With swashbucklers currently all the rage on British TV the native cinema was sure to follow.
John Gilling anticipated the sort of hokum he'd soon make for Hammer Films with this rollicking nonsense set in Cornwall; which had the advantage over the Hollywood model of having the use of authentic British locations.
To that end he staged a turf war with highwaymen v. Smugglers in the style of cavaliers v. Roundheads; the former led by William Franklyn - looking very smooth in a tricorn hat - whose bit on the side was a busty barmaid played by Liz Fraser. (Peter Cushing as a thin-lipped local magistrate with a penchant for flogging and transportation inevitably - SLIGHT SPOILER COMING - proves to be in league with the pirates.)
John Gilling anticipated the sort of hokum he'd soon make for Hammer Films with this rollicking nonsense set in Cornwall; which had the advantage over the Hollywood model of having the use of authentic British locations.
To that end he staged a turf war with highwaymen v. Smugglers in the style of cavaliers v. Roundheads; the former led by William Franklyn - looking very smooth in a tricorn hat - whose bit on the side was a busty barmaid played by Liz Fraser. (Peter Cushing as a thin-lipped local magistrate with a penchant for flogging and transportation inevitably - SLIGHT SPOILER COMING - proves to be in league with the pirates.)