The Buccaneer

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Overview

Cecil B. DeMille's The Buccaneer stars Fredric March, complete with curly hair, pencil moustache and florid "Sacre Bleu!" French accent, as 18th century pirate Jean Lafitte. Operating out of a "buccaneer's haven" of the coast of New Orleans, Lafitte plunders all passing ships for their wealth, but refuses to attack any vessel flying the American flag. During one seafaring skirmish, he rescues Dutch maiden Gretchen Franziska Gaal from a sunken ship. Gretchen falls madly in love with the dashing Lafitte, but he has...
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Overview

Cecil B. DeMille's The Buccaneer stars Fredric March, complete with curly hair, pencil moustache and florid "Sacre Bleu!" French accent, as 18th century pirate Jean Lafitte. Operating out of a "buccaneer's haven" of the coast of New Orleans, Lafitte plunders all passing ships for their wealth, but refuses to attack any vessel flying the American flag. During one seafaring skirmish, he rescues Dutch maiden Gretchen Franziska Gaal from a sunken ship. Gretchen falls madly in love with the dashing Lafitte, but he has eyes only for aristocratic Louisana belle Annette Margot Grahame. During the War of 1812, Lafitte is offered a pardon by Andrew Jackson Hugh Sothern if he and his pirates will fight on the American side. As good as his word, Lafitte stands shoulder to shoulder with Jackson as they ward off the British at the Battle of New Orleans. During a Victory Ball in his honor, Lafitte is confronted with evidence that he unknowingly caused the death of Annette's younger sister Marie Louise Campbell during a previous act of piracy. The assembled guests are all for hanging Lafitte on the spot, but General Jackson offers the pirate an hour's head start out of New Orleans, provided he never set foot on American soil again. This naturally costs Lafitte the love of Annette; fortunately, Gretchen is awaiting him on board his ship with open arms. From the opening scene in which Dolly Madison Spring Byington rescues the Declaration of Independence during the burning of Washington to the closing clinch between Lafitte and Gretchen, The Buccaneer is one of DeMille's most exhilarating films. It was remade less successfully in 1958 under the direction of Cecil B's son-in-law Anthony Quinn, who played the supporting role of Beluche in the original film.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Swashes buckle up a frenzy in The Buccaneer, a lively bit of Cecil B. DeMille nonsense that is quite entertaining. As with most Hollywood movies based upon real people, Buccaneer plays fast and loose with the truth; however, since the lead character of Jean Lafitte is one around which there is considerable debate as to the basic facts concerning his life, this disregard for the truth is less objectionable than it is in other cases. Buccaneer is a movie in which the script need only be serviceable (which it is), because it's not about the story; it's about the way that DeMille tells the story. Give the director the chance to stage some grand battles, display plenty of pomp and frillery, let the camera ogle and linger over some attractive female specimens (they could hardly be called characters) and allow ample opportunity for derring-do and heroism, and DeMille will take care of the rest. It's hardly his most accomplished work, but it has style -- and specifically his style -- written all over it. In the lead role, Fredric March overplays in the expected manner. He's adept at the heroics that the script calls for, and at home with the thwarted romantic aspects as well. If he would only lose the cartoon French accent, there'd be no complaints about his work. As indicated before, the leading ladies are pretty but bland, which is exactly what is demanded of them. The larger supporting cast, however, is quite good, with Akim Tamiroff especially noteworthy.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/24/2012
  • UPC: 887090035804
  • Original Release: 1938

    • Rating:

  • Source: Olive Films
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Academy Aperture (1.37:1)
  • Presentation: Black & White
  • Sound: Dolby Digital Mono
  • Language: English
  • Time: 2:06:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 14,585

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Fredric March Jean Lafitte
Franziska Gaal Gretchen
Akim Tamiroff Dominique You
Margot Grahame Annette de Remy
Walter Brennan Ezra Peavey
Ian Keith Sen. Crawford
Spring Byington Dolly Madison
Douglas Dumbrille Governor Claiborne
Robert H. Barrat Capt. Brown
Hugh Sothern Andrew Jackson
Beulah Bondi Aunt Charlotte
Anthony Quinn Beluche
Louise Campbell Marie de Remy
Montagu Love Adm. Cockburn
Eric Stanley Gen. Ross
Fred Kohler Gramby
Gilbert Emery Capt. Lockyer
Holmes Herbert Capt. McWilliams
Evelyn Keyes Madeleine
Francis McDonald Camden Blount
Frank Melton Lt. Shreve
Stanley Andrews Collector of Port
Richard Denning Capt. Reid
Lina Basquette Roxanne
Charles Brokaw Vincent Nolte
Davison Clark Colonel Butler
Ethel Clayton
Ellen Drew Woman
Paul Fix Dying pirate
John Hubbard Charles
Eugene Jackson James Smith
Thaddeus Jones John Freeman
Alphonse Martell Major Latour
J.P. McGowan Jailer
Philip Morris Pirate
Barry Norton Villere
John Rogers Mouse
Reginald Sheffield Ship's Surgeon
Hans Steinke Tarsus
Evan Thomas Sir Harry Smith
Charles Trowbridge Daniel Carrol
Luana Walters Suzette
Technical Credits
Cecil B. DeMille Director, Producer
George Antheil Score Composer
Anne Bauchens Editor
Dwight Franklin Costumes/Costume Designer
Harold Lamb Screenwriter
Edwin Justus Mayer Screenwriter
Victor Milner Cinematographer
Boris Morros Musical Direction/Supervision
William Pine Associate Producer
C. Gardner Sullivan Screenwriter
Natalie Visart Costumes/Costume Designer
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Buccaneer
1. Chapter 1 [:12]
2. Opening [12:02]
3. Lafitte's Market [10:08]
4. Sinking of Corinthian [19:07]
5. The British Are Coming [18:04]
6. Betrayed [16:56]
7. Second Pardon [18:06]
8. Brothers in Arms [13:47]
9. Celebration [17:26]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Buccaneer
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