Customer Reviews

Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Universal may never have had the prestige of an MGM, but it knew how to make a rousing genre picture (NOBODY did classic horror, better!), and these swashbucklers are great fun...with Errol Flynn providing a first-rate entry in the collection!

"Against All Flags" (1952): Nearing the end of his WB career, Flynn was allowed an occasional freelance assignment...and Universal welcomed him with a first-rate comedy/adventure, 'A-List' co-stars (Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn), and a veteran director (George Sherman). While lacking the grace of his youth, Flynn has abundant panache and charm as an undercover officer posing as a pirate, and obviously enjoyed making this movie. A bit of trivia: Flynn broke his ankle filming a battle scene, and during his recovery, Universal (never a studio to waste money), utilized the sets to film "Yankee Buccaneer"! GREAT fun! (4 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Yankee Buccaneer" (1952): One of the two pictures in the collection directed by comedy and action veteran Fred De Cordova (later famous as "The Tonight Show" producer), this brawny B-adventure showcases two rising stars (Jeff Chandler and Scott Brady), and provides an early view of David Janssen, in a small role. While the plot (a U.S. Naval vessel poses as a renegade, to track pirate activities) is no great shakes, the story never drags, and the cast is enjoyable. (2 1/2 stars out of 5).

"Buccaneer's Girl" (1950): The second De Cordova-directed feature; while the title sounds like a typical RKO/Maureen O'Hara adventure from the '40s, this is, in fact, a light-hearted pirate yarn featuring Yvonne De Carlo as a misplaced Boston entertainer involved with dashing buccaneer captain Philip Friend (an attractive actor who never quite achieved major stardom). There's a lot of Lucille Ball in De Carlo's comic performance, and you may notice TWO of Errol Flynn's classic villains (Robert Douglas and Henry Daniell), on hand to provide mischief! Lovable pirates with hearts of gold, and good, clean family fun. (2 stars out of 5).

"Double Crossbones" (1951): Donald O'Connor, prior to "Singing in the Rain", shows his remarkable dancing skills in this often silly, but likable little family-friendly yarn. As a meek apprentice who accidentally becomes a pirate, the film's success relies on his charm, and for the most part, he delivers. You'll never see Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, or Captain Kidd more sweet-natured than they are portrayed here! Watch for Will Geer, James Arness, Charles McGraw, and Glenn Strange, in supporting roles...(2 stars out of 5).

These titles may not have you dreaming of running off to sea, but at this price, they certainly are worth a few evenings' worth of swashbuckling!

As most reviews have stated this set is worth owning if for no other reason to own "Against All Flags". I watched it for years on TV and waited anxiously for it to come out on DVD. When it did not come out in the two Errol Flynn sets I was very disappointed. This is by far a favorite of most Flynn fans. Those of us that especially like "The Seahawk", "Captain Blood", and "The Master of Ballantrae" love it. A must have. The others in this Pirates set are mindless fun too, just not inspirational enough to have me want to see the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" or go to Disneyworld to go on the ride as much as "Against All Flags". One other thing, the DVD is clear and sharp and the color in "Against All Flags" is so clean it looks like a new print.

I also ordered this only for Against All Flags. The quality of this DVD was excellent. I received this set in the mail yesterday and only had the opportunity to watch Against All Flags, and the movie was all I expected and more with the great Technocolor and sound quailty, along with the original movie trailers. As is, this set was worth the money after just the first film, and I've got 3 more in the set to look forward to and enjoy.

This set looks like it's worthwhile for classic adventure movie lovers. A brief description of each title:

Against All Flags -
In 1700, the pirates of Madagascar menace the India trade; British officer Brian Hawke has himself cashiered, flogged, and set adrift to infiltrate the pirate "republic." There, Hawke meets lovely Spitfire Stevens, a pirate captain in her own right, and the sparks begin to fly; but wooing a pirate poses unique problems. Especially after he rescues adoring young Princess Patma from a captured ship. Meanwhile, Hawke's secret mission proceeds to an action-packed climax.

Bucaneer's Girl -
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.

Yankee Bucaneer -
A United States Navy ship in the first half of the 19th century, under the command of Captain David Porter, is expecting to put ashore after a year on the seas; but the arrival of one of Porter's ex-students, the willful and independent Lieutenant David Farragut, brings a new mission: to disguise the ship and crew as a pirate ship and help the Navy locate the criminals who have been robbing America's merchant fleet. But as Farragut's disobedience threatens the safety of the crew, they stumble upon an international conspiracy.

Double Crossbones -
All I could find was - After being falsely accused of dishonesty, a young man decides to become a pirate.

Piratey goodness for all.

This collection would be worth the price for the movie Against All Flags. The others are icing on the cake. Buccaneer's Girl features Yvonne DeCarlo as a singer in New Orleans who has to free her pirate friend from prison. See why she was called queen of the B-movies. Yankee Buccaneer has a really good cast featuring Jeff Chandler, David Janssen and Scott Brady. The real jewel here though is Against All Flags. Imagine the pairing of Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara, as a pirate herself, in a film that has action, humor and romance. Anthony Quinn plays a villanous pirate himself in this fun and entertaining film that has been hidden far too long.

When I was a teenager I saw Buccaneer's Girl and I have always wanted to see it again...so when I founded at Amazon I got very excited and I bought it right away and not only I got this movie I got 3 more pirate's movies. Great price and great entertainment, I recommended very much.

Thank you for your time, ERT

I bought this mainly because I had read Maureen O'Hara's autobiography and was curious about Against All Flags (her film with Errol Flynn). Although Flynn, (who, at the time, was in a personal downward spiral) keeps it together enough to make the film entertaining. However, he is definately not the strapping Flynn of his Robin Hood days but still very charming. Maureen O'Hara is as beautiful as ever which makes the film worth while and owning the DVD worthwhile. I did enjoy the other films in the set, too.

This is much more than I expected. All four movies are in color and also in great condition. For the cost of the DVD, it might be my best purchase ever.

If you enjoy swashbuckling pirate adventures, here's a 4-movie deal that can't be beat.

Ammy has reduced the UNIVERSAL Pictures set, PIRATES OF THE GOLDEN AGE MOVIE COLLECTION to an unbelievably LOW, LOW price! (NOTE: as of 6/11.)

The first film alone is worth the price of admission.

AGAINST ALL FLAGS (1952) is a classic that stars Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn, plus Mildred Natwick and Robert Warwick (as Capt. Kidd).

Directed by Freddie De Kordova, BUCCANEER'S GIRL (1951) is Yvonne De Carlo. The supporting cast includes Elsa Lanchester, Norman Lloyd, Douglass Dumbrille, Connie Gilchrist (of the LONG JOHN SILVER TV show) Dewey Robinson and Jay C. Flippen.

YANKEE BUCCANEER (1952), another De Kordova adventure, is a hybrid of the pirate and western genres. Jeff Chandler and Scott Brady star. Supporting cast includes David Janssen, Jay Silverheels, Michael Ansara and Joseph Calleia.

Finally, there's DOUBLE CROSSBONES (1951), a pirate comedy directed by Charles Barton featuring Donald O'Connor as a most unlikely swashbuckler. Also in the cast: Helena Carter, Will Geer (old man Walton on the TV show), Hayden Rorke (Dr. Bellows on I DREAM OF JEANNIE), Glenn Strange (the monster in ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN), Hope Emerson (a classic villainess), Alan Napier and Robert Barrat.

I love old movies! What more can I say. I love the fact that they have taken these old classics, cleaned them up and released them to this current generation. I have a 14 year old and a 10 year old and they love these classics. They would not have a clue to all the wonderful movies that were made in the hey day if I as a parent did not show them.
This collection is wonderful and eventful. Lots of action & adventure. We love Donald O'Connor, so to see Double Crossbones clear and in color was a real treat. We had seen the black & white original and the sound quality was bad. But now, boy oh boy. We love it.
I would highly suggest this collection to anyone who loves the older movies and pirates.