Le pirate du roi

This tongue-in-cheek re-make of "Against All Flags" was, alas, one of the last examples of the B-movie "pirate" genre to come out of Hollywood. Fans of the genre will probably not be disappointed. While the movie is thin, nothing more than a throw-away, it's colorful, has a certain zest, and the cast members seem to be enjoying themselves. Doug McClure takes over the role originally played by Errol Flynn and it's both amusing and instructive to contrast their two styles. Both the Flynn version and the McClure version, for example, begin with the leading man, stripped to the waist, receiving an on-board flogging of 20 lashes. Flynn plays it "straight," sweating and suffering in a realistic manner. McClure, on the other hand, indulges in some comic eye-rolling as if to convey the message: "Oooh! That one really hurt!" There's also an intriguing difference in how the two actors are positioned for their floggings. Flynn, about 42 or 43 years old when he filmed this scene, (and not in prime shape), largely keeps his back to the camera. McClure, some ten years younger, faces the camera, thus giving him a chance to show off his still-youthful physique. (And no, despite his boyish, clean-cut image, McClure has not shaved off his chest-hair!) The chest seems to win over the back because in the book, "Lash! The Hundred Great Scenes of Men Being Whipped in the Movies," the flogging in "The King's Pirate" ranks 19th whereas the flogging in "Against All Flags" ranks 27th. And while we're at it, Guy Stockwell -- who plays the villain in "The King's Pirate" -- went under the whip in 1966's re-re-make of "Beau Geste." His flogging ranks 85th in "Lash!"

Conventional and standard sea adventure movie from Universal International Studios . Amusing pirate movie , plenty of action-packed , land rescues , thrills , sea battles , colorful cinematography , luxurious costumes and paced in lighthearted style . This is a story of the Madagascar pirates when villainy wore a Sash and the only political creed in the world was love , gold and adventure . It is a blending of adventures , romance , action , exciting naval battle scenes , and swashbuckler . In 1700 A.D. , the Pirate Republic of Libertaria on the Island of Madagascar was a constant menace to the rich trade routes to India . Several days sail from his pirate fortress in the British merchant ship . There appears Brian (Doug McClure) , an English navy officer slashing his way through the fleet and pretending to be a deserter to infiltrate into pirate island . Now he can infiltrate the pirate stronghold of Diego Suarez using his cunning , bravery , humor and shrewness .Once inside the port, Flynn meets the pirate captain called John Avery (Guy Stockwell) and moll (Jill St John) . Brian is after Avery , and to find a valuable treasure and locate fortifications so that it can be successfully taken by the English navy . Pirates capture and burn a ship carrying Princess Patma (Mary Anne Mobley) , daughter of the Great Mogul, and her governess . After numerous adventures Brian is able to aid his lover and help save his British empire , finding romance along the way . As Brian ravished the pirate port of Madagascar to steal the love of its Corsair Queen . This is a spirited pirate fare in which seas ablaze with black villainy , with fiery romance, with breathless deeds of daring in the roaring era of Love, Gold and Adventure! .

Combination of overwhelming sea battles , lots of derring-do , and full of action , romance , swashbuckler , bravura and humor remarks . An enjoyable swashbuckler about the Pirate Republic of Libertaria , Magadascar , at the turn of the 17th century , dealing with Lt. Brian Fleming who volunteers to be flogged for a contrived offense and then discharged from the British Navy . Entertaining pirate movie , plenty of action , thrills , colorful cinematography and luxurious costumes . Although the story has been told before , tight filmmaking and nice acting win out . This engaging picture is fast-moving , exciting , hilarious and thrilling right up to the almost balletic climatic confrontation between Doug McClure and Guy Stockwell . Average-budgeted film by Universal International Pictures , using appropriate ship shots and miniature sets when possible . It results to be a remake of Against all flags (1952) with Doug McClure in the Errol Flynn role , Guy Stockwell in the Anthony Quinn character and Jill St. John in the Maureen O'Hara role. Universal took advantage of the unused sets by other films scripting and shooting a hastily assembled B picture . And it packs some stock footage of the original film , including ships scale model and breathtaking sea battles . Good and sympathetic acting by Doug McClure , the famous Trampas from The Virginian , as a deserter in order to penetrate a well-defended pirate stronghold on Madagascar . Doug McClure seems to happy as the adventurer pirate whose good looks and swordmanship were both at their peak . And even he did most of his own stunts . Master of adventure and Western , Doug could happily have found a better vehicle for his faculties than this entertaining adaptation . There appears two gorgeous women Jill St John , who married Robert Wagner, as a hot-tempered pirate moll who swoons over Doug ; furthermore , Mary Anne Mobley , as a tarty eyeful and likable princess in distress who Doug saves from the burning ship and she falls for him , too . More stylish villainy is provided by both , the nasty Guy Stockwell and Richard Deacon . It displays a nice support cast such : as Kurt Kasznar, Woodrow Parfrey, Sean McClory , Torin Thatcher , Alex Montoya , Ted de Corsia , among others .This is a good-natured Technicolor romp with splendid cinematography by Clifford Stine and evocative musical score by Ralph Ferraro . The motion picture was professionally directed by Don Weiss , a craftsman and action specialist who had already filmed other adventures .He made several episodes from notorious TV series , such as : Mannix , Kolchack , Planet of apes , Alfred Hitchcock presents , The Immortal and Petrocelli . And occassionally directing some films in big screen , such as : The ghost and the invisible bikini , Gene Krupa story , The longest hundred miles , Adventures of Hajji , among others . Rating : 6 , decent swashbuckler movie , wonderful stuff . It will appeal to pirate genre fans.

Seeing Doug McClure has been whipped yet smiling, I wondering where I saw this unforgettable scene, well in 1985 when I'd watched it for very first time, not quite due it I've barely remembered, then Errol Flynn comes me mind in AGAINST ALL FLAGS watched in past years, anyhow this remake is utterly humor oriented, mainly focusing in the buffoon Zucco (Kurt Kasznar) that has strong similitude with the upcoming character Fitzhugh in LAND OF THE GIANTS in next year.

The plot about the British Royal Navy in 16th century is pretty worry about constants raids of pirates in regular trade route into profitable oriental market place, Madagascar is a safe lair of pirates where the bay harbor area is shielded by several heavy cannons, thus an American mercenary soldier Lt. Brian Fleming (Doug McClure) offers himself as sole volunteer upon a pulpy reward to enter in the island as draft dodger aiming for locate the spots where those cannons are and aftermaths silence all them, a hard assignment when he faces a local beauty Mistress Jessica Stephens (Jill St. John) side by side with dubious and wimp Zucco, nonetheless he must overcame the treacherous villain John Avery (Guy Stockwell).

A awesome mixing of swashbuckling adventure-comic-romance offering, introducing several circus acrobats, funny characters, pony fights, far-fetched acting and so for, although pretty amusing entertainment, addressed to afternoon matinee.

Thanks for reading.

Resume: First watch: 1985 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 6.25.

Madagascar, circa 1700 - the story is about the efforts of the British to halt piracy of the rich trade route to India. Doug McClure, playing a Colonial American, volunteers to silence the guns of the pirate port of Diego Suarez and in regulation style accomplishes his mission.

Ok buccaneer yarn, which has some good action, however it's a comedic remake of Against All Flags, probably has too much comedy, and it appears that Doug McClure's mission is waysided by it, and the plot meanders a bit. It's dull in places. But it's passable, and has some good humour- Doug McClure is a likeable hero, Jill St. John sizzles as a lady pirate.

A charming remake of "Against All Flags". Doug McClure takes on Errol Flynn's role but this director, as well as the cast have a delightful sense of humor & everyone appears to be having a good time. It's the same movie (almost word for word) but at the same time it's totally different. I hate to admit it but this movie is better than the original. Watching them both in the same day is quite an experience. Two great casts, one fine story yet two different genres.