Dancing Pirate

The Dancing Pirate is worth watching for a several reasons: the over-the-top early Technicolor hues, the spectacular finale featuring the Royal Cansino Dancers (including a young Rita Hayworth) and a very small appearance at the beginning of the movie by Pat Ryan, later to be Pat Nixon. But more than these things, I like The Dancing Pirate as a forgotten movie about Los Angeles. The movie depicts a Boston dance teacher kidnapped by pirates who escapes into the sleepy Alta California village of La Paloma.

This is an obvious adaptation of the real-life story of Joseph Chapman. Chapman, originally from Boston, deserted Hippolyte de Bouchard's piratical coastal raiding party to become the first yanqui resident of Los Angeles in 1818. Chapman, like the character in the movie, became a solid citizen of the little pueblo. Unlike the character in the movie, there's no historical evidence that Chapman could dance, however.

I would have liked the movie even more, I'm sure, if I'd seen the color version. Unfortunately, the only version I could find was the black-and-white, which I purchased out of curiosity from a bin of one dollar DVDs at Wal-Mart. Anyhow, "The Dancing Pirate" is certainly no masterpiece, but it's hard to dislike this movie. It's harmless, goofy, sort-of-weird entertainment (just about what you'd expect from the title), and the main character is a likable guy. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't actually contain any dancing pirates (the main character, "a dancing master," is mistaken for a pirate), but the dancing it does contain ain't bad. If you're the type of person who'd consider buying a movie called "The Dancing Pirate" from a bin of one dollar DVDs at Wal-Mart, you'll like this movie, as did I.

The impressive vivid colors produced by the three-strip system of Technicolor's first two feature films were beginning to perk the interest of Hollywood to the new technology. The third full-length motion picture to be released using the company's new film stock was May 1936's "Dancing Pirate," cinema's first feature film musical shot in that format.

"It's incredible how far a picture can get on great color, good dancing, and solid jokes," described film reviewer Andrew Wickliffe on "Dancing Pirate." Critic James Harrison added at the time of its release, "'Dancing Pirate' is an amusing diversion and a treat for the eyes when the dazzling Technicolor lights up the screen. The dancing of all involved is as good and pleasurable as any major studio production." For years after its release, "Dancing Pirate" fell into obscurity, with only a cheap 16mm two-color Cinecolor process available. Then collector Wade Williams stepped forward with his private 35mm pristine copy. A restoration with 4K scan was performed, and the film, with Rita Hayworth, Pat Ryan (President Nixon's future wife), and Marjorie Reynolds appearing as three of the many dancers, was shown in a pristine print.

Pioneer Pictures, a subsidiary of RKO Pictures and producers of the first three-strip Technicolor feature film, 1935 "Becky Sharp," was responsible for "Dancing Pirate." Adapted from Emma-Lindsay Squier's 1930 Colliers Magazine story 'Glorious Buccaneer,' the movie centers around Jonathan Pride (Charles Collins), a Boston dance instructor in 1920 who is captured by pirates and sails to California as a slave. He escapes to a small coastal town where he is to be hanged for piracy. Serafina (Steffi Duna), daughter to the mayor (Frank Morgan), intercedes shortly before his execution with the stipulation Jonathan teaches her and her friends how to waltz.

Collins was a Broadway performer who had done film work since 1932, but "Dancing Pirate" was his biggest role yet. Married to dancer/actress Dorothy Stone, Collins had appeared in several films, live plays and a nightclub act with his wife. He never reached the top tier of actors mainly because most felt he was too tall and lean. Collins last appeared in the 1984 TV show 'The Master,' where his character reminisces about his audition for "Dancing Pirate." He died in 1999 at age 95.

I got this out of the 50 musicals set. It said it was in Technicolor but it the print was curiously in black and white. The Plot-a dancing master gets kidnapped to be a galley worker on a pirate boat. He ends up in Calfornia near Monterey which at that time was populated with Mexicans. At first they arrest him, but he charms the whole town. This was an entertaining little musical. Not perfect and not a classic but definitely worth a look for Charles Collins and Frank Morgan.

It had a lead I have never heard of... Charles Collins who was quite a talented dancer-singer-actor . He kind of looks like Kevin Kline. Amazed the man didn't have a more illustrious career as he had all the makings of what constituted a star back then. Quite an interesting discovery. Frank Morgan (the wizard of oz) is quite funny as the bumbling mayor. The film was quite enjoyable.

In 1820, handsome dance instructor Charles Collins (as Jonathan Pride) decides to visit his aunt in California. Young Mr. Collins thrills the ladies by waltzing with his hands touching their waists. Leaving his giddy pupils wanting more, Collins takes the long route - around the continent of South America. Armed with only his satchel and an umbrella (to return to his aunt), Collins is mistaken for a pirate. As the "Dancing Pirate", he holds up in the western town of La Paloma. There, he dances, faces danger, and falls in love with lovely Senorita Steffi Duna (as Serafina Perena), daughter of the town's bumbling mayor, Frank Morgan (as Don Emilio Perena).

The well-staged "Finale" earned an "Academy Award" nomination for dance director Russell Lewis. Leading man Collins looks like he had everything needed to become a major star - possibly, he found himself in the wrong studio, at the wrong time. Without the takes afforded the standard era star (Fred Astaire), he manages to be dazzling, in his solo routines. The scene with Collins' umbrella stuffed down the front of his pants provides a visual worthy of a Mae West double-entendre. Mr. Morgan isn't a very convincing "Don", but he is always a film asset. Ms. Duna, a Hungarian woman, is a beautiful and believable Senorita.

Currently, this film is more available in "black & white" than "color" - this is not always a disadvantage, but "Dancing Pirate" really should be seen in color. Although my "Hollywood Legends" VHS Madacy HWGL-5512 says "B & W" on the sleeve, this release of film IS definitely "in color". It most certainly does NOT star cover-girl Rita Hayworth, however. Ms. Hayworth, Pat Nixon, and Marjorie Reynolds can be spotted among the dancing extras (provided you know who you are looking for well enough to spot them).

****** Dancing Pirate (5/22/36) Lloyd Corrigan ~ Charles Collins, Steffi Duna, Frank Morgan