Clevercell Very disappointing...

Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

st-shot Raoul Walsh's direction is sloppy in this technicolor high seas adventure that never gets much wind in its sail outside of the outlandishly wonderful scenery chewing performance by Robert Newton as the title character. Newton who would go on to play more benign pirates (Long John Silver) is deliciously duplicitous from start to finish as he attempts to outfox all around him including his crew who hate but fear him more.Director Walsh who helmed some excellent adventure dramas in the past seems to settle for anything mixing haphazard seriousness with mawkish romance and some dark comedy that Newton drives home with gusto. There's a decent sea battle, Linda Darnel displaying cleavage and Irene "Granny" Ryan scoring a few laughs as her lady in waiting but the film remains a burlesque most of the way with Newton thankfully center stage going over the top throughout before receiving a fitting exit befitting the most dastardly of screen pirates.

HotToastyRag If you thought Robert Newton had created the original pirate in 1950's Treasure Island, technically you're right. But you should watch Blackbeard, the Pirate to see his pirate character on steroids. If every ten sentences in Treasure Island, he added an "Aarr!", in Blackbeard, the Pirate, his imitable, incomparable sound was included every ten words. As the famous villainous Blackbeard, Bobbie cackles, sings, and is even more disheveled than he was as Long John Silver.If you're familiar with pirate legends, you probably know Blackbeard had a rivalry with Captain Morgan, and in this film, a woman comes between them. Linda Darnell-who has an irrational lack of fear of the lusty, crusty pirates and continually prances around in very revealing dresses-comes aboard, but she's hiding treasure in her luggage that both famous pirates are after. She falls in love with Keith Andes, but their romance isn't the interesting part of the movie. Robert Newton captures everyone's attention, and he manages to turn the despicable villain into an incredibly likable, jolly character. His cohorts, led by William Bendix and Skelton Knaggs, who bears an eerie resemblance to Frances McDormand, are much more wicked than he is.While there's no topping Treasure Island, I really enjoyed Blackbeard, the Pirate. Bobbie Newton is a fantastically energetic and magnetic actor, and he was constantly making me laugh without really trying to. While I didn't care for the ending, I'm glad I got to see one of his most famous roles.

JoeytheBrit Arrr! Ha-Harrr, me buckos, that there brigand Robert Newton be playing the likes of Blackbeard with red ribbons in his fuzzy black beard and a liking for sturdy legs of ham, so he does. Shame he couldn't find himself a more decent plot than the one he's given here. Even that ever-reliable one-eyed old dog Raoul Walsh, director of so many classic Warner pics of the thirties and forties, can't salvage more than a few decent action scenes from a hodge-podge of comedy, romance and adventure that never really catches the wind in its sails.That rascally Blackbeard is out to shiver the timbers of that old foe of his, Harry Morgan and to salvage for himself a chest of treasure his mateys believe is buried with a dead man but which he's secretly buried beneath some polystyrene rocks. Handsome (but bland) Keith Andes is after Blackbeard's hide and manages to sneak himself aboard the crusty old mariner's ship. Despite his blandness he also manages to undress the luscious Linda Darnell not once but twice – no mean feat for any landlubber, ah-harr! Newton looks like he's having the time of his life, ah-harring for all he's worth, and he alternates between straight and humorous, leaning mostly toward the comical despite the essentially serious nature of the story. He comes to a sticky end – blast those scurvy mutineers! – and suffers a fate that was obviously nicked and expanded upon by the makers of eighties horror compendium Creepshow, curse their eyes.This is the type of film you'd have loved as a kid but, as an adult, its shortcomings too often interfere with your enjoyment. Arrrr.

lost-in-limbo Within the 17th century a reformed pirate known as Sir Henry Morgan is given the role of governor in Jamaica and the job of ridding the ocean of Blackbeard the pirate. A young surgeon Edward Maynard believes Morgan is still a pirate and takes the assignment of becoming part of Blackbeard's crew to get his large award and hopefully take care of these two men. Blackbeard manages to kidnap Morgan's adopted daughter Edwina Mansfield, and now Maynard has his hands full if he wants to complete his mission.Arrrrrrr. I could throw around some pirate lingo, but it looks like everyone was having a jolly good time on this colourfully swashbuckling pirate romp from director Raoul Welsh. This one feels like its parodying the whole set-up and including the clichés we've come to associate with pirates. We get double-crossings, greedy intentions, gallant sword fights, a bathing beauty, treasure chests and rum to name a few. Alan LeMay's enthusiastically crackling script (off DeVallen Scott's story) covers it all and offers some clever surprises with plenty of tooting drama to boot. The romance sub-plot comes off quite stuffy though and a few plot holes do work there way in. Welsh's lively direction makes sure something is always happening and never lets it flag about with focused photography. Scenes are well delivered and vigorously active, despite that it comes across more stagy than one big adventure packed outing. Surprisingly for its time (very tame now) it can be terribly violent and vulgar in its actions and the pirates (good casting I might add) look and act truly scum. The bellowing musical score gets into the spirit and the Technicolor format brings many vibrant flushes to make-shift sets. What's most captivating is Robert Newton's bawdily fiery and over-the-top turn as Blackbeard. His probably the most memorable thing out of this and what lifts it from the average crowd. A true scene stealer, that still leaves his mark when his not even on the screen and very much influential performance for latter pirate flicks. A goofy William Bendix is equally as enjoyable in a broad sense as his first mate. Linda Darnell looks irresistibly magnetic and grand, but is not offered too much. Keith Andes is acceptable, but is very much overshadowed as Edward Maynard. Torin Thatcher, Irene Ryan and Skelton Knaggs give capable support."Blackbeard the Pirate" is far from flawless, but definitely an entertaining foray my matey.