Blackbeard, the Pirate

Plot synopsis:
The film follows British Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard (Keith Andes), who sets out to earn a reward by proving that privateer Henry Morgan (Torin Thatcher) also engages in piracy.
Maynard poses as a surgeon on board the ship of pirate Charles Bellamy, who he believes is in league with Morgan. Once Maynard and fellow spy Briggs come on board, they discover that the pirate Blackbeard has murdered Bellamy and taken over as captain.
Also on board is Edwina Mansfield, a pirate's daughter,who was going to marry Bellamy. Blackbeard knows that Morgan loves Mansfield and will pursue her.
Blackbeard orders Maynard to remove a bullet from his neck, and demands sailor Gilly watch him. Gilly slips Maynard a note begging him to slit the pirate's throat, but Maynard declines.
Maynard slips into the Blackbeard's quarters and finds Bellamy's logbook, which he hopes will contain evidence that Bellamy gave Morgan stolen goods.
Maynard then defends Edwina against the unwanted advances of a lecherous pirate, killing him with his dagger. She tells Maynard that she agreed to marry Bellamy to escape from Morgan, from whom she has stolen treasure, which is now hidden in a clothes chest.
Blackbeard breaks open one of Edwinas chests but discovers only letters in which Edwina implicates Morgan as Bellamy's ally. Maynard tries to steal the letter, but Blackbeard stops him, noting that if Morgan were arrested, all of his loot would go to the King.
Blackbeard finally identifies the treasure chest and claims it.

Tags: violence, action

Review:
It's just a VERY good showcase for the ultimate pirate actor, Robert Newton, who fits the role so perfectly as to become THE pirate to be imitated in every pirate movie to follow.
Every scene belongs to him and every word of dialogue he speaks is the learning base for future "pirates" of the silver screen.Not a Newton fan?
He is an overpowering and magnetic force when he plays his pirate to perfection.AWWWWWRRRRRRRRRR.Being a big fan of the man I enjoyed this movie thoroughly.
Hollywood turned out dozens of pirate adventures in its heyday, most, such as The Black Swan, The Spanish Main, Captain Kidd etc etc, were flat and routine swashbucklers that lacked the kind of acting presence, story, and edge that made MGM's 1934 version of Treasure Island, and Warner's Captain Blood from 1935 standards of the genre.
The pirate movie throughout the 40's, much like the western, was in need of something fresh.In 1950, Robert Newton made a stalwart impression as Long John Silver in the British remake of Treasure Island, released through Disney.
Though the film was not nearly as good as the '34 MGM version, Newton managed to surpass the performance of Wallace Beery's Silver, which was no easy feat as Beery was exceptional in that role.Coming off of that success, RKO paired Newton with hit and miss director Raoul Walsh to make Blackbeard the Pirate.
Newton's performance in the title role was even better than his turn in Treasure Island - a definitive portrayal of the pirate captain that continues to predominate the genre.
Not a single actor from Wallace Beery to Victor McLaglen to Charles Laughton to Peter Ustinov to Dustin Hoffman to even Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp have managed to usurp the pure overbearing sea scenery chewing double-dealing rapscallion that is Robert Newton as Blackbeard.
There is a plot going on here (albeit not exactly an airtight one), and some fine supporting performances from William Bendix (always watchable), Linda Darnell, and Keith Andes, a mostly forgotten actor who apparently could do it all in show business from sing and dance to swordfight.
The cast and crew must have had a ball making this flick, since it has so many funny bits in it.Just listen to this exchange between Robert Newton doing his never-equaled pirate character as Blackbeard, and the lovable lug Bill Bendix, of Life of Riley fame, as Worley, the dim-witted first mate.
Blackbeard is pulling up a rope that the hero has used to climb into the Captain's cabin, and says, "I be fishin' for a rat!" Worley: "Why, are ya hungry?" Don't miss The Funeral at Sea ("For distance this time!") Watch Edward Maynard eye Linda Darnell's lavish expanse of bosom and say, "Never mind the measurements!"And while you're thinking about the plot...how _did_ they ever get off that island?.
Within the 17th century a reformed pirate known as Sir Henry Morgan is given the role of governor in Jamaica and the job of ridding the ocean of Blackbeard the pirate.
A young surgeon Edward Maynard believes Morgan is still a pirate and takes the assignment of becoming part of Blackbeard's crew to get his large award and hopefully take care of these two men.
Torin Thatcher, Irene Ryan and Skelton Knaggs give capable support."Blackbeard the Pirate" is far from flawless, but definitely an entertaining foray my matey..
Robert Newton was born to play a pirate.
No one comes close to his wild pirate performances and the film Blackbeard provides this in spades.
If you liked watching him as Long John Silver in Disney's Treasure Island, you will absolutely love him running amock in Blackbeard..
Between the opening credits and the first scene of "Blackbeard, the Pirate" viewers encounter the following verse:The meeker the man, the more pirate he Snug in his armchair, far from the sea, And reason commends his position: He has all of the fun and none of the woes, Masters the ladies and scuttles his foes, And cheats both the noose and perdition!It's called "The Armchair Pirate" and it serves as notice that what you're about to see isn't the true story of Blackbeard, but rather an everyman's fantasy of life on 18th Century seas.
Most of the credit for this goes to Robert Newton who delivers a wonderfully unrestrained performance as Blackbeard.
Critics routinely dismiss Newton's work as hamming, but it's the choicest, most savory ham acting you'll ever see.Newton is ably supported by Keith Andes, Linda Darnell, William Bendix, and especially Skelton Knaggs as Blackbeard's henchman, Gilly.
Well paced, cleverly plotted, and brimming with action, "Blackbeard" is the most entertaining pirate film of all.
This is a lot of fun,but is not for those who insist on subtle acting.Newton has the time of his life as a drunken psychotic.He really does go over the top.The dialogue is rather good,all things being considered,and the plot is better than one might have expected.There are only 3 or 4 loose ends.Darnell,Andese,and Thatcher all do quite well with their roles,and the pirates are as grisly a crew of jackals as you could imagine.(Gilly,in particular,not only acts well,but is nicely creepy,besides.)The only major disappointment is bendix;this fine performer wasn't suited for costume dramas.A good picture for kids ages 12 and under,or for those with a broad sense of humor..
Central character of the pirate Cap'n Teach is absolutely mesmerising (his end is especially so), a completely eccentric and idiosyncratic performance by Edward Newton.
Film best seen in the colour version, so that we can see 'the Mansfield gal' (Linda Darnell) in all her lascivious purity tempting 'the sawbones' Edward Maynard.
The supporting cast is filled with reliable character actors who add color to their roles with William Bendix, Alan Mowbray and Torin Thatcher all getting their moments in the spotlight.
An actor of great skill most of the time he's obviously relishing the chance to let loose, he sort of cornered the market on this type of role with Treasure Island and Long John Silver also on his resume, and at least this is the kind of picture that lends itself to that sort of no holds barred performance.
Despite the fact that Sir Henry Morgan and the infamous Edward Teach aka Blackbeard operated in different centuries and that Teach was a mere six years old when Morgan died in 1686 don't worry about historical accuracy.
This is a film to be savored and enjoyed especially by those who are true devotees of ham.Robert Newton who could also restrain himself and give good performances turns off all restraint in this rollicking and colorful pirate portrayal.
He blasts everyone else off the screen, not easy to do when you consider Linda Darnell's beauty and William Bendix who usually steals the films he's in.The plot such as it is has Keith Andes looking to obtain evidence that Henry Morgan is still a pirate after getting a King's pardon.
Morgan who is also played by another scene stealer Torin Thatcher, is real interested in Darnell and he's held at bay somewhat by Newton having her as hostage.Newton is a guy who thinks fast on his feet and is not above double crossing his own crew.
Even a ten year old could discern the broad elements of self-parody, and the motley collection of Dickensian characters....Equally important, the movie contains one of cinema's greatest one-liners: "I am the King of Spain!", perhaps second only in the low budget genre to "Slowly I turned." Yes, am a self-admitted Abbott & Costello fan as well, but "Blackbeard" outshines "Abbott & Costello Meet Captain Kidd" (1952)in almost every category.
Of all the Hollywood actors who have portrayed Caribbean pirates, none have ever surpassed the over the top performances of Robert Newton.
Despite being forever linked with Long John Silver in Treasure Island, in this movie he plays equally notorious villain Edward Teach Aka, " BlackBeard The Pirate.
In this story written by DaVallon Scott and superbly directed by Raoul Walsh, we catch up with the notorious privateer as he unsuspectingly takes on a new crew member and doctor Maynard (Keith Andes who signs on with the intention of gathering enough evidence, that Sir. Henry Morgan (Torin Thatcher) is also a pirate.
Enough has been said by other reviewers about Robert Newton's performance, so I want to make some comments about Linda Darnell's appearance in this film.
An old newspaper description of this movie went "Robert Newton hams his way through every pirate cliché in the book." Quite true, and just what is wanted in this type of movie.
What no one seems to have noticed, or mentioned, is what a great job Newton does in portraying a character who one minute seems to be a jolly buffoon, but can in the blink of an eye reveal himself as a cold blooded killer without the slightest trace of a conscience.Sends chill up your spine looking at the expression on his face.Blackbeard isn't really a psychotic killing for the fun of it;he doesn't do that.He always has a reason;it just doesn't bother him to slaughter anyone in cold blood when it serves his purpose.
Uniformly good, judged as a simple , but superbly done kids adventure story that adults can enjoy if they will let themselves be kids again for awhile.Suspend your disbelief, forget about the historical anachronisms(Yes, Morgan and Blackbeard lived in different eras and were never partners),and enjoy yourself watching a movie depicting not how things really were but the way THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN..
Robert Newton' performance of Blackbeard is reason enough to see this film..
Blackbeard the Pirate is an average film about pirates but Robert Newton will captivate you with his portrayal of the title character.
Robert Newton is playing Blackbeard for all he's worth.
It's a poor and confused plot, extremely unlikeable and unrealistic, but Linda Darnell lifts the show by her beauty, counterpoising the exaggerated savagery of Newton and the pirates.
The story is a pastiche on all the earlier piracy films, like "The Black Swan" and "Treasure Island", and the main reason for the film seems to have been to give an opportunity for Robert Newton to excel in his special personal savagery of acting outstanding crooks..
Newton's iconic pirate saves Blackbeard from sinking..
Raoul Walsh's direction is sloppy in this technicolor high seas adventure that never gets much wind in its sail outside of the outlandishly wonderful scenery chewing performance by Robert Newton as the title character.
Newton who would go on to play more benign pirates (Long John Silver) is deliciously duplicitous from start to finish as he attempts to outfox all around him including his crew who hate but fear him more.Director Walsh who helmed some excellent adventure dramas in the past seems to settle for anything mixing haphazard seriousness with mawkish romance and some dark comedy that Newton drives home with gusto.
There's a decent sea battle, Linda Darnel displaying cleavage and Irene "Granny" Ryan scoring a few laughs as her lady in waiting but the film remains a burlesque most of the way with Newton thankfully center stage going over the top throughout before receiving a fitting exit befitting the most dastardly of screen pirates..
If you thought Robert Newton had created the original pirate in 1950's Treasure Island, technically you're right.
If every ten sentences in Treasure Island, he added an "Aarr!", in Blackbeard, the Pirate, his imitable, incomparable sound was included every ten words.
As the famous villainous Blackbeard, Bobbie cackles, sings, and is even more disheveled than he was as Long John Silver.If you're familiar with pirate legends, you probably know Blackbeard had a rivalry with Captain Morgan, and in this film, a woman comes between them.
His cohorts, led by William Bendix and Skelton Knaggs, who bears an eerie resemblance to Frances McDormand, are much more wicked than he is.While there's no topping Treasure Island, I really enjoyed Blackbeard, the Pirate.
A rip-roaring piratical romp with Robert Newton, after playing Long John Silver for Disney's "Treasure Island" cashing in this time as Blackbeard a.k.a. Ned Teach leading his very motley crew into dangerous adventure on the high seas.Also on board are the statuesque Linda Darnell as the resident damsel in distress and her protector and lover Maynard (called Mainyard throughout by old Blackbeard) played by while the main protagonist of all and sundry appears to be the gentleman pirate captain Morgan, pillar of society by day and treacherous plunderer by night.Director Raoul Walsh ushers the action along in his typical no-nonsense style, with the ship battle scenes and hand to hand fighting among the pirate hordes especially memorable, give or take the odd jarring juxtaposition of ship models, back projections and less than bloody sword-fights.Newton completely dominates the cast.
Despite wearing a less than terrifying set of little red flags on his beard, Newton revels in the Teach part, knowing that no one trusts him and everybody fears him.I was confused for a time by the appearance of Richard Egan (later to captain his own boat into danger in "Jason and the Argonauts" some years later) as Maynard's friend as both men look so like one another.
Robert Newton does his pirate schtick in this not-so-true-to-life story about Edward Teach, AKA 'Blackbeard'.Boarders on Blackbeard's ship try to escape at the first opportunity, but get dragged into the inevitable search for treasure when Blackbeard reaches the island where his stash is hidden away.
Linda Darnell is beautiful as the token damsel-in-distress, Irene Ryan is funny as a matronly drunk, and Skelton Knaggs is excellent as a derelict pirate, but 'leading man' Keith Andes and deckhand Bill Bendix are less impressive.
As for Newton, he looks the part and delivers the "shiver-me-timbers" dialogue, but you've seen his act before in 'Treasure Island' (1950) and he did it again in 'Long John Silver' (1954).OK 50's adventure movie, in color, too.
its basic virtue remains the performance of Robert Newton who creates the perfect pirate image.
but it has the gift to be more than an another movie with pirates, adventures and victory of good guys.
The main character Blackbeard (Robert Newton) lines was crisp nor was dry and very boring.
He played the same character in "Long John Silver" and "Treasure Island".
Blackbeard is essentially a story of a reformed pirate Henry Morgan becoming the Governor in the West Indies to get rid off other pirates especially Blackbeard (Robert Newton.)A young ship's surgeon Edward Maynard is tasked to become part of Blackbeard's crew to deal with both Blackbeard and Morgan who he also suspects of still being a villain.Blackbeard manages to kidnap Morgan's adopted daughter which leads to a romance subplot with Maynard.
At all times Blackbeard shows ruthless cunning and double dealing.Newton hams it up nicely as Blackbeard who has set the pirate standard.
William Bendix provides fine support, Linda Darnell is very nice eye candy but the whole thing is just too silly even though its a bit risqué here and there and rather strong in some of its violence.The film ranges from daft to dull, the final fight scenes with Blackbeard and the rest of the crew is dumb but his drowning scene is rather startling..
The boat scenes are pretty well done though.Newton is the prototypical celluloid pirate with his outings in the definitive Treasure Island.
Robert Newton IS Blackbeard.
Raoul Walsh's 1952 film "Blackbeard the Pirate" doesn't strive for any historical accuracy, but it's high in the entertainment category and one of the best of its kind.
Robert Newton has literally a "field day" as Blackbeard and he set the standard for all future screen pirates.
Also in the cast is William Bendix ("The Life of Riley") as a pirate with a Brooklyn accent, but he fits right in with Blackbeard's motley crew.
The two main pirates in this yarn are Blackbeard and Henry Morgan.
Nonetheless, why not have probably the 2 most famous pirates who operated in the Caribbean tangle with each other in a classic tale, irrespective of the historical impossibility......RKO was taking advantage of the success of the mesmerizing characterization by Robert Newton of Long John Silver" in the 1950 hit "Treasure Island" to hopefully produce another pirate tale hit.
Throw in a ravishing Linda Darnell as a major player, to spice things up even more....Keith Andes is criticized by most reviewers for being too bland in his role as the romantic lead Robert Maynard.
Torin Thatcher makes an excellent Henry Morgan, while William Bendex is OK as Blackbeard's first mate.
Linda claims to be the daughter of one time pirate captain Edwin Mansfield.
This name is a slight alteration of Edwin Mansvelt: an actual pirate captain of these times........Blackbeard finally gets his due from his crew for being excessively greedy with the treasure.
The ultimate fate of the treasure is ironic......Robert Newton would get yet another opportunity to display his unique charisma as a classic pirate 2 years later in "Long John Silver".
Ha-Harrr, me buckos, that there brigand Robert Newton be playing the likes of Blackbeard with red ribbons in his fuzzy black beard and a liking for sturdy legs of ham, so he does.
Even that ever-reliable one-eyed old dog Raoul Walsh, director of so many classic Warner pics of the thirties and forties, can't salvage more than a few decent action scenes from a hodge-podge of comedy, romance and adventure that never really catches the wind in its sails.That rascally Blackbeard is out to shiver the timbers of that old foe of his, Harry Morgan and to salvage for himself a chest of treasure his mateys believe is buried with a dead man but which he's secretly buried beneath some polystyrene rocks.
Handsome (but bland) Keith Andes is after Blackbeard's hide and manages to sneak himself aboard the crusty old mariner's ship.
Newton looks like he's having the time of his life, ah-harring for all he's worth, and he alternates between straight and humorous, leaning mostly toward the comical despite the essentially serious nature of the story.