He held the world at sword point!
1953-05-27
N/A
88 min
After staging a mutiny and commandeering his own ship, famed pirate Barbarossa (John Payne) takes hostage a spirited Spanish noblewoman named Alida (Donna Reed), intending to trade her to her fiancé, Capt. Jose Salcedo (Gerald Mohr), for a handsome ransom. But Barbarossa falls in love with Alida, who meanwhile discovers that the roguish swashbuckler is more honorable than her erstwhile betrothed.
This hasn't an original bone in it's body, but I love the genre and for the most part this does ok. John Payne is "Barbarossa" who releases a crew of Spanish main sailors then manages to kidnap the feisty "Countess Alida" (Donna Reed) - the daughter of the Governor - whom he initially wishes to hold for ransom. As we all know by now, though, their initial hostility will soon go the way of the dodo and all will be fine in their hammock. There is plenty of action here; just a smidge of chemistry between the two leads; a healthy rivalry between him and her erstwhile fiancée "Capt. Salcedo" (Gerald Mohr) and Lon Chaney Jr adds a bid of mischief as his helper "Peg Leg". Colourful and cheery with just enough swash, buckle and cannon fire (even if the explosions do manage to happen before the guns are actually fired), it's instantly forgettable but I did quite enjoy it.
