The Crimson Pirate (1952)

(On Cable TV, January 2021) In theory, I’m a good sport for most of the elements that make up The Crimson Pirate: I’m OK with pirate films, partial to tongue-in-cheek adventures, a big fan of swashbucklers, appreciative of Burt Lancaster, and someone who likes 1950s Technicolor Hollywood films quite a bit. Alas, The Crimson Pirate falls flat: It may have been a mood thing, or the circumstances of my viewing, or any other small thing—but I was more bored by the film than entertained by it. I find some explanation in reports that the film was abruptly changed (as in: within a 48-hour rewrite period) from straight-up swashbuckler to something more humorous. I was far more annoyed at the film’s obvious studio sets than for other films. In other words, I’m more willing than usual to blame me than the film for my disappointment—I’ll keep this first review short and try to catch the film again in a few months to see if my reaction is any better.