The Pirate (1948)

A girl is engaged to the local richman but meanwhile she has dreams about the legendary pirate Macoco. A traveling singer falls in love with her and to impress her he poses as the pirate.Running Time: 101 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS UPC: 012569795228 Manufacturer No: 79522 Product Description

A wonderful musical with two of the best performers of all time!

One Christmas about 25 years ago, one of our TV channels decided to show several Judy Garland films over the festive period. I had always loved The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland's voice, so I decided to watch them all. Around the same time I recall seeing An American In Paris and loved this musical as well and Gene Kelly's performance was amazing. One film that I never managed to see was The Pirate and this has been frustrating me for years because I really wanted to see Garland and Kelly perform together.

As I live in the UK, most of these films are not particularly popular or readily available but the internet has now created far more access to foreign releases and this Christmas I thought I would see if some of those films I saw as a teenager were available on DVD anywhere. Sure enough I found several US released Garland films on Amazon and one of them was The Pirate.

Initialy I was apprehensive because I was hoping for a spectacular musical with wonderful sets, songs and performances but this film never seems to be talked about. I was not dissapointed however as I was soon glued to the TV, stunned by Garland's beauty and voice as well as Kelly's charm and performances and of course some wonderful sets. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this film though is the bond between Garland and Kelly which is something that cannot be created upon demand, it is something wonderful that happens very very rarely!

One of the biggest surprises for me was the story line because the title is very suggestive of a tale of high seas and lots of swashbuckling. The actual plot however is far more imaginative and binds perfectly with the style of Garland and Kelly to create a most fantastic spectacle.

This must surely be one of the most underated films ever made! For anyone who enjoys musicals, amazing talent and wonderful sets then you must see The Pirate, a true master piece of it's time with two of the era's most loved performers and in my opinion, the best there has ever been! April 2, 2008

Very under-rated musical!

The Pirate (1948) was MGM's lush musical extravaganza starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in their second of three movies together (1942's "For Me and My Gal" and 1950's "Summer Stock"). Judy had just finished making the hugely successful "Easter Parade" and didn't feel "The Pirate"s plot was substantial enough to make a movie. During the filming, Judy was dealing with illness, though no signs of it ever show. And her husband, Vincente Minnelli, was so engrossed in directing the movie, that their marriage began to suffer. True to Judy's belief, "The Pirate" did not do as well as hoped at the box-office. I think it was the only Judy Garland movie that wasn't an instant hit. The story's plot might not have much depth, but it is still enjoyable to watch.

The story takes place on a 19th. Century Caribbean Isle.
Manuela (Judy Garland) is th guiless maiden and hero of the movie, who dreams of one day meeting Mack the Black, the pirate of her dreams. But an arranged marriage to the town's old mayor (Walter Slezak) is being planned for her by her Aunt Inez (Gladys Cooper), who agrees to let Manuela have her wish to go to the sea before her wedding day. It is during her visit there that she meets a traveling actor, Serafin (Gene Kelly), who, learning of her fascination for Mack the Black, becomes him to win the beautiful Manuela's heart and become the pirate of her dreams.

Cole Porter wrote the score for "The Pirate," which includes Judy's dazzling "Mack the Black" song and dance that's probably the peak moment in the movie, Judy and Gene's hilarious "Be a Clown," "You Can Do No Wrong," "Nina" and "Love of My Life."

With Judy's incredible singing, Gene's great dancing and Cole Porter's great score - You really can do no wrong! March 26, 2008

Minnelli's priceless masterpiece

A vivacious and energetic spectacular directed by musical director of Vincente Minnelli. Presented in his, own unique signature style of bright colours, upbeat melodious performances, and original costume designs. Minnelli's signature style of filmmaking enables him to embrace the ambience of each interrogational dance routine along with characters emotions.
Starring MGM heavyweight, Judy Garland alongside MGM's next rising star chorographer/dancer, Gene Kelly. Together their onscreen chemistry is brilliant and attractive where Kelly plays a wise-cracking vagabond who masquerades himself as the notorious pirate, Mack The Black in order to win the heart of his latest flame, (Garland). With hellcat hilarity, audacious stunts and romance, ill mostly remember this film as not only Gene Kelly's boost to stardom, but for the excellent onscreen team between Kelly and Garland.
January 4, 2008

A deliciously frothy late '40s musical

"The Pirate"
(MGM, 1948)
This is a delightfully frothy, silly, colorful musical, pairing up two legends of song and dance, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Kelly sparkles here as a raffish traveling actor whom Garland mistakes for a dreadful, rapacious pirate. Kelly literally dances circles around her, and has several dazzlingly athletic numbers, particularly his introductory song where he leaps all about the set, flirting with the women in a small port city. Garland's best numbers are her duet with Kelly on "Be A Clown" and the lusty song she sings while under hypnosis, playing a repressed "good girl" letting her libido loose in front of a crowded theater (all the while concsiously unaware of her surroundings...) This film apparently tanked at the box office when it first came out, but modern audiences will be quite pleased to see it now, particularly fans of these two brightly glowing stars. (Joe Sixpack, Slipcue film reviews) December 21, 2007

Wonderful Musical

I had never heard of The Pirate until I watched it on the TCM channel. I was delighted by it and I wanted to see it again. After i bought my copy of the movie, I shared it with another musical lover who also adored it.
Judy Garland and Gene Kelly made an excellent pair on the screen. A young girl is engaged to the boring, but somewhat dark mayor of the town. Of course, Manuela does not lve him, but instead has a wild cursh on a legendary pirate "Mack the Black". Then, she mets Serafin, who turns her world upside down. At first, she scorns him. When he discovers her secret crush, he does all he can to become the pirate of her passionate fantasies.
There are some wonderful singing and dancing numbers in the musical. My favorites are "Nina" and "Mack the Black". Gene Kelly and Judy Garland are brilliant in both numbers.
This muscal is both sweet and funny. I know that Judy Garland was in the midst of a difficult marriage with the director of film, Vincente Minnelli. When she she attacked Serafin with figurines, potted plants, and swords after she found out that he was dupping her, I like to think that she was getting her anger out. The part of the movie is the most fun.
I give this most two thumbs up. November 9, 2007

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