	...	Edith
Rhonda Burchmore	...	Kate
Catherine Lynch	...	Isabel (as Cathrine Lynch)
John Alansu	...	Chinese Captain (as John Allansu)
Paul Graham	...	Pirate
Bernard Ledger	...	Pirate

Storyline

A parody/homage to Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, The Pirate Movie is a comedy/musical utilizing both new songs and parodies from the original, as well as references to popular films of the time, including Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In your typical boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy fights girl with swords plot, the story revolves around Mabel, the youngest of Maj. Gen. Stanley's many daughters, and Frederic, an ex-Pirate of Penzance. They fall in love and proceed to retrieve the Stanleys' fortune from the Pirates (stolen 20 years ago). The Pirate King informs Frederic that since he was a Leap Year baby born on February 29, Frederic is still technically the King's apprentice. Frederic must then decide between duty and honor--the only good qualities the King taught him- and true love.

---

Plot Keywords:

kneed in the groin | woman with a gun | horseback riding | door | window | 

---

Taglines:

A rock & rollicking adventure!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Musical | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

On several occasions Kristy McNichol's Mabel character breaks the fourth wall when she looks into the camera and speaks as if she is talking to the audience watching the movie.

---

Goofs

The trampoline Mabel uses to mount a horse from behind is clearly visible.

---

Quotes

Sergeant: [with heavy French accent] Name of the fugitive?
Mabel: [struggling to understand] Fyoog tiv?
Sergeant: [frustrated] Fugitive! F - U...
Mabel: Up yours, too, Froggy!... Oh! *Fugitive!* His name's Fredric - without a 'k.' And he's got a horse - I mean a nurse, her name's Ruth and... listen, why don't you just follow me to the castle?

---

Crazy Credits

This is the first film to have the longer version of the 1981 20th Century Fox logo, but the fanfare was re-orchestrated as conducted by Alfred Newman's son Lionel. The longer version will continued in other films until 1994, the shorter version of the logo will also continue to use this until 1993.

---

Alternate Versions

CBS edited 3 minutes from this film for its 1986 network television premiere.

---

Connections

Referenced in Maid of Honor (2006)

---

Soundtracks

We Are the Pirates
Performed by Ian Mason
Produced by Ian Mason
by courtesy Hit City Productions

User Reviews

A Very Pretty Pirate

For Christopher Atkins The Pirate Movie was a followup to the big hit he scored in The Blue Lagoon. Since his public expected him to look as much as he did in The Blue Lagoon, Atkins spent a lot of time without too many clothes on. And he had his hair curled once again for The Pirate Movie. He never had curls like that naturally, but it was done for The Blue Lagoon and had to be done here as well. Just like Mario Lopez had it done that way on Saved By The Bell.

The great sex symbol of the early Eighties was teamed with Kristy McNichol who had a following of her own with the television series, Family. The Pirate Movie is a modern version of The Pirates Of Penzance with some contemporary music added to the score of Gilbert&Sullivan.

Of course Gilbert&Sullivan purists will be horrified, but actually if The Pirate Movie inspires some kid to check out classics like the original Pirates Of Penzance, than the making of The Pirate Movie will serve its purpose. In this film you'll get to hear some modern music together with such classics as the Model Of A Modern Major General.

The film was shot in Australia and it sports an Aussie supporting cast behind the leads of Atkins and McNichol. I have to say this is one of the few films you'll ever see where the male lead is prettier than the female one. That was Christopher Atkins's problem the rest of his career.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 August 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Pirate Movie

Filming Locations:

Marina at Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,528,133, 8 August 1982

Gross USA:

$7,983,086

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,983,086

Company Credits

Production Co:

Joseph Hamilton International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1