Review of Last of the Buccaneers

I've always been a sucker for a swashbuckler, and this is one of many standard Saturday Matinée films made to babysit the kiddies while the parents took part of the day off. Paul Henreid was a very fine actor but he always seemed lost in these type of films. Actors like Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, Cornell Wilde, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and even Louis Hayward were much better at this swashbuckling business. Having said that, this is still an entertaining film about the pirate Jean Lafitte and his assistance to Andrew Jackson and the Americans. Once again the swashbuckling hero is pursued by two women who are competing for Henreid's affections ... Belle Summer (Karen Booth), a look alike Dortothy Malone, and a lady pirate named Swallow (Mary Anderson). Obviously, one of them always seems to win while the other one dies. During the plot of the film LaFitte is believed to have sunk an American Ship by another pirate...and he is left to his own devices to either vindicate himself or escape. Once again I was surprised to see some familiar old Western movie sets (possibly Iverson Ranch or Corriganville). I couldn't help but notice in one scene that an old Hollywood trick was employed i.e. a close up of some riders on fake horses with a moving film background behind them. Back in the old days that trick worked...now more sophisticated audiences will pick up on it. Another problem I had with the film was the costumes that the American soldiers were wearing....they looked more like Santa Anna's boys attacking the Alamo. Last but not least was Jack Oakie as much of a non pirate guy as could be singing a song about a pirate from of all places Kentucky. Believe me...I live in Kentucky...and we just don't have any pirates. Go figure. Still I liked this little Columbia gem because of it's color and it's theme, and the fact that it was what it was, a pirate movie. My take on this film is that it would be a good movie for kids that haven't been spoiled by much better films like "The Pirates of the Caribbean", in other words, accept it for what it is.... a "B" Saturday Matinnee swashbuckler.