The Crimson Pirate

Released Sep 27, 1952

1h 44m

Adventure

List

100%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Capt. Vallo (Burt Lancaster), the leader of a roving band of pirates, hijacks a ship filled with expensive cargo. When a crew member (Leslie Bradley) tells him the ship was bound for an island whose inhabitants have risen up against the king, Vallo hatches a scheme to sell guns to the rebels and take their leader in for a reward. But once Vallo and his lieutenant, Ojo (Nick Cravat), are on the island, their plans change when they meet Consuelo (Eva Bartok) and the other resistance fighters.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 01

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent The Crimson Pirate on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Steve D

A lot of fun only for Lancaster.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Fun, action packed acrobatic movie from my childhood. It was still fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/01/22

Full Review

Russ G

Great campy fun demonstrating Lancaster's tremendous range as an actor; here he is doing his best Errol Flynn impersonation in this sea-going send-up of pirate lore taking generous liberties with historical events and even the laws of physics. Tremendously choreographed stunt sequences that must have employed half of Hollywood..or, er, Italy! Miss Bartok is the eye candy but the love interest is secondary to the tongue-in-cheek humor. Lots of action but kept family-friendly; the pirates suffer nary an on-camera scratch. The pace bogs down a bit in the middle but it works up to the big crowd-pleasing finale. The villains are vanquished and our dashing hero gets the girl.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/01/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The best comedy movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I love this movie :-)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There are a few sequences in The Crimson Pirate that are so much fun, because they feel like they were pulled from a silent film. When the pirates are on the run through the streets, hiding from the military I was having a ball. These sequences might have run a little long at times but I didnt care. The other great element reminiscent of silent films was Ojo the Captains righthand man. Nick Cravat was spectacular in the role and turned the charm up a ton. The big question I was left with after watching this film was: Why was Burt Lancaster used as the lead in The Crimson Pirate? He is all wrong for this role. I do not get that roguish feel from him, and his performance does not fit in with the other actors in the film. Im not suggesting he cant act, but I struggled to buy him in this role. Meanwhile some of the other crew members were over-the-top in the other direction. For instance, Torin Thatcher was basically one big exaggerated pirate cliche. The story in The Crimson Pirate was elaborate and unexpected. I never knew quite where it was going, but I couldnt wait for it to get there. It has some good cliffhanger moments that leave you wondering how the heroes will get out of their predicament. I was somewhat surprised they ever got me on the pirates side because they start out so evil, but somehow I was connected with them. If only they had made a couple of different casting decisions this would be a favorite film for me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Robert Siodmak

Director

Burt Lancaster

Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)

Nick Cravat

Ojo

Eva Bartok

Consuelo

Torin Thatcher

Humble Bellows

Christopher Lee

Joseph (attache)

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

94%

87%

The Sea Hawk

80%

38%

Hell and High Water

100%

55%

The World in His Arms

100%

78%

Captain Horatio Hornblower

100%

59%

The Flame and the Arrow

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Jul 8, 2004

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It proudly displays almost every corsair cliché, while Lancaster and his mute henchman Ojo employ plenty of gymnastics and playful forms of comical daredevilry.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 18, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A pirate film to treasure.

Rated: A

Mar 28, 2020

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

An enjoyable burlesque of buccaneer action mellerdrammers. Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat have the time of their lives as a pair of acrobatic sea-devils, and William Alwyn's rollicking musical score offers incidental pleasure.

Oct 21, 2019

Full Review

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Carnival-like 1950s pirate yarn is fun for all.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 15, 2010

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Light-hearted pirate spoof, with brilliant color and unusual science fiction elements.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Capt. Vallo (Burt Lancaster), the leader of a roving band of pirates, hijacks a ship filled with expensive cargo. When a crew member (Leslie Bradley) tells him the ship was bound for an island whose inhabitants have risen up against the king, Vallo hatches a scheme to sell guns to the rebels and take their leader in for a reward. But once Vallo and his lieutenant, Ojo (Nick Cravat), are on the island, their plans change when they meet Consuelo (Eva Bartok) and the other resistance fighters.

Director: Robert Siodmak
Screenwriter: Roland Kibbee
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1952, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

Most Popular at Home Now