There are many theories about why countries go to war. Some are pretty twisted (leaders go to war when there’s a surplus of unemployed young men), while some are horribly misguided (we go to war because we believe we’ll always win).
In the 1958 pirate adventure, The Buccaneer, Charles Boyer’s character has his own Ideas about War. Boyer’s character carries a small cloth bag containing dirt from his home in France. It’s his belief that fighting for the honour of one’s country is a lie: Governments ask you to fight in exchange for the dirt in which to bury you.
Now, we don’t mean to sound morbid because Boyer’s character is a pleasure to watch. He’s charming, funny, and wildly over the top. (You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Boyer in this role.) He’s also Very Suspicious. According to Boyer, you can’t trust governments, military leaders, or dressmakers.
The Buccaneeris loosely based on the War of 1812, specifically the Battle of New Orleans.* Yul Brynner (with hair!) stars as the French pirate Jean Lafitte, citizen of no particular country and occupier of an island in Barataria Bay near Louisiana. The two islands in this bay, at the time, really were the Base Of Operations for privateers, pirates, and the like.
Brynner lives like a king on this island, and he’d be crazy to Give It Up.
The Buccaneer is a movie that could easily slide into a pirate cheese-fest, but it neatly oversteps the pitfalls. Despite the cringingly-awkward opening scenes, it’s a terrific yarn with interesting characters and plenty o’ motivation.
Let’s start with Boyer’s character. He employs brash cynicism to cloak his sentimental soul.
As for Brynner, he’s a Gentleman and a shrewd businessman. For example, when he returns from plundering rich folks overseas, he sells the stolen goods to rich folks in New Orleans – but his prices are fair, madam.
Secretly, though, Brynner’s character has two desires: (1) He wishes to be a citizen of a Just Nation; and (2) He’s in love with the daughter of the Louisiana governor.**
Meanwhile, we have Charlton Heston in a rare supporting role as Andrew Jackson, a major general beleaguered with stomach troubles and untrained soldiers. Heston is in top form as a Single-Minded leader with more hair than anyone else in the room. He also has some fabulous lines: “If you put a bullet in my brain, I’d still live long enough to kill you.”
Then we have some of Brynner’s men who chafe against their leader’s sense of Decency (which sounds incredulous coming from a pirate), and they are anxious to Take Matters into their Own Hands.
When one of these men attacks and destroys an American ship in retaliation for an ambush, it triggers a series of consequences that test everyone’s fundamental beliefs.
These bring the movie to a conclusion we did not expect.
The Buccaneer was, to us, a little-known film that’s surprisingly notable for several reasons. First, it was nominated for an Oscar in Best Costume Design.
Second, you’ll notice, during the opening credits, that the film was produced under the “supervision” of classic Hollywood filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille. (DeMille made an earlier version of this film in 1938, also called The Buccaneer.) DeMille was set to direct, but he was suffering from a series of heart attacks and wasn’t healthy enough to take on the rigours of directing.
Actor Anthony Quinn, who was DeMille’s son-in-law at the time, Stepped In to direct the film. This was Quinn’s first and only directorial role; the initial release of the film had his edits and was, apparently, well received. However, a second version, with DeMille’s edits was released instead, and Quinn’s version is now lost.
DeMille would die in January, 1959, a month after the film’s debut. Although he had plans for at least two other movies, this film would be his last.
The Buccaneer was widely regarded as a Disappointment. Newsweek, for one, said, it was “two hours of the most pretentious nonsense to lay claim to a moviegoer’s spending money.”1
We respectfully disagree. It may be that we had no Preconceived Notions before watching the film, but we found it a very good way, in fact, to spend two hours. We think you’ll enjoy it.
The Buccaneer: starring Yul Brunner, Claire Bloom, Charles Boyer. Directed by Anthony Quinn. Written by Harold Lamb & Jessie Lasky, Jr. Paramount Pictures, 1958, Colour, 119 mins.
Notes
*Sadly, the Battle of New Orleans was fought after a peace treaty had been signed in Belgium a few weeks earlier, unbeknownst to the troops in battle. **In real life, Lafitte had an affair with the Louisiana’s governor’s wife. 1Wikipedia. (Retrieved June 17, 2022.) The Buccaneer (1958 film).
Wow, I didn’t know Anthony Quinn directed a movie, that’s very cool, especially a pirate film. Gonna have to look this on up on the IMDb. According to the History Channel special True Caribbean Pirates, the true start of Piracy was after the (at the time) superpowers of Britain, Spain, France, and Holland signed a peace treaty, meaning the at the time fighting for ruler and country Privateers were now considered outlaws should they continue, and thus these same men decided to take revenge by plundering vessels, sometimes even of their own countrymen.
The real history would make for a terrific film – one more closely aligned with actual events. Yet, The Buccaneers is still a good film – if you can make it past the first few scenes. It makes you wonder what the Quinn cut looked like.
This is really a movie that has everything going for it but nevertheless turns out dull. The story (and the history) are very intriguing, but the execution falls short. Which is to me mostly Quinn’s fault.
A great actor, but I never saw the reason for DeMille turning over directing duties to Quinn just because he was his son-in-law. It’s not like DeMille wouldn’t have another director at his disposal.
Inger Stevens is very beautiful but bland, and Brynner with hair is just…odd. For me Heston stole the show.
Haven’t seen THE BUCCANEER, but the title reminded me of THE PIRATE (1948) — which, contrary to what one might think, is an entirely different kind of film. It stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and if you ‘aargh’ in the mood for a good musical, me hardies, it’s well worth a look-sea!
Well, I enjoyed your review, and my trusty Leonard Maltin guide gives this “starchy swashbuckler” three out of four stars, so maybe I’ll give it a try. 🙂
What an interesting sounding movie — and interesting, too, to learn that DeMille was slated to direct and Anthony Quinn was behind the camera! I think I’ve heard of the original Buccaneer, but not this one. I will have to try to track it down.
Sounds like a really interesting film. I love pirate stories and my current favourite is Our Flag Means Death—it seems to share a few themes with this one!
While I do prefer the 1938 version (it seems to move faster than the remake), I think 1958 is quite good on its right. I enjoyed the cast (Heston’s Old Hickory is great — he had played Jackson in President’s Lady), and it’s always fun-weird to see Brynner with hair! 🙂
Silver Screenings 
Wow, I didn’t know Anthony Quinn directed a movie, that’s very cool, especially a pirate film. Gonna have to look this on up on the IMDb. According to the History Channel special True Caribbean Pirates, the true start of Piracy was after the (at the time) superpowers of Britain, Spain, France, and Holland signed a peace treaty, meaning the at the time fighting for ruler and country Privateers were now considered outlaws should they continue, and thus these same men decided to take revenge by plundering vessels, sometimes even of their own countrymen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The real history would make for a terrific film – one more closely aligned with actual events. Yet, The Buccaneers is still a good film – if you can make it past the first few scenes. It makes you wonder what the Quinn cut looked like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes that’s a pretty rough review for a movie that sounds wildly entertaining! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The one Newsweek gave it, not yours!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I know what you mean. I’d be very interested in your take on this film, given your knowledge of American/military history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is really a movie that has everything going for it but nevertheless turns out dull. The story (and the history) are very intriguing, but the execution falls short. Which is to me mostly Quinn’s fault.
A great actor, but I never saw the reason for DeMille turning over directing duties to Quinn just because he was his son-in-law. It’s not like DeMille wouldn’t have another director at his disposal.
Inger Stevens is very beautiful but bland, and Brynner with hair is just…odd. For me Heston stole the show.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heston is fabulous here, isn’t he? There’s no one else in the scene when he’s on screen. Like you said, he steals the show.
LikeLike
The Buccaneer is a great film, and very underrated. Nice to see such an excellent feature on this film.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really liked this film. I hadn’t even heard of it until my husband – out of the blue – suggested we watch it. It was a real treat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still getting over Brynner with hair…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I know, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haven’t seen THE BUCCANEER, but the title reminded me of THE PIRATE (1948) — which, contrary to what one might think, is an entirely different kind of film. It stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and if you ‘aargh’ in the mood for a good musical, me hardies, it’s well worth a look-sea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I did see The Pirate many years ago, but it’s definitely time for a re-watch. Thanks, matey, for reminding me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think The Buccaneer is somewhat miscast, but the actors try hard and it still comes across as reasonably entertaining.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The actors certainly earned their paychequues here.
LikeLike
Well, I enjoyed your review, and my trusty Leonard Maltin guide gives this “starchy swashbuckler” three out of four stars, so maybe I’ll give it a try. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Starchy swashbuckler”! Ha! I love that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an interesting sounding movie — and interesting, too, to learn that DeMille was slated to direct and Anthony Quinn was behind the camera! I think I’ve heard of the original Buccaneer, but not this one. I will have to try to track it down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I quite liked this film, but you’ve gotta get through the first few scenes which are a little painful. But the payoffs are worth it, I think.
LikeLike
Sounds like a really interesting film. I love pirate stories and my current favourite is Our Flag Means Death—it seems to share a few themes with this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t heard of Our Flag Means Death. Is it a series?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, from New Zealand. It stars Reese Darby and Taika Waititi. It’s very clever and funny:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know I will sound superficial, but how weird is it to see Yul Brynner with hair??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not superficial at all! It is weird to see him with hair, but he also looks handsome.
LikeLike
While I do prefer the 1938 version (it seems to move faster than the remake), I think 1958 is quite good on its right. I enjoyed the cast (Heston’s Old Hickory is great — he had played Jackson in President’s Lady), and it’s always fun-weird to see Brynner with hair! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I like your “fun-weird” description of Yul B with hair. That’s exactly what it is.
I really want to see the 1938 version, but am having trouble tracking it down.
LikeLiked by 1 person