Prince of Pirates ** (1953, John Derek, Barbara Rush, Carla Balenda, Whitfield Connor, Edgar Barrier, Robert Shayne, Harry Lauter, Don C Harvey) – Classic Movie Review 12,027

The 1953 Technicolor film Prince of Pirates stars John Derek as Prince Roland, who leads a revolt against his tyrannical brother, in this passable 16th-century European adventure. Naturally, Derek wins the day and fair maiden Barbara Rush. 

Director Sidney Salkow’s 1953 Columbia Pictures American Technicolor adventure film Prince of Pirates stars John Derek and Barbara Rush.

The handsome young Derek swashes a rather limp buckle as Prince Roland, in this passable 16th-century European adventure as he leads a revolt against his tyrannical brother King Stephan (Whitfield Connor). Naturally, Derek wins the day and fair maiden, Countess Nita Orde (Rush).

The Technicolor photography (by Henry Freulich), speedy pace, short running time (80 minutes) and producer Sam Katzman’s cost-cutting use of jolly stock footage help to make it seem better than it really is, with its predictable, second-hand script (by John O’Dea and Samuel Newman, from a story by William Copeland and Herbert Kline). Carla Balenda scores a hit as Princess Maria.

Also in the cast are Carla Balenda, Whitfield Connor, Edgar Barrier, Robert Shayne, Harry Lauter, Don C Harvey, Henry Rowland, Al Cantor, Edward Colmans, Glase Lohman, Joe McGuinn, Bob Peoples, Gene Roth, and Sandy Sanders.

Prince of Pirates is directed by Sidney Salkow, runs 80 minutes, is made by Sam Katzman Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by John O’Dea (screenplay), Samuel Newman (screenplay), William Copeland (story) and Herbert Kline (story), is shot in Technicolor by Henry Freulich, is produced by Sam Katzman, and is scored by Mischa Bakaleinikoff, with Art Direction by Paul Palmentola.

The main cast are John Derek as Prince Roland, Barbara Rush as Countess Nita Orde, Carla Balenda as Princess Maria, Whitfield Connor as King Stephan, Edgar Barrier as Count Blanco, Robert Shayne as Prime Minister Treeg, Harry Lauter as Jan, Don C. Harvey as Koepke, Henry Rowland as Greb, Britt Lomond [Glase Lohman] as Brenner, and Gene Roth as Captain Brock.

Barbara Rush (born January 4, 1927) won the Golden Globe Award as most promising female newcomer for the 1953 sci-fi film It Came from Outer Space. She was married to Jeffrey Hunter from 1950 to 1955. She stared in The Young Philadelphians, The Young Lions, Robin and the 7 Hoods, Hombre and the 1980 Can’t Stop the Music.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,027

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