This is one of those films which people remember with decidedly mixed opinions. I never understood why it was so universally nixed by critics if they could rhapsodize over other period stories like "The Harvey Girls," "Meet Me In St. Louis," or "For Me And My Gal." THE PIRATE seems to be telling its story with tongue firmly in cheek; even Ms. Garland appears to be spoofing her screen persona at times (wringing her hands in horror, over-the-top cowering and fainting, and so forth). And the role of a hammy actor-turned vagabond pirate is tailor-made for the swashbuckling bravado of Gene Kelly-- and the fantasy number of him leaping and bounding all over a clouded, fiery, stage is a cinema highlight. (Other highlights are Garland's vocals of "Love Of My Life" and "Mack The Black" and Kelly's stunning gazebo dance of "Nina.") The supporting cast is also fine, especially Walter Slezak's blow-hard (and delightfully awkward) mayor and Gladys Cooper's loving and delightfully frazzled Aunt Inez- who sometimes sounds like Glinda from 'The Wizard of Oz.' One comment that I'm surprised to read so much on this site is on the outdated (but well-meaning) casting of white actors as Caribbeans. (Usually when I comment on this kind of thing, someone is always ready to counter with some kind of nasty 'race card' accusation and remind me that this was the way in films more than 60 years old, and I should just 'get over it.' Sure.) I can accept the premise of the cast for one main reason: Gene Kelly, using his considerable clout with the studio, made a point of racially integrating the background population in PIRATE's Caribbean exteriors (note all the people of color in the 'Port Sebastian' sequence just working for a living), and to specifically include the Nicholas Brothers in the film's athletic climax, "Be A Clown." (Whenever this film is shown in theaters, this number always gets spontaneous applause from the audience.) I'm delighted to see it run on TCM, and now on DVD home video.
Review of The Pirate
