The Pirates of Penzance (1983)

Director:

Wilford Leach

Writers:

William S. Gilbert (operetta)
Wilford Leach (writer)

Release Date:

18 February 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Broadway's smash hit is now the movie!

Plot:

This movie is an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta of the same name, with parts of other of their operettas stirred in...

Plot Keywords:

Family | Gilbert And Sullivan | Orphan | Pirate | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Kline	...	The Pirate King
Angela Lansbury	...	Ruth
Linda Ronstadt	...	Mabel
George Rose	...	Maj. Gen. Stanley
Rex Smith	...	Frederic
Tony Azito	...	Sergeant
David Hatton	...	Samuel
Louise Gold	...	Edith
Teresa Codling	...	Kate
Zoot Money	...	Pirate (as G.B. Zoot Money)
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Daughter
Peppi Borza	...	Policeman
Preston Lockwood	...	Orchestra conductor
Romolo Bruni	...	Pinafore captain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mohamed Aazzi	...	Pirate
Anthony Arundell	...	Pirate
John Asquith	...	Pirate
Tim Bentinck	...	Pirate
John Bett	...	Pinafore company
Lennie Byrne	...	Pinafore company
Jo Cameron Brown	...	Pinafore company
Nicolas Chagrin	...	Policeman
Frankie Cull	...	Policeman
Ross Davidson	...	Pirate
Zulema Dene	...	Pinafore company
Marta Eitler	...	Pinafore company
Carole Forbes	...	Pinafore company
Mike Grady	...	Pirate
David Hampshire	...	Policeman
Stephen Hanan	...	Samuel (voice)
Leni Harper	...	Daughter
Phillip Harrison	...	Policeman
Jack Honeyborne	...	Pinafore company
Simon Howe	...	Pirate
Alix Korey	...	Edith (singing) (voice) (as Alexandra Korey)
Maurice Lane	...	Policeman
Carol MacReady	...	Pinafore company
Jerry Manley	...	Policeman
Brian Markham	...	Pinafore company
Neil McCaul	...	Policeman
Clare McIntyre	...	Daughter
Tony Millan	...	Pirate
Valerie Minifie	...	Pinafore Company
Rhys Nelson	...	Policeman
Garry Noakes	...	Policeman
Louise Papillon	...	Daughter
Andrew Paul	...	Pirate
Chris Power	...	Policeman
Ken Leigh Rogers	...	Pirate
Mohamed Serhani	...	Pirate
Marcie Shaw	...	Kate (voice)
Linda Spurrier	...	Pinafore company
Ursula Stedman	...	Pinafore company
Mike Walling	...	Pirate
Kenny Warwick	...	Policeman
Nancy Wood	...	Daughter

Also Known As:

The Slave of Duty (UK) (subtitle)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:G | Australia:G | UK:U

Company:

Burrill Productions

Trivia:

Estelle Parsons was the only member of the six-person principal cast (Kline, Smith, Rondstadt, Azito, Rose, Parsons) not to appear in the film. She was replaced with Angela Lansbury for Ruth

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The lip-synching is often off (or ceases altogether), especially in choral numbers like "When the Foeman Bares His Steel".

Quotes:

Major General Stanley: Frederic here! Oh joy oh rapture! Summon your men and effect their capture
Mabel: Frederic save us!
Frederic: Beautiful Mabel, I would if I could but I am not able.

Movie Connections:

Version of Piraten, Die (1968) (TV)

Magical...simply magical

Ah, Gilbert & Sullivan, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! This movie is pure fantastical enjoyment. The cast is an absolute joy, especially Kevin Kline as the Pirate King. Kline is truly one of the most over-looked and under-appreciated actors of our time. His ability to convey his characters through body language, facial expression, and voice is unparalleled. He is one of my favourite actors, and he plays the Pirate King to the hilt -- what a lark!

The vocal talent in this film adaptation of the stage play is phenomenal! I have never heard a more beautiful, powerful, yet sensitive male voice as Rex Smith's, and Linda Ronstadt is, of course, pretty as a picture as Mabel. Angela Lansbury may not have as fabulous a voice as the rest of the cast, but her characterization of Ruth more than makes up for it. Tony Azito absolutely cracks me up as the Chief of Police, those "undaunted men in blue" make me laugh every time.

The one person that everyone seems to forget, however, is the one whose performance I enjoyed even more than Kline's -- and that's saying something. George Rose as the Major-General is perfect, and I never laughed so hard at an individual character as I did when he was tiptoeing through the tulips with the pirates in close pursuit! What a hoot!

This movie is truly a classic, and it's a shame that it's been so overlooked. I finally managed to tape it off the TV one night, since I've never managed to find it on video (other than for rent), and I've watched it so many times, I may have to re-tape it soon. All of the subtle (and not-so-subtle) G&S jokes are a true joy, and the music is pure magic. If you love musicals, you HAVE to see this movie!!