''Double Crossbones'' is a 1951 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term ori ...

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, a ...

distributed by Universal International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Charles Barton, and stars

Donald O'Connor Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. His best ...

and

Helena Carter Helena Carter (born Helen Jean Ruckert; August 24, 1923 – January 11, 2000) was an American film actress in the 1940s and 1950s who is best known for her work in the film '' Invaders from Mars'' as Dr. Patricia Blake. From 1947 to 1953 she ...

. It was shot in

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films running through a special ...

and was released on January 22. The story is of shopkeeper apprentice Davey Crandall becoming a pirate after being accused falsely of being involved of selling stolen goods.

Plot

In the late 1700s, Charleston, South Carolina, is a haven for pirates, who sell their plunder there. One day, Davey Crandall (

) and his friend and coworker, Tom Botts ( Will Geer), see the ship ''Liverpool Queen'' enter the harbor. As soon as the cargo is unloaded and transferred to the shelves of Davey's employer, cranky shopkeeper Caleb Nicholas (

Morgan Farley Francis Morgan Farley (October 3, 1898 – October 11, 1988) was an American actor on the stage and in films and television. Career His theatrical career began in 1918 in the stage adaptation of Booth Tarkington's '' Seventeen''. He recre ...

), Charleston territorial governor Gerald Elden ( John Emery) brings his ward, Lady Sylvia Copeland (

), and British aristocrats Lord and Lady Montrose to view the new wares. While Sylvia and Davey flirt innocently, Lord Montrose recognizes a pin stolen from an English friend amid the booty. Although the governor is secretly in partnership with Caleb to

fence A fence is a structure that encloses an area, typically outdoors, and is usually constructed from posts that are connected by boards, wire, rails or netting. A fence differs from a wall in not having a solid foundation along its whole length. ...

pirate plunder, he feigns shock and orders Caleb, Davey, and Tom to be arrested. Davey and Tom manage to escape, but Caleb is brought before Elden, who shoots him to keep him from talking. Then, he surprises Sylvia by proposing to her. When she spurns him, he orders her to accompany him to Virginia and, realizing that she loves Davey, vows to kill him. That night, Davey and Tom buy passage from Captain "Bloodthirsty" Ben Wickett (

Charles McGraw Charles McGraw (born Charles Crisp Butters; May 10, 1914 – July 29, 1980) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned more than three decades. Early life McGraw was born to Beatrice (née Crisp) and Francis P. B ...

) on his ship, the ''Defiance''. Wickett takes their money, but plans to throw them overboard. At sea the next morning, Wickett attempts to get the two drunk, but Davey, who is allergic to alcohol, refuses. When they are shown the plank they are to walk, Davey grabs a bottle and drinks, causing his face to break out in hives. He convinces the pirates that he has the dreaded pox, and they abandon ship in a panic. Davey and Tom sail on alone until they spot another ship, the ''Southern Gypsy''. Not realizing that the ''Defiance'' sports a pirate flag, they are puzzled when the ''Southern Gypsy'' flees. They fire a cannon as a signal for help, only to dismast the other ship. Through a spyglass, Davey sees Elden on-deck, so Tom suggests he disguise himself as pirate "Bloodthirsty Dave." After he and Tom board the ''Southern Gypsy'', Elden recognizes Davey, but Tom insists that being a shopkeeper's apprentice was merely a ruse and that Davey actually is a pirate captain. Sylvia appears and hears Davey's "threats" if his demands are not met. She denounces him and informs Elden that she will marry him. There is no cargo aboard, only prisoners bound for a

debtors' prison A debtors' prison is a prison for people who are unable to pay debt. Until the mid-19th century, debtors' prisons (usually similar in form to locked workhouses) were a common way to deal with unpaid debt in Western Europe Western Europe is ...

, so Dave takes them and lets the ''Southern Gypsy'' go. Tom says there is only one safe place for them, the pirate stronghold of Tortuga. The freed prisoners agree, so Davey has no choice but to lead them there. On Tortuga, Davey is brought before a pirate tribunal, which includes

Henry Morgan Sir Henry Morgan ( cy, Harri Morgan; – 25 August 1688) was a privateer, plantation owner, and, later, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. From his base in Port Royal, Jamaica, he raided settlements and shipping on the Spanish Main, becoming ...

(

Robert Barrat Robert Harriot Barrat (July 10, 1891 – January 7, 1970) was an American stage, motion picture, and television character actor. Early years Barratt was born on July 10, 1891, in New York City and was educated in the public schools there. He ...

Captain Kidd William Kidd, also known as Captain William Kidd or simply Captain Kidd ( – 23 May 1701), was a Scottish sea captain who was commissioned as a privateer and had experience as a pirate. He was tried and executed in London in 1701 for murder a ...

(

Alan Napier Alan William Napier-Clavering (7 January 1903 – 8 August 1988), better known as Alan Napier, was an English actor. After a decade in West End theatre, he had a long film career in Britain and later, in Hollywood. Napier is best remembered for ...

), Mistress Ann Bonney ( Hope Emerson), Captain Long Ben Avery (

Glenn Strange George Glenn Strange (August 16, 1899 – September 20, 1973) was an American actor who mostly appeared in Western (genre), Western films and was billed as Glenn Strange. He is best remembered for playing Frankenstein's monster in three ...

), and

Blackbeard Edward Teach (alternatively spelled Edward Thatch, – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain's North American colonies. Little is known about ...

(Louis Bacigalupi). They test Davey's alleged killer instinct by pitting him against Blackbeard. Davey wins the fight and is accepted into the Pirate Brotherhood. He learns that they are funded by a mysterious American, whose messenger Davey quickly recognizes as Elden's valet. He begs the pirates to help him attack Elden in Charleston, but they refuse and he is forced to go alone. Back in Charleston, Davey disguises himself as a British aristocrat in order to infiltrate a costume ball Elden is holding for Sylvia. He spirits Sylvia away and, by describing the wedding gown that Elden bought from a pirate, convinces her that her fiancé is corrupt. However, Elden recognizes Davey and jails him. That night, Sylvia sneaks out to the ''Defiance'' and plans with Tom to paint a miniature armada on the lens of a telescope, which will trick Elden into thinking he is being attacked by pirates. The trick works, and Elden signs a confession. Davey then races to Lord Montrose's ship, but Elden gets there first and shoots him. Afterwards, Tom and Davey's crew arrive and a sword fight breaks out. Just as Davey chases Elden up a sail, the Pirate Brotherhood arrives to help. Panicking, Elden falls into the ocean. In Tortuga months later, Davey is married to Sylvia and is revered as a powerful pirate. He arranges for a pardon for his fellow pirates, but news of a nearby ship loaded with gold quickly ends their reformation.

Cast

as Davey Crandall *

as Lady Sylvia Copeland * Will Geer as Tom Botts * John Emery as Governor Gerald Elden * Stanley Logan as Lord Montrose *

Kathryn Givney Kathryn Givney (October 27, 1896 – March 16, 1978) was an American actress on stage and in films. Biography In 1928, Givney was a member of the S. E. Cochran Repertory Company. In 1930, she appeared in ''Stepping Sisters'' at the Hollywood Pl ...

as Lady Montrose * Hayden Rorke as Malcolm Giles *

as Caleb Nicholas *

as Captain Ben Avery * Louis Bacigalupi as

* Hope Emerson as Mistress Ann Bonney *

as Captain "Bloodthirsty" Ben Wickett

Production

The film was originally known as ''Half a Buccaneer'' and was announced in April 1949 with Donald O'Connor attached from the beginning. Oscar Brodney wrote the script. The title was changed in August by which time Helena Carter had been assigned to co star. Filming started in late August. Some of the shots involving the ships at sea were taken from the Universal International 1950 film '' Buccaneer's Girl''. O'Connor dances and sings a song in the film, "Percy Had a Heart", during the tavern scene and performs throughout the entire song. Famous Universal-International actor Jeff Chandler narrates the very opening of the film, talking about the history of the world's most vicious pirates and introducing viewers to O'Connor's character.

Reception

In an interview in 2003, O'Connor later described the film as "one of the worst pictures ever made", as a part of a backhand comment when he was mentioning him running up a wall. Despite this comment from the star himself, many viewers enjoy the film. ''Filmink'' called the film "very underwhelming" and pointed out it was the one time Helena Carter appeared opposite a male co-star who was younger than her.

Home media availability

Universal released this film on DVD on May 8, 2007 as part of the ''Pirates of the Golden Age'' Movie Collection, a 2-disc set featuring three other films ('' Against All Flags'', ''Buccaneer's Girl'', and '' Yankee Buccaneer''). This film was re-released on August 28, 2014 as a stand-alone DVD as part of the ''Universal Vault Series''.

References

External links

* * *{{AllMovie title, 89831
Double Crossbones
at Letterbox DVD
Review of film
at Variety 1951 films Pirate films American swashbuckler films 1950s adventure comedy films 1950s historical adventure films 1950s historical comedy films American adventure comedy films American historical adventure films American historical comedy films Films set in Charleston, South Carolina Universal Pictures films Films scored by Frank Skinner 1951 comedy films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Charles Barton 1950s American films