Pirates of Tortuga (1961) Reviewed

Pirates of Tortuga (1961) does not so much revel in swashbuckling clichés as wallow in them. Revelry would at least have indicated an appreciation for the genre. Instead, we have a reliance on stereotypes that are as tiresomely executed as they are uninspired. We have the hero of the picture, Bart (or Captain Paxton as he is more commonly addressed), played standoffishly by Ken Scott. We have the wild-mannered yet presumably alluring object of every man's desire, the pickpocket and self-described actress Meg, played incomprehensibly by Letícia Román. And we have the villain, the rapacious and bloodthirsty pirate (and former governor of Jamaica) Henry Morgan, played with comical fervor by Robert Stephens.

We also have the two plots. In this version of history, Henry Morgan has established a pirate kingdom in Tortuga (instead of answering the summons of King Charles II concerning his sacking of Panama), has blockaded the royal colony of Jamaica for the past year, and has been plundering His Majesty's merchant ships with impunity. Paxton (or "Bart") has been given the mission of putting a stop to Henry Morgan's depredations, and he plans to do so by passing himself off as a pirate so he can better observe the defenses of Morgan's fortified port. First, however, we must watch him save Meg from the clutches of a butcher who claims she has stolen from him. Paxton, it seems, is both gallant and kindhearted, although both qualities are strained by his desire to cast her overboard when she is discovered on his ship after setting sail. Meg may be the only woman on the ship, but she is not a lady. Nonetheless, the cultured officers of the ship take it upon themselves to tutor her in ladylike manners (cue: comic relief). Suffice it to say, Meg and "Bart" are supposed to fall in love.

Pirates of Tortuga is fraught with the common failings of many other low-grade pirate movies. Accents bear no relationship to region or time period (especially where Letícia Román in concerned). The work of officers, sailors, and gunners has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with incompetent blocking. The fight choreography is a lazy pantomime. The love scenes are a lazy pantomime. The entire movie would have been more entertaining if it really were a pantomime. The only satisfaction a lover of pirate movies will derive from this one is that it ends... eventually.

Writing: Terrible
Directing: Poor
Acting: Terrible
Cinematography: Mediocre
Stunts: Poor
Swordplay: Mediocre
Panache: Poor

Overall Rating: Poor
Swashbuckling Rank: Poor


[Originally posted in Cuparius.com on 28 October 2011.]


Addendum

Written by: Melvin Levy, Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., and Pat Silver
Directed by: Robert D. Webb
Performed by: Ken Scott, Letícia Román, Dave King, John Richardson, Rafer Johnson, Robert Stephens, et al.