The Pirates of Blood River

1962

1h 27m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

3 Videos

14 Images

Adventure

Action

Drama

A group of ruthless pirates attack a 17th Century Huguenot settlement on the Isle of Devon in search of treasure and will stop at nothing to obtain it.

Directors

John Gilling

Writers

John Hunter(screenplay by)

John Gilling(screenplay by)

Jimmy Sangster(story by)

Stars

Kerwin Mathews

Christopher Lee

Andrew Keir

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Jonathon Standing

Captain LaRoche

Jason Standing

Henry

First Mate Mack

Bosu'n Hench

Bess Standing

Pirate Brocaire

Penal Colony Master

Timothy Blackthorne, the boy

David Lodge

Smith

Jack Stewart

Godfrey Mason

Marie Devereux

Maggie Mason (uncredited)

Emile Stemmler

A villager (uncredited)

Bert Simms

Old Townsman (uncredited)

Denis Shaw

Silver (uncredited)

John Roden

2nd Settler (uncredited)

Ernie Rice

Pirate (uncredited)

Directors

John Gilling

Writers

John Hunter(screenplay by)

John Gilling(screenplay by)

Jimmy Sangster(story by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

I do not count my chickens before I see them, and then I wait until the eggs are hatched out. Pirates of Blood River is directed by John Gilling and written by Jimmy Sangster. It stars Christopher Lee, Kerwin Matthews, Glenn Corbett, Michael Ripper, Andrew Keir, Oliver Reed, Marla Landi and Peter Arne. Music is by Gary Hughes and cinematography by Arthur Grant. When Huguenot Jonathan Standish (Matthews) is found guilty of adultery, he is banished from the village and sent to serve hard labour at the penal colony. However, managing to escape, Jonathan is captured by pirates led by Captain LaRoche (Lee) and forced to lead the pirates back to his home village, where, LaRoche is convinced valuable treasure is hidden. One of Hammer Film Productions pirate ventures, Pirates of Blood River is landlocked but still a whole bunch of piratical fun. Sangster's screenplay dangles interesting carrots that aren't fully unearthed, such as the religious fervour holding the Huguenot village in its grip, and questions of main character's pasts are left unanswered, but cast are very spirited and Gilling, in spite of being brought in late and being a pain in the ass, crafts a fast paced picture of excitement and tension. The small budget and absence of a ship and seafaring malarkey is barely noticed, though this place of plunder doesn't look much like a tropical island. There's good action, especially for the "big" battle at the finale, while it's good to see low cost effects, such as a piranha attack simulated by ripples on the water, actually be very effective for dramatic purpose. Blindfold duelling, too, always a bonus. Plenty of beards, jolly roger speak, bodily abuse and guerrilla warfare, enough in fact to lift it above its obvious flaws. 7/10

John Chard26 Nov, 2019