The Pirate (1948)

71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(4,954 ratings)

When Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne appeared in S. N. Behrmann's The Pirate on Broadway, there were no musical numbers whatsoever. But with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in the leading roles of the 1948 filmization of The Pirate, the MGM production staff would have been drawn and quartered had there… More When Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne appeared in S. N. Behrmann's The Pirate on Broadway, there were no musical numbers whatsoever. But with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in the leading roles of the 1948 filmization of The Pirate, the MGM production staff would have been drawn and quartered had there not been song after song. The story is merely serviceable: on a Caribbean isle in the early 19th century, sheltered young Garland comes to believe that travelling troubadour Kelly is in reality "Mack the Black," a notorious pirate. Kelly realizes that the surest way to win Garland's heart is to impersonate the romantic buccaneer, and this is what he does--nearly getting himself hanged in the process. Cole Porter's marvelous score yielded only one bona-fide hit: "Be a Clown", which has practically nothing to do with the storyline, but do you care? Highlights include the magnificently staged "Mack the Black," a heady combination of Broadway glitz and Caligariesque nightmare. Seven MGM screenwriters toiled away on The Pirate, though only the team of Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich were credited. While The Pirate was not a huge moneymaker on its first release, it has since been embraced by the cultists, who apparently can never get enough of Judy Garland. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Vincente Minnelli
Written By: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Anita Loos
Genres: Action & Adventure, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 20, 1948 Limited
On DVD: Jul 24, 2007
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Like a warm-up to An American in Paris (1951).
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a big, splashy musical in the traditional MGM style, but it is also more baroque, more flamboyant, yet more modern in its approach than most of the studio's musicals.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...it does a lot better with its singing, dancing, and staging than it does with its acting, characterizations, and storytelling.
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
A fine disc of a strange film.
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
The Pirate takes place in some Caribbean of the mind, with lots of shadows and lace and high mantillas, and it's all about the promise of sex; the film keeps tapping into a nervous, adolescent sort of fear and desire.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Consciosuly campy, this musical was misunderstood at the time. While Cole Porter's songs lack his trademark wit, the sumpruous sets and exotic costumes compensate for the slender fable,the highlight of which is Judy's rendition of "Be a Clown."
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Visually creative musical.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Brilliantly conceived box office failure with Judy and Gene.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Stylish, but overbearing musical.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Morgan S

This is what a romanic comedy SHOULD be like. Not the crap they come out with these days...Sooo Funny. I actually dont like Gene Kelly as much as Fred Astaire. Ive always found Kelly to be more stuck-up. Fred Astaire seems to me more likable and humble. The kind of guy you could talk… More
This is what a romanic comedy SHOULD be like. Not the crap they come out with these days...Sooo Funny. I actually dont like Gene Kelly as much as Fred Astaire. Ive always found Kelly to be more stuck-up. Fred Astaire seems to me more likable and humble. The kind of guy you could talk to without fealing intimidated. That said, I thought that this role was perfect for Kelly. He was pretty much playing himself. Brash, Snooty, a Ladies Man. And Judy Garland. She is soooo beautiful!!! She is really great to wat and makes this whole movie. Just her facial expretions and little things like tapping her fingers on the couch really do add to the reality of her character. Cole Porter so you cant go wrong. See it.
Leigh R

Not what I expected from the two leads. Depressed me a little but it was okay.
Ken S

The opening is a little excruciating, but it gets better toward the end. For some reason Gene Kelly decided to wear Pirate Hotpants during a dance sequence. How did anyone on the set keep a straight face?
Jennifer X

Gene Kelly is for sure charming, but he needs to shave that stupid mustache. Just sayin.
jay n

colorful and unique