Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9711 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-02-08
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Running time: 101 minutes

From Amazon.com
Practically a nonstop brawl between pirates and anybody who gets in their path, this lighthearted, high-energy 1976 movie set in 18th century Jamaica is short on an actual story but thick with stunts and swordplay. Robert Shaw stars as the bawdy, swaggering pirate Red Nel Lynch, whose lusty crew of thieves comes to the aid of Lynch's right-hand man and close pal (James Earl Jones), then helps a beleaguered noblewoman (Genevieve Bujold) whose father and property have been seized by a local tyrant (Peter Boyle). Plot details are pretty much relegated to filling in the spaces between rollicking scenes of flying fists and gleaming blades, and a sort-of love story between Shaw and Bujold never gets the chance to go anywhere for all the orchestrated scuffling. Boyle's performance as a Basil Rathbone-style villain has got to be the least persuasive role of his career, but there are compensations, particularly Bujold's feisty turn as the heroine and a kooky scene in which Shaw and Jones amuse each other by trading dirty limericks. Directed by James Goldstone (Winning). The DVD release includes production notes, cast and filmmakers' bios, a theatrical trailer, and Web links. --Tom Keogh

On the DVD
ccProduction notes
Cast & filmmakers' bios
Featurette
Theatrical trailer
Web links

Synopsis
A latter-day attempt to update the swordplay success of Errol Flynn movies, this film is part burlesque, part homage to old-fashioned pirate films. James Earl Jones and Robert Shaw play Nick Debrett and Ned Lynch, two pirates who save a noblewoman, Jane Barnet (Genevi�ve Bujold), and take her to Jamaica. They find that their friends have been taken captive by a ruthless dictator -- Peter Boyle plays the foppish villain Lord Durant with an over-the-top swagger. Debrett and Lynch set out to rescue their friends and overthrow the perverted tyrant. Beau Bridges plays Major Folly, a fancy-dressing Scarlet Pimpernel sort. A young Anjelica Huston has a minor part as a nameless woman. There is plenty of swordplay, blood, slapstick, and cleavage, all directed by James Goldstone in a frenzied fashion. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

If you like "Pirates of the Carribean", you'll love this!
Caught this film on HBO in the late 70s and have loved it ever since. The tree of the plot is your typical pirate script, but it is leafed out by twists of humor and wit - subtle and otherwise, excellent acting and wonderful photography. There's even a bit of mysterious kinkiness, mostly focused on a small part very well done by a pre-Oscar Anjelica Huston.
Robert Shaw is handsome, sexy and funny as "Red" Ned Lynch. Genevieve Bujold is marvellous as a beautiful, gutsy, spirited woman who, though she needs Lynch's help, is every bit a match for him. Other memorable contributions are made by James Earl Jones (sexy and fit) and Geoffrey Holder (notable as the voodoo Baron in Live and Let Die and as long-time pitchman on the 7-Up ads). The booming baritone voices of these two could rattle windows. Beau Bridges, Peter Boyle, Kip Niven and the aforementioned Huston ably fill out a high-quality cast.
If you want a movie that will entertain, amuse and delight both men and women and isn't the 'same old same old', this is definitely a pirate's "treasure."

Grandest Pirate Movie Ever!
I saw this movie when it first came out way back in the day. I was 7. This one stuck with me. I remember by little brother and I re-enacting the scenes in the movie, especially when we got those plastic souveneir pirate swords from the Thanksgiving parade. I was thrilled to find this on DVD. I snapped it up right away and shared it with my family. My sons loved it as much as I did. It was great seeing it again, and being older, I understood the plot better. I am a big fan of pirate movies. This is hands down my favorite. Get this one!

A Longtime Favorite
The first time I saw Swashbuckler was when it was released in the theaters. I was 12 years old and fascinated with the lives and exciting journeys of these pirates. Robert Shaw was exceedingly handsome as Captain Ned Lynch with his arrogant swagger and Irish brogue. The rest of the cast was every bit as wonderful and I went back to see the movie three times. I saw the movie again on TV about 10 years later but was never able to find it until last year on the Internet. This movie has it all - action, suspense and a lot of well-placed, dry witted comedy. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for some fun and old-fashioned adventure! I'm also going to purchase the soundtrack to listen to while sailing on my own boat!