Line #3 Film/TheCrimsonPirate


1	[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_crimson_pirate.jpeg]]
2
3	->''"Remember, in a pirate ship, in pirate waters, in a pirate world, ask no questions. Believe only what you see''. ''({{Beat}})'' ''No, believe half of what you see."''
4	-->-- '''Captain Vallo''', aka '''The Crimson Pirate'''
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6	''The Crimson Pirate'' is a 1952 adventure film directed by Creator/RobertSiodmak and starring Creator/BurtLancaster.
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8	Captain Vallo (Lancaster), [[RedBaron known as]] "[[TitleDrop the Crimson]] {{Pirate}}", is the scourge of the Caribbean seas in the late 18th century. He and his men end up capturing Baron José Gruda (Leslie Bradley), a Spanish lord who's come to the islands to crush a rebellion led by a figure known as El Libre (Frederick Leister). Vallo gets the idea of selling the guns and gun powder on the ship to El Libre, and then sell him out for twice the price to the Baron. Except things don't quite go as planned, not least of which because Vallo ends up falling in love with El Libre's daughter Consuelo (Eva Bartok).
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10	One of the best adventure and {{Swashbuckler}} movies of TheFifties -- and one that runs almost entirely on RuleOfCool and RuleOfFunny -- the film also marked the third and final collaboration between Lancaster and Siodmak, who had a falling-out during the film, but it marks a high point in both of their careers.
11	----
12	!!This film contains examples of:
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14	* AnachronismStew: Most of the inventions Professor Prudence comes up with, particularly nitroglycerin, hadn't even been invented yet. Doesn't matter, because the movie runs on RuleOfCool.
15	* ArrangedMarriage: Consuelo near the end to the corrupt governor, until [[BigDamnHeroes Vallo shows up to save the day]].
16	* AntagonisticGovernor: Bordering on TheCaligula. Baron Gruda supposedly takes authority from a monarchy, but enjoys complete freedom to satisfy his greedy heart regardless - which he uses to do things like steal grain from the citizens to celebrate himself, and kill ''anyone'' for the slightest of reasons. In one particularly grim example, when a crowd of people reads one of his oppressive proclamations, and one tries to tear it down, he has that person killed on the spot for defacing property, and ''the entire crowd'' shot at for being "accomplices."
17	* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Humble Bellows. He even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades it]] at one point, saying it's a pirate's duty.
18	* CigarChomper: Ojo, even when he's disguised as a nobleman or in drag.
19	* CouldntFindALighter: In the climax, Ojo uses the flamethrower cart to light his cigar.
20	* DisguisedInDrag: Vallo, Ojo and Professor Prudence when they're sneaking into the wedding; except Vallo has to remind Ojo to cover his beard with flowers.
21	* HardWorkMontage: Vallo helping the rebels build Professor Prudence's inventions.
22	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Humble Bellows stays on Vallo's boat to make a diversion. He likely dies when Gruda's ship fires a broadside, which destroys Vallo's ship.]]
23	* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Throughout the movie (but, then again, RuleOfFunny).
24	* MeaningfulName: Pr. Prudence. "Prudence" means "caution" in French. He is afraid when Vallo and Ojo manipulate the nitroglycerin.
25	* MrFanservice: Vallo (Burt Lancaster), of course. The film even starts with a ShirtlessScene of him.
26	* NoCommunitiesWereHarmed: although the flag of Castile and Leon [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/cb/57/6bcb5767351ac698c9f47f725dd4d3f1.jpg]] and the many Spanish names, both real (''Consuelo'') and fake (''José Gruda''), indicate that "San Pero y Cobra" are Spanish possessions, this is never stated outright.
27	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: "El Libre's name is never specified.
28	* RebelLeader: El Libre leads a rebellion against Gruda.
29	* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Humble Bellows betrayed Vallo, and dies in a HeroicSacrifice that allows the pirates to win against Gruda.]]
30	* SexFaceTurn: A rare male version, with Vallo changing his mind about what to do with El Libre when he falls in love with Consuelo.
31	* SlippingAMickey: Baron Gruda does this to the crew so he can double-cross them.
32	* TheSpeechless: Ojo, in order to disguise Nick Cravat's thick Bronx accent.
33	* TapOnTheHead: One of El Libre's men knocks out both Vallo and Ojo by hitting them over the head with a barrel, which in real life would probably cause serious brain damage (but then again, RuleOfFunny).
34	* UndyingLoyalty: Ojo stays with Vallo no matter the circumstances.
35	* WalkDontSwim: Vallo, Ojo and Prudence use the capsized skiff as an improvised submarine and make their way to a shore by walking on the seabed, while making sure to spare as much oxygen as they can.
36	* WalkThePlank: Humble Bellows wants to make whoever they take prisoner do this.

Context Film / TheCrimsonPirate