The Pirate (1948)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Albert Hackett (screenplay) and
Frances Goodrich (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 June 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The great MGM musical romance

Plot:

A girl is engaged to the local richman, but meanwhile she has dreams about the legendary pirate Macoco...

Plot Keywords:

Pirate | Tightrope | Caribbean | Clown | Slapstick

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Judy Garland	...	Manuela
Gene Kelly	...	Serafin
Walter Slezak	...	Don Pedro Vargas
Gladys Cooper	...	Aunt Inez
Reginald Owen	...	The Advocate
George Zucco	...	The Viceroy
Fayard Nicholas	...	Specialty Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)
Harold Nicholas	...	Specialty Dancer (as The Nicholas Brothers)
Lester Allen	...	Uncle Capucho
Lola Deem	...	Isabella
Ellen Ross	...	Mercedes
Mary Jo Ellis	...	Lizarda
Jean Dean	...	Casilda
Marion Murray	...	Eloise
Ben Lessy	...	Gumbo
Jerry Bergen	...	Bolo
Val Setz	...	Juggler
The Gaudsmith Brothers	...	Poodle Act (scenes deleted) (as Gaudsmith Brothers)
Cully Richards	...	Trillo
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lola Albright	...	One of Manuela's Friends (uncredited)
Marie Allison	...	'Nina' showgirl (uncredited)
Anne Beck	...	'Nina' showgirl (uncredited)
Oliver Blake	...	Baker (uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers	...	Artist (uncredited)
George Chandler	...	Carriage driver (uncredited)
Bruce Cowling	...	Guard (uncredited)
Willa Pearl Curtis	...	Black maid (uncredited)
Peter Cusanelli	...	Jovial civilian (uncredited)
William Edmunds	...	Town clerk (uncredited)
George Emerson	...	Boatswain with parrot (uncredited)
Fred Gilman	...	Coachman (uncredited)
Suzette Harbin	...	Black maid (uncredited)
Jane Howard	...	'Nina' showgirl (uncredited)
Paul Maxey	...	Hotel manager (uncredited)
Jill Meredith	...	'Nina' showgirl (uncredited)
Aurora Navarro	...	Duenna (uncredited)
Jimmy Page	...	Black barber (uncredited)
Sharon Saunders	...	'Nina' showgirl (uncredited)
Dick Simmons	...	Captain (uncredited)
Dee Turnell	...	Louisa ('Nina' showgirl) (uncredited)
Irene Vernon	...	'Nina' showgirl (uncredited)
O.Z. Whitehead	...	Hurtada (uncredited)
Marie Windsor	...	Madame Lucia (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincente Minnelli

Writing credits
Albert Hackett		(screenplay) and
Frances Goodrich		(screenplay)
S.N. Behrman		(play)
Joseph Than		uncredited

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer

Original Music by
Lennie Hayton		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harry Stradling Sr.		(as Harry Stradling)

Film Editing by
Blanche Sewell

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Tom Keogh

Makeup Department
Jack Dawn	....	makeup artist
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hairstyle designer

Production Management
Al Shenberg	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Arthur Krams	....	associate set decorator
Doris Lee	....	paintings

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
Norwood A. Fenton	....	sound (uncredited)
Van Allen James	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Russell Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Borland	....	grip (uncredited)
Jerry Hester	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Sam Leavitt	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irene	....	costume supervisor
Barbara Karinska	....	costume execution (as Karinska)

Music Department
Lennie Hayton	....	musical director

Other crew
Robert Alton	....	dance director
Henri Jaffa	....	associate technicolor color director
Natalie Kalmus	....	technicolor color director
Gene Kelly	....	dance director
Conrad Salinger	....	instrumental arrangements
Leslie H. Martinson	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1948) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• The Playwrights' Company  original stage production (as The Playwrights Producing Company)
• Theatre Guild  original stage production (as The Theatre Guild)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12034) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Two songs written by Cole Porter for Judy Garland were revised in the release print. Judy's first rendition of "Love of My Life," which included the verse, was not used. However, on the MGM Records soundtrack album, listeners heard Miss Garland's initial prerecording. Also dropped from the movie was the original "Mack the Black," intended as the curtain-raiser. In the revamped version transferred to midway, replacing the feverish Garland-Gene Kelly "Voodoo" number, Cole Porter's somewhat violent "Mack the Black" lyrics, including a reference to killing babies, were toned down. A portion of the original "Mack the Black" footage with Judy can be viewed in the trailer. The three discarded prerecordings, along with the two final takes heard in the picture, are included on Rhino's soundtrack CD.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Serafin is dancing to "Nina" one of the dancer's loses her flower in her hair. It is visible on the gazebo floor in one shot, then it's gone and reappears in her hair in a later part of the dance routine.

Quotes:

Manuela: I wish you'd stop circling me. It's like talking to a top!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "MGM: When the Lion Roars" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Nina

A pirate's treasure of a film...highly enjoyable...

Vincent Minnelli makes sumptuous use of color, costumes and settings in this lush MGM musical teaming Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in their prime. The score may not be one of Cole Porter's best (in fact, Garland expressed her open dislike to the composer for some of her numbers), but just watch her do magic with 'Mack the Black' and 'Love of My Life'. To be honest, it's really Kelly's movie. Garland was having problems at the time and Minnelli decided to give him ample opportunity with additional dance numbers excluding Garland. However, their teaming in 'Be A Clown' is a joyous one, each trying to upstage the other in full exhuberance. And the Nicholas Brothers are worth the price of admission for their climactic routine with Kelly. Gladys Cooper, as always, is a joy in a supporting role as Garland's stern aunt--but it's the comic flair of Kelly that distinguishes much of the fun. Walter Slezak has fun too with his role as the mayor who just happens to be the real Mack the Black. A colorful treat with some of the best color photography ever! Some of the fights between Kelly and Garland get a little strident at times, but overall it's a real gem with Judy showing that her comic timing with a line was just about perfect.