Posted on: Friday, May 25, 2007
A treasure chest of pirate flicks
Arizona Republic
What's putting people in a pirate mood is, after all, a pirate movie. If the first two "Pirates of the Caribbean" films are any indication, half the civilized world will see "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."
But why stop there?
Here are three pirate-themed films worth watching through your eye patch:
Until Johnny Depp stumbled along, your go-to film pirate was Errol Flynn. "Captain Blood" (1935) is why. Flynn plays a doctor who is sold into slavery, escapes and sets sail as a pirate. Along the way we get Olivia de Havilland and Basil Rathbone at no extra charge.
Errol Flynn strikes again: In "The Sea Hawk" (1940), he's a pirate in service to the queen, more or less, harassing Spanish fleets. Ahoy, matey: All this pirating makes you wonder if Flynn flew the Jolly Roger outside his home.
More adventure and romance on the high seas (or at least the Caribbean): "The Crimson Pirate" (1952) stars Burt Lancaster as Capt. Vallo, also known as the pirate of the title. The word "swashbuckling" comes to mind.
