The Black Pirate (1926)
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100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(1,374 ratings)
The Black Pirate was hailed in 1926 as the "return" of the Douglas Fairbanks who'd breezed through several peppy comedies before starring in lavish costume epics like Robin Hood (1922) and Thief of Bagdad (1924). The story involves a young nobleman (Fairbanks) whose father is killed by… More The Black Pirate was hailed in 1926 as the "return" of the Douglas Fairbanks who'd breezed through several peppy comedies before starring in lavish costume epics like Robin Hood (1922) and Thief of Bagdad (1924). The story involves a young nobleman (Fairbanks) whose father is killed by pirates. He vows to avenge his dad's death by becoming a buccaneer himself and routing out the villains. Along the way, he rescues damsel-in-distress Billie Dove (likewise of noble birth) and engages in a few bloody duels with the swarthy likes of Sam De Grasse and Anders Randolph. Charlie Stevens, a grandson of American Indian chief Geronimo -- and whom Fairbanks regarded as a "lucky charm" -- appears in several tiny roles. The Black Pirate was originally presented in two-color Technicolor form; the black and white prints are the most-often-seen version of the film, however. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Albert Parker
- Written By
- Douglas Fairbanks, Jack Cunningham
- Genres
- Classics, Action & Adventure
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Mar 8, 1926 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Philip French, Guardian [UK]
The authentic, silent, swashbuckling classic, an early two-colour Technicolor production that the athletic Douglas Fairbanks starred in 85 years ago.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
For this film, Fairbanks scaled back, making it his shortest and least extravagant.
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Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
A standard-bearer for all swashbuckling pictures, if not the standard-bearer, The Black Pirate returns as a crackerjack entertainment, a historical benchmark, and yet another shrine to movie love courtesy of Kino.
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Silent Fairbanks has acrobatic Doug and great effects.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Good swashbuckler in early Technicolor marred by stiff direction from Parker.
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Cast
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Douglas Fairbanks
as Michel "The Black Pirate"
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Billie Dove
as The Princess
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Tempe Piggott
as Duenna
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Donald Crisp
as McTavish
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Anders Randolf
as Pirate Leader
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Sam De Grasse
as Pirate Lieutenant
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Charles Stevens
as Powder man
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John Wallace
as Bit
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Fred Becker
as Bit
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E.J. Ratcliffe
as Bit
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Charles Belcher
as Chief Passenger
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Mrs. Piggolt
as Duenna
