Product Details

• Actors: Kristy McNichol, Christopher Atkins, Ted Hamilton, Bill Kerr, Maggie Kirkpatrick
• Directors: Ken Annakin
• Writers: Trevor Farrant, William S. Gilbert
• Producers: Ted Hamilton, David Anderson, David Joseph
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Fox Home Entertainme
• VHS Release Date: February 15, 1983
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (180 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000053V03
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,906 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful DVD transfer from Anchor Bay, March 23, 2005

By 

dooby - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pirate Movie (DVD)

I love this movie. It is kitschy, it is juvenile, it is everything as bad as the critics say it is, but hey, this isn't Bergman or Antonioni, or Fellini. If you want edification, look elsewhere. This movie has no pretensions, it is just good clean fun, and above all it is happy. Even the director himself, in his accompanying commentary, is befuddled by it's eventual success and he attributes it to it's happy storyline which seems so rare in our sad time. With all its adolescent antics and blatant sexual innuendo, it still retains a surprisingly innocent feel to it. It's a pleasure to watch it again after more than 20 years.

Thank goodness this movie was released by Anchor Bay and not some cheap fly-by-night company. The film is transfered in it's original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (enhanced for widescreen TV). I must admit that my heart sank when the opening credits rolled and the picture came out extremely dark, grainy and grimy. But that was apparently deliberate and the picture becomes immaculately clean as the camera draws away from the TV screen showing the stock footage of the opening pirate attack. I doubt if anyone has seen this movie in this pristine a condition since it was first released. The colors are rich, lush and brilliant with well rendered blacks and pure whites. In some scenes the brilliant reds and greens are so vibrant they look like they originated from old 3-strip technicolor reels. Picture detail is well nigh perfect, so much so that the tackiness of the cheap primitive matte shots stand out all the more.

The original dual channel stereo has also been remastered to 5.1 surround but I personally prefer the old stereo image. The new 5.1 sounds slightly artificial.

Kristy McNichol is adorable. It's sad to learn that this was her last major film. She burnt out far too soon.

Aside from the director's commentary and an old TV trailer, there are no other extras. But the beautiful transfer of this cult classic is alone worthy of the price.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful is The Pirate Movie, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pirate Movie [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I fell in love with this movie the first time I saw it. Starts off with a nerdy young girl being mistreated by the more popular and beautiful girls she wishes to be like. She meets Christopher Atkins character and he invites her on a sailing trip. Double crossed by the other girls, she is left behind and whilst trying to catch up, sails into a storm and is washed up unconscious and dreams they are all the characters out of the musical The Pirates of Penzance. Filmed in Australia and starring big names of the eighties Chrisopher Atkins, Kristy McNichol as the touble ridden young lovers and featuring Australian comedian the wonderful Gary McDonald as the hilarious Police Inspector (Taran-tarah, Taran-tarah).This movie has everything songs, dancing, humour, romance, fight scenes, it has it all!. I would watch this movie over and over again and have been searching for it for 10 years now to discover I can't get it. Hopefully all these reviews of so many fans will one day reach the ears of the people who can change this unhappy reality. Truly inspiring and an uplifting movie. The family will love it.

55 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It as a Kid, Love It as an Adult!!!!, September 22, 2002

By 

Spoiledbrat (Southern California, United States) - See all my reviews

I loved this movie when I first saw it almost 20 years ago. For a ten year old, I was drawn into the fantasy of pirates, treasures, first loves and I absolutley fell in love with Christopher Atkins. How could I not with those blonde locks, tight pants, thigh high boots, sword... Anyway, the soundtrack is awsome and I still know the words to all the songs by heart, and the costuming and locations are beautiful as well. I still wish I had a dress like the one Kristy McNichol wore. Sure maybe some of the acting is lacking (but I don't think they were really working towards an Oscar) and the jokes are outdated, but this movie is just pure fun! I especially like the scene when Frederick is seeking the treasure and the animated fish dance and sing around him.
I really hope FOX gets their whits together and put this movie onto DVD. It may not have been a box office smash when it was in theatres decades ago, but it has earned cult status and is a favorite for many movie lovers. They should just check out how much the movie goes for here on Amazon and on Ebay and get the hint that there is some money to be made on this movie. A CD soundtrack would be wonderful too.