Customer Reviews

The Pirate

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

One of Hollywood's most entertaining yet most frequently overlooked "golden age" musicals, The Pirate is the story of a naive young woman (Garland) who fantasizes about being kidnapped and ravished by a dashing pirate--and who is duped by a traveling player (Kelly) into believing that he is himself the pirate of her dreams.

The complex script is extremely witty, and both Garland and Kelly play their roles with sly and often truly neurotic humor. While the script would hold up on its own, Cole Porter's score adds considerable excitement with such standards as "Be A Clown" and "You Can Do No Wrong," as well as number of lesser-known but no less entrancing songs. The choreography, largely created by Kelly, is remarkably inventive, and director Vincent Minnelli's visuals are fascinating, rich, and often startling in their unexpected beauty.

At present The Pirate is out of print--find it if you can, for if you're a fan of "golden age" musicals, you'll call it a keeper.

Have been a keen purchaser of all remastered MGM releases, I was eager to obtain a copy of this film. Alas I should have saved my money. The picture quality is poorer than my 20 year old video verson (it looks even more dreadful when screened through a home projector), sound quality is not much better. Unfortunatly no effort has been made to clean this classic up. There are no menus, and about 5 or so chapters inserted without any prior thought. Would suggest you wait until Warners get around to releasing this one and have been given the proper attention this Judy and Gene musical deserves. Can only face watching after a bottle or two of chardonney and a case of retinal!

The Pirate starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly is a wonderful musical and the singing and dancing by the two leads is excellent and I wonder why this movie hasn't been put on DVD yet and I think it's about time it got the DVD treatment! I have this movie on video but the tape is in really bad condition with several scenes that are so worn out they are unwatchable so a DVD would be very appreciated!

This 1948 film starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly was not hailed by the critics or movie-going public with the same acclaim as "Meet Me In St. Louis," "The Harvey Girls," or "Summer Stock." In fact, it was the only Garland film to *lose* money during her 15 year tenure at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. But this movie is still fabulous. Garland and Kelly cannot disappoint. It's 55 years later and they're still a treat to watch. And what a great Cole Porter score! Although Garland was not in the greatest health at this time, just listening to her sing "Mack the Black" proves she's still got it. DO see this movie if you get a chance. Although it may not be up to par with other Garland works such as "St. Louis" and "Easter Parade," its worth a watch.

Currently out of print on VHS and yet to be released on DVD. It is airing on TCM as I write this review (1/1/03). The original soundtrack was released on CD years ago (now out of print), and several songs are available on a few Garland compilation albums from Turner/Rhino.

After reading more than 20 A+ reviews of this 56-year-old film, I wonder why WB Home Video is taking so long to bring it to DVD. They have released a bevy of inferior MGM musicals, but the best of the best is still on their wait list. I have a tape copied off TCM, but I long for the crisp beauty and color of a DVD version of this masterpiece. I just celebrated my 70th birthday. Wonder if I'll live to own the DVD.

Gene Kelly and Judy Garland mix music by Cole Porter and romance in a lush Carribbean setting in this lavish MGM fantasy. Director Vincente Minnelli's color pallette is the most vibrant and bold use of Technicolor since "THE WIZARD OF OZ." Sounds like this had all the ingredients for success. But "THE PIRATE" was plagued with difficulties from conception to completion. This romantic fantasy has always existed in a cloud of controversies;
having equally fierce detractors and admirers. I'm so glad it has finally been released on DVD. It seems like I have waited forever!! I have always enjoyed this film tremendously. It is, simply, a tremendously enjoyable film. The participants in the DVD, including Liza Minnelli and John Fricke, fall all over themselves explaining why "THE PIRATE" was too stylized and too special to appeal to a mass audience in 1948. Fear not, current-day viewers, "THE PIRATE" is not a celluloid disaster-- and not nearly as inaccessable as history would lead us to believe. Gene Kelly's widow, for instance, thinks "THE PIRATE" is deserving of a deeper appreciation, and she is right on the money. When the dust from all the controversies has finally vanished, it turns out that this is one of the best films in the careers of both Kelly and Garland.
Gene Kelly actually plays two roles. He plays egotistical, womanizing actor Serafin in the style of John Barrymore. Serafin calls all woman "Nina." But his womanizing ways abruptly end when he sets eyes on Manuella Alva (Judy). Manuella despises Sarafin because he is a "common actor." She is positively obsessed however, with legendary pirate Mack The Black Macoco, famous throughout the Carribbean for his daring and adventurous exploits. To win her, Sarafin pretends to be Mack The Black himself, whom Kelly plays in the style of Douglas Fairbanks. When Manuella discovers Sarafin's various deceptions, she is furious. She at first appeals to his vanity and then throws everything that is not nailed down at him! Sarafin's deceptions nearly get him hanged. The deceptions might have worked, but Manuella's fiance, the fat and pompous Don Pedro (Walter Slezak) has a major secret of his own.
Gene Kelly put the blame for "THE PIRATE'S" initial failure squarely upon himself: "It didn't occur to us until after the picture hit the public that what we had done was a huge inside joke," he said. "The sophisticates probably grasped it-- all three of them-- but the film died in the hinterlands. It was done tongue-in-cheek, but it didn't come off, and that's my fault. But I thought Judy was superb (and) what Minnelli did with color and
design in that film is as fine as anything that has ever been done."
Kelly is not being fair to himself. History has blamed all of "THE PIRATE'S" problems on Judy Garland, and that is not fair, either. The film came at a particularly bad time for her. MGM had become a house of horrors for Judy by that time, and her marriage to Minnelli was in disrepair. She had valiantly stayed off the prescription pills MGM had hooked her on long ago during the early days of her marriage and throughout her pregnancy with daughter Liza Minnelli. She returned to pills out of a sense of mounting, crippling insecurities, and this resulted in irratic behaviors on set. It is a lasting testament to Judy's incomparable artistry and professionalism that she always kept her inner demons and turmoil entirely off camera. Her personal unhappiness is nowhere evident in the finished film.
Judy displays a natural, regretfully under-used, gift for farce and slapstick comedy. Her comedic timing is perfect throughout. Indeed, without Judy Garland, "THE PIRATE" might well be a cult film without a cult, as John Fricke has stated. There are certain echoes of Dorothy Gale from Kansas and "THE WIZARD OF OZ" in Manuella Alva. Like Dorothy, Manuella is told that Home is the perfect spot to be. Gladys Cooper, who was forever playing aunt, mother, sister, or wife, to practically everyone who ever trafficed in Hollywood, plays Manuella's Aunt Inez. Manuella even says to her Aunt Inez, "I know there's a practical world and a dream world. I shan't mix them!" She also later screams, "Aunt Inez! Aunt Inez! I want to go home!!" But, where Dorothy is definitely a girl, Manuella is definitelly a desireable woman who, as Sarafin suggests, does not find enough romance in her daydreams. Under hypnosis, she shouts at Sarafin, "Don't call me pure soul. It irriates me. Underneath this prim exterior there are depths of emotions, romantic longings!" Judy looks gorgeous and is photographed beautifully here, but Minnelli seems to favor Gene Kelly in most shots. Kelly has never danced more athletically or looked more sexy on film than he does here. At one point in the film, the male viceroy gazes at Kelly longingly and says delightedly and lustfully, "You fill the eye!"
Perhaps "THE PIRATE'S" problems rested with MGM boss L.B. Mayer's stubborn refusal to allow the two adult stars to be adults. Wheras Kelly theorized that the general public always wanted to see him as the guy next door who dances, he also thought L.B. Mayer forever saw Judy as a little girl forever marching down Main Street, U.S.A. "THE PIRATE" took both Gene and Judy into deciedly more sexy territory, and Mayer wanted every MGM picture to be a "Family Picture." When Mayer deemed the number "Voodoo" too erotic, he ordered that the negative be burned, and Kelly was called into the office for a lecture on how to dance appropriately for the screen. "Voodoo" was at first re-cut to be "less sexy", and finally cut out altogether after the Second preview. It is replaced by Judy's manic, frenetic showstopper "Mack The Black," which also gets an extra "Stereo Remix" version on the DVD. Surprisingly, Kelly's wild "Pirate Ballet", where he dances in and around fiery explosions, was also cut at a second preview. Was it too sexy as well? The dance was thankfully and hastily put back in after a viewer commented he missed Gene Kelly in a big dance number and said, "Something about a pirate would have been good."
Another preview viewer begged on the comment card that Judy Garland be put in something more "human... and give Mr. Minnelli back to the small minority that appreciate him." Another comment card wistfully asked if
Gene Kelly could "be just a trifle not so feminine!"
John Fricke provides an excellent DVD Audio Commentary Track; as he also does on "FOR ME AND MY GAL,"
"EASTER PARADE", and "THE WIZARD OF OZ." In the end, Fricke asks exactly what is "THE PIRATE". "Is it Gene Kelly's runaway triumph? Is it Minnelli's dream vision unsurpassed? Is it Judy Garland's film?" Fortunately, "THE PIRATE" can finally be enjoyed as all three of these things--as a glittering showcase for three of MGM's greatest talents:
Gene, Judy, and Mr, Minnelli.
In keeping with Warner/MGM's superb repackaging of the movie-going experience of the past, the DVD also includes a Short Subject, a "Tom And Jerry" Cartoon, a "Making Of" featurette, audio out-takes, and radio interviews.

After giving up all hope for a DVD edition of this very special film, I purchased the import advertised on this web site. Alas, the quality was poor and the film just stopped in the middle of the Nicholas Brothers' dance with Gene Kelly. Whoever packaged this abomination should be required to watch every Charlton Heston movie ever made. Twice.

Music is by Cole Porter, directed by Vincente Minnelli, and staring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. That sounds like promised musical to be impressed. However it didn't seem to get the result as expected.
The story is not typical musical stuff but pirate theme has been picked in Hollywood since silent movies era. The stage is an exotic island and there is a dreamed girl, Manuela (Judy Garland) who has been in love the famous pirate, Macoco, she never met anyway. She engaged with a rich man and a new mayer, Don Pedro. She wanted adventure but she knew it could not be possible. She is just a girl who is supposed to follow men or elder people. She meets an actor, Serafin (Gene Kelly). Serafin falls in love with Manuela. Manuela refuses him but also somehow attracted by him. She goes out to see his show and she is hypnotized there. Then she confesses she is in love with Macoco then she expresses her all passion to Macoco by singing and dancing "Mack the Black". After she waked up from hupnosis, she ran away to go home. Serafin followed her place and pushes his love to her. He tries to fight her fiancé, Don Pedrao, then he finds out his real identity. Serafin announces he is Macoco and he takes Manuela as a reward. Manuela believes first but she finds out it is fake at his place. Don Pedrao called police to catch Serafin. Serafin tried to explain that is joke but Don Pedrao made up the evidence then he is caught. He is going to be executed, Manuela, now she is sure to love him, tries to stop the execution....
Although the story is nonsense but it is worth to see some scene, such as Judy Garland's singing "Mack the Black", Gene Kelly's dancing "Be a Crown" with The Nicholas Brothers, and Judy and Gene's "Be a Crown" at the last. And Judy's acting is also worth to see.

I cannot tell you how good this movie is. Judy Garland gives all her heart and soul as the young Manuela who cannot notice anyone in the world unless his name is Macoco the pirate. Yet, Gene Kelly's character notices her (he is a traveling actor) and will do anything to get her attention. The music is wonderful, as is the dancing. Gene Kelly is so attractive in this movie (geez Manuela, forget Macoco!)and one of my favorite scenes is when Judy Garland's character Manuela is angry at Kelly's character and ends up throwing expensive furnishings around the room at him. They are so good on the screen together! I wish this movie would be re-released on video, or better yet, please put it on DVD!!!!!

I had the great fortune of seeing many old movies in the Los Angeles area Revival Theatres during the early 80's. The Pirate was one that really stuck in my mind.
I understand it was a bit too high brow for the level of the average audience sophistication of it's day but let me tell you......to see this movie today it is hard to comprehend how it did so poorly at the box office. Gene Kelly is a wow and does his numbers with great zeal. He is THE PIRATE. Not bad for a roving actor in the film. Judy is, as always, so believable and beautiful as Manuela longing for something more.(Mack the Black) is a showstopper.
The music by Cole Porter is very lyrical, the cinematography and color a sheer delight. My favorite scene is the funny fight between the stars. Of course we'll never see the destroyed footage of the Voodoo number but remember, adult (wild, risque then) is mild, old fashioned now.That doesn't mean it's bad too watch, just innocent by today's lower standards. So, the combination of music, stars, color and filming truly makes this a classic, top notch film. If these movies were rereleased today, I wonder what kind of new following or appreciation they might create?