La ley del pirata

Directed by Jacques Tourneur (Cat People, Out of the Past, Night of the Demon) and written by Phillip Dunne (How Green was My Valley) Anne of the Indies is a quite interesting adventure pirate movie. Its main character of captain Anne Providence is based on a real woman-pirate Anne Boney who actually lived and sailed through 18th century's Atlantic.

The film begins with the sea battle where Anne's (Jean Peters) pirate ship attacks a trade ship that was on its way to Europe from the South America. As a result a treasure of great value is captured along with a handsome French officer Pierre La Rochelle (Louis Jourdan), who is taken prisoner. Anne ends up falling in love with him and apparently her feelings are reciprocated but it's only till she sets him free when she discovers that he has a beautiful young wife Molly (Debra Paget) with whom he pretty much in love with. Anne begins planning revenge on both of them but in an unexpected twist of fate ends up making a great sacrifice in order to save them instead. The pirate movie cliché figure of `Black Beard' also makes his appearance here, this time played by Thomas Gomez.

Though Anne of the Indies probably appears to be no more nor less than a revisiting of pirate movie clichés, it still has its classical moments in beautiful visuals and sea battle sequences filmed in Technicolor as well as in some aspects of the story and most of all in personal touches in directing of all of it by Jacques Tourneur. 7/10

In Anne of the Indies, and not for the first time, Jacques Tourneur takes a fairly clichéd genre (a swashbuckling adventure film doesn't seem particularly flexible) and moulded it to his whim. Other examples include the lesbian subtext of Cat People and critique of populism in Canyon Passage.

And as with these two films, Anne of the Indies' genre bending and most of Tourneur's other semi-studio oddities, it works a charm.

This film is essentially a battle between the feminine and the masculine. Starring Jean Peters as the female-but-hardly pirate Captain Providence, Tourneur uses expectations of gender roles and genre to explore Providence's struggles with her sexual identity. In fact, she remains almost asexual - whilst she shows little interest in men, or only as sexual objects, she is similarly ambivalent (or downright hostile) to women, or "wenches".

Although the cinematography and lighting lacks the stylistic force that is inherent in so many of Tourneur's other films (Cat People, I Walked With A Zombie and Out of the Past most notably), the film is almost thematically flawless. Though these stylistic concerns are to the film's detriment, the script and Tourneur's ability to play strongly to subtle subtexts overcome such problems.

WARNING : Please,DON'T READ this comment if you have never seen this movie,as it can reveal some crucial points of the plot,but I needed to speak about these points in order to express my idea.

Anne of the Indies is one of my favourite movies.On my point of view,the central theme is the impossibility for a woman to live her own identity as a woman.She is trapped in a male identity,being grown up under Blackbeard's school: sword,ships and pirates.

When she falls in love for the first time,she is unable to express female feelings she feels.She almost ridiculise herself for her love,a new experience,and her own humiliation is exceptionally well acted by Jean Peters.Her desperation became more evident as the film goes on,above all when she has to admit herself her own sorrow after having been betrayed(this betrayal is a terrible event which destroys her under-construction female identity) and she is forced to admit her own weakness she has always tried to hide with a splendid use of her sword.

The final scene with Blackbeard planting his sword on the ship floor is fantastic,because he does just the same act that every person who understand the dramatic situation of Anne-Captain Providence would have done.I find this a marvellous movie,almost perfect:the only scene I don't like too much is the very last,when the name of her ship is cancelled from the register of outlaw ships:on my point of view,Tourneur made an error to show her again.It would have been more effective if the last time we look at her was just when she cries to Blackbeard "Come and take me,old pirate"(I base myself on the italian dubbing).

A moving film,which reminds me of the powerful acting of equally desperate Ella Raines in "Tall in the Saddle".

Good-looking women pirates is probably one of those juvenile male dreams, like good-looking women burglars. That a good-looking woman would stand much chance among the scurvy cut-throats who make up the crew of a pirate ship is beyond plausibility.

(I think in particular of a generically named movie, "Swashbuckler" (1978), in which a good-looking woman played by Genevieve Bujold just nonchalantly doffs her clothes and jumps into the Caribbean -- not to escape, but just for a swim! Reality does not often intrude in movies about women and pirates.)

However, though women don't generally get much better-looking than Jean Peters, she came across as believable ordering men into battle and swinging a sword herself.

In fact, though maybe I'm not a good judge, I thought she looked fearsome dueling with sailors and pirates. Supposedly Basil Rathbone was at least one of the best fencers in Hollywood, if not the best, and I felt she could have taken him on.

Watching her incredibly expressive face, especially during the fight scenes, is the best part of viewing "Anne of the Indies." She struck me, in fact, as one of the best actresses I have ever had the pleasure of watching, and certainly the best woman pirate -- taking nothing away from any of the others.

She was ably assisted by a superlative cast, including Herbert Marshall playing the only really sympathetic character.

But James Robertson Justice did shine as the right-hand man. Thomas Gomez, usually so good in anything, was terribly over-weight to be Blackbeard but still seemed suitably scary.

Louis Jourdan was so cool and collected, so at home in his role, he almost blended into the background -- which might be a sign of great talent.

One of my personal favorites is Sean McGlory, whom I interviewed after his stage appearance in an Oscar Wilde play. He doesn't appear in "Anne of the Indies" until fairly late but just grabs a viewer's attention.

I think the ending was rather weak, and even disappointing, but every part is so well played, and the effects were so nearly perfect, I can rate the move very good over all.

I highly recommend "Anne of the Indies" if only for the joy and pleasure in watching Jean Peters and the admiration her performance will inspire.

Cool effort at a big-budgeted retro-adventure about a highly regarded pirate , who results to be a woman : Anne Bonnie , or Captain Providence , a notorious sea-dog lady . Thrilling and moving adventure about pirates of the Caribbean with Anne Bonnie (Jean Peters) , a pirate woman on the high seas who navigates along with his crew : her second-in-command (James Robertson Justice) , a drunk doctor (Herbert Marshall) and other underlings . During a ship attack , Anne ¨Providence¨ meets the French Pierre LaRochelle (Louis Jourdan) , but she spares his life from walking the plank . Rochelle teams up with the group of pirates , as he signs on as a seaman and she is increasingly drawn to him , a feeling that seems to be mutual . When famous Captain Blackbeard (Thomas Gomez who has a high old time and steals the show as the fearsome buccaneer), her preceptor in the ways of pirating , sets eyes on LaRochelle he recalls him as a French navy officer and then things go awry . Shortly after , Anne is double-crossed and she , then , seeks vengeance in the Dead man's cay .

Storming , moving spectacular saga of history's fabulous pirate queen with lots of derring do . This lusty pirate drama has plenty of punch and pace , emotion , as well as amusement . The action and fencing scenes are choreographed with an unity and surge of which all the best Hollywood filmmakers would have been proud . Combination of overwhelming battle ships , sword-play and full of villainy , romance , swashbuckler and heroism . ¨Anne of the Indies¨ contains enough swashbuckling for half-a-dozen pirate films . This picture is fast-moving , exciting , stirring and thrilling right up to the almost climatic final confrontation between two fabulous ships captained by Anne and Blackbeard . Intelligently budgeted using miniature sets and ship shots from other films when possible . Enjoyable script by Philip Dunne and Arthur Caesar who give several stirring and buccaneering elements , including a love story , jealousy , treason and subsequently , revenge . Nice acting by Jean Peters as the dashing and highly regarded heroine figure , a gorgeous lady buccaneer who stands up in this rousing adventure . Jean Peters sadly lost to the big screen when she married billionaire-recluse Howard Hughes ; she starred some successful films as ¨Apache¨, ¨Broken lance¨ and ¨Niagara¨. Fine , handsome Louis Jourdan as a former captain who uses his cunning in order to recover his ship impounded by the British . Debra Paget is given the opportunity to show both spirit and a lovely wardrobe . Very good support cast in this historical/pirate/adventure tale of heroism and swordplay , standing out the followers support actors : Thomas Gomez as a really villainous buccaneer , James Robertson Justice , Sean McClory Carleton Young and special mention for Herbert Marshall as good-natured but drunken doctor . Furthermore , this bright and lively swashbuckler packs an evocative cinematography by Harry Jackson . Admirable Technicolor photography is effective particularly in the breathtaking naval battle scenes . This story of piracy in the Caribbean displays an original and impressive musical score by Franz Waxman .

This sparky pirate adventure was well directed by talented filmmaker Jacques Tourneur . Production Company Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation achieved a considerable hit to match the pace and technical standard of the best Hollywood pirate movies . This film turns to be a classic pirate movie along with other vintage movies , such as : ¨Captain Blood¨ by Michael Curtiz with Error Flynn , ¨Sea Hawk¨ by Curtiz with Errol Flynn , ¨The black swan¨ by Henry King with Tyrone Power , ¨Treasure island¨ by Victor Fleming with Wallace Beery , ¨Blackbeard¨ by Raoul Walsh with Robert Newton , among others . Rating : 7/10 , above average pirate movie , entertaining as well as stirring stuff that provides audience amusement . Enjoyable production packs enough thrills , breathtaking sea battles , tempestuous romance and exciting situations for a good time . It will appeal to pirate movies aficionados .