Saturday, June 2, 2012

The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964), Don Sharp.

Christopher Lee as Captain Robeles, soldier of fortune, shooting one of King Philip's men.

The Devil-Ship Pirates has a great premise:  as the Spanish Armada's strength weakens in its attack on England, a Spanish ship washes up on England's shores in battered condition.  To save their skins and buy time to repair the ship the Spanish lie to the inhabitants of the little coastal village, telling them Spain has triumphed and that they are obligated to feed and house the Spanish and rebuild their ship.  This little scenario, dreamed up by Hammer writer Jimmy Sangster, provides enough tension and action to propel the cast through the film's 86 minutes.  As Christopher Lee stalks into the village with his misfit crew (all slathered in brown face paint, a particularly uninspired decision by wardrobe) the village quickly divides itself into camps:  those who wish to please their new masters at any cost (village squire), those who will do anything to avoid a violent confrontation (village pastor) and the rest of the folks who remain skeptical of the Spaniards' message. 

Ernest Clark as Sir Basil Smeeton (with feathered hat), the village turncoat. I particularly like the little kid in the red fez, who, in a bid to get into the shot leans against child actor Michael Newport who actually has a few lines. Nicely done, anonymous extra.

Although the costumes, sets and props all look as though they were borrowed from the local high-school drama club Hammer Films did spring for a full-scale model of a ship which was plunked into a boggy creek for the whole shoot.  This allows for some good cannon action but also becomes a concrete reminder that the pirates are stranded and vulnerable.  Christopher Lee is acceptable if a bit monotone as Captain Robeles but the red tights he wears certainly emphasize his stork-like legs as he leaps about in sword-fighting scenes.  Not a bad effort for a cheapie.

Suzan Farmer, as Angela Smeeton, has decided to join the resistance.

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