Product Description

Bonus features: production notes talent bios film highlights theatrical trailer and web link. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/08/2005 Starring: Robert Shaw Peter Boyle Run time: 101 minutes Rating: Pg Director: James Goldstone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10793 in DVD
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 1999-01-05
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Live, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 101 minutes

Amazon.com
Practically a nonstop brawl between pirates and anybody who gets in their path, this lighthearted, high-energy 1976 movie set in 18th century Jamaica is short on an actual story but thick with stunts and swordplay. Robert Shaw stars as the bawdy, swaggering pirate Red Nel Lynch, whose lusty crew of thieves comes to the aid of Lynch's right-hand man and close pal (James Earl Jones), then helps a beleaguered noblewoman (Genevieve Bujold) whose father and property have been seized by a local tyrant (Peter Boyle). Plot details are pretty much relegated to filling in the spaces between rollicking scenes of flying fists and gleaming blades, and a sort-of love story between Shaw and Bujold never gets the chance to go anywhere for all the orchestrated scuffling. Boyle's performance as a Basil Rathbone-style villain has got to be the least persuasive role of his career, but there are compensations, particularly Bujold's feisty turn as the heroine and a kooky scene in which Shaw and Jones amuse each other by trading dirty limericks. Directed by James Goldstone (Winning). The DVD release includes production notes, cast and filmmakers' bios, a theatrical trailer, and Web links. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

The grandest pirate movie indeed!
It's a shame 'Swashbuckler' will probably never recieve the respect it deserves. While in recent years the pirate movie has enjoyed a rebound thanks to the Orlando Bloom pirate tale Pirates of the Carribean, i feel this 1976 swashbuckler is a whole lot better. The story centers around a pirate captain and his best friend played by James Earl Jones. They team up with a woman who can swash and buckle herself in order to overthrow the evil Lord Durant and free the politcal prisoners. While being a little short on plot, it is very thick on action and adventure, and the countless swordfight scenes are the best I've ever seen.

A wonderful escapest, summer-popcorn movie
It's hard to be judgmental about a movie that is trying to be so much fun. It's low on high-tech and it's fast pace comes from the energy of the actors themselves. Who cares if the story line sag's just a bit? Listen to that great score! The music will have you feeling you are aboard a rollicking ship being chased by the king's best. Watch it for the sheer energy the cast generates. The swash and buckle of the sword fights and the derring do far outweigh the few flaws. Robert Shaw was never more the sweet-scoundrel, James Earl Jones never more stalwart and Peter Boyle never more.... well, not nice. Nope, it's not brain surgery and it's certainly not trying to send any message. It's a great summer flick to spend the afternoon with while indulging in popcorn, soda and milkduds. Hey, I love ya leonard Maltin, but I think you're wrong about this one. If anything, I think it's gotten sweeter over time.

Shaw / Jones / Bujold swing a blade
This was an attempt to revive the pirate movie. It didn't. But it was a great attempt.

Red Ned Lynch (Robert Shaw) is the captain of the Blarney Cock. He loots British ships in the Caribbean. His first mate is Nick Debrette (James Earl Jones).

The main British island is under the rule of Lord Durant (Peter Boyle) and his naïve aid (Beau Bridges). He confiscates the Barnett plantation putting out Lady Barnett and daughter Jane (Genevieve Bujold). Jane is determined to get revenge.

Durant is determined to catch Red Ned and sets a trap but this is a swashbuckler film and good must triumph.

This is a beautifully made film. The Blarney Cock is the Bounty from the remake. The production design and costumes are top quality. And despite a weak script, the performances all around are great. As one critic said, Genevieve Bujold uses her French accent to great use in this film. And Geoffrey Holder's return to acting is sublime as the knife wielding adventurer.

You won't put this on your classics list but you will pop this DVD in when you want a fun afternoon.

DVD EXTRA: Making of featurette made at the time of filming.