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The Crimson Pirate

Play trailer Poster for The Crimson Pirate 1952 1h 44m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Capt. Vallo, the leader of a roving band of pirates, hijacks a ship filled with expensive cargo. When a crew member tells him the ship was bound for an island whose inhabitants have risen up against the king, Vallo hatches a scheme to sell guns to the rebels and take their leader in for a reward. But once Vallo and his lieutenant, Ojo, are on the island, their plans change when they meet Consuelo and the other resistance fighters.
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The Crimson Pirate

Critics Reviews

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 18, 2020
6/10
It proudly displays almost every corsair cliché, while Lancaster and his mute henchman Ojo employ plenty of gymnastics and playful forms of comical daredevilry. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Mar 28, 2020
A
A pirate film to treasure. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Oct 21, 2019
An enjoyable burlesque of buccaneer action mellerdrammers. Burt Lancaster and Nick Cravat have the time of their lives as a pair of acrobatic sea-devils, and William Alwyn's rollicking musical score offers incidental pleasure. Go to Full Review Charles Cassady Common Sense Media Dec 15, 2010
4/5
Carnival-like 1950s pirate yarn is fun for all. Go to Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Jul 6, 2010
Light-hearted pirate spoof, with brilliant color and unusual science fiction elements. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 30, 2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Henry D @Henry_Domke Aug 21, 2026 A silly, dated cartoon that just wasn’t for us. The broad humor and exaggerated action wore thin almost immediately, and we quit after 10 minutes. However, the print was remarkably good, with excellent color and clarity. See more Liam D @Mediawatcher2003 Aug 6, 2025 Robert Siodmak (The Spiral Staircase) delivers an stylish direction to an fun adventure movie with solid action sequences and an charismatic lead in Burt Lancaster (Sorry, Wrong Number) See more Bradford S @RT00636542 May 28, 2025 This may be a perfect pirate movie. Heroic swashbuckling captain, funny and lively first mate, perfect crew...vs...excellent bad guy and his establishment. You will cheer for Captain Vallo and first mate Ojo vs the evil Baron Gruda. Their acrobatics (Burt Lancaster did his own stunts) are amazing. A beautiful love interest, and perhaps the first example of "A Team" gadget building utilizing an eccentric academic. The colors are lush, the setting is beautiful, the sets are amazing and the acting is top notch. If you are a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, this is a must see. If you are a fan of Technicolor, this is a prime example. Plus there's the chance to see Christopher Lee in an early role. See more alan g @agenser Dec 11, 2024 A lot of fun. Burt flexes his muscles literally. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Apr 5, 2024 A lot of fun only for Lancaster. See more Dec 1, 2022 Fun, action packed acrobatic movie from my childhood. It was still fun. See more Read all reviews
The Crimson Pirate

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Siodmak

Director

Burt Lancaster

Capt. Vallo (The Crimson Pirate)

Nick Cravat

Ojo

Eva Bartok

Consuelo

Torin Thatcher

Humble Bellows

Christopher Lee

Joseph (attache)

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The Crimson Pirate

The Crimson Pirate (1952) The Crimson Pirate (1952) The Crimson Pirate (1952) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Capt. Vallo, the leader of a roving band of pirates, hijacks a ship filled with expensive cargo. When a crew member tells him the ship was bound for an island whose inhabitants have risen up against the king, Vallo hatches a scheme to sell guns to the rebels and take their leader in for a reward. But once Vallo and his lieutenant, Ojo, are on the island, their plans change when they meet Consuelo and the other resistance fighters.
Director
Robert Siodmak
Producer
Harold Hecht, Burt Lancaster
Screenwriter
Roland Kibbee
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 1952, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2012
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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