The Devil-Ship Pirates *** (1964, Christopher Lee, John Cairney, Barry Warren, Ernest Clark, Andrew Keir, Michael Ripper, Duncan Lamont, Suzan Farmer, Natasha Pyne) – Classic Movie Review 3278

Christopher Lee stars in a good role for him as Spanish pirate ship’s captain Robeles, who suffers damage fighting on the side of the Spanish Armada and terrorises the English villagers at a small and isolated Cornish port in 1588 when he puts in for repairs.

The pirates convince the villagers the English fleet has been defeated and that the Spanish are now their masters. But soon the pirates find the peasants are revolting.

Director Don Sharp’s 1964 historical period movie is an unusual and intriguing Hammer action adventure thriller film with Lee strong at the helm, a sturdy screenplay by stalwart Jimmy Sangster and pretty sharp direction from Sharp.

With no tongue-in-cheek performances or actory camping about, it’s all a bit serious. But there is sufficient action all the way through and a highlight in a stirring conflagration to keep it very watchable.

It also stars John Cairney, as young hero Harry, Andrew Keir as Harry’s father Tom, Barry Warren as Don Manuel Rodriguez de Savilla, Ernest Clark as Sir Basil Smeeton, Michael Ripper as Pepe the pirate, Duncan Lamont as The Bosun, Suzan Farmer as Angela Smeeton and Natasha Pyne as Harry’s sister Jane.

The always cost-conscious Hammer Films whipped up these dastardly deeds quite cheaply and ingeniously on a full-sized galleon moored in an English Surrey reservoir and on outdoor Cornish village sets previously used for Hammer’s The Scarlet Blade in 1963. Ripper, Lamont and Farmer appeared in both films.

Also in the cast are Annette Whitely, Charles Houston, Philip Latham, Harry Locke, Leonard Fenton, Jack Rodney, Barry Lineham, Bruce Beeby, Michael Peake, Johnny Briggs, Michael Newport, Peter Howell, June Ellis and Joseph O’Conor.

Lee recalled that one day too many people on the galleon rushed over to get a cup of tea from the tea boat and the galleon capsized, throwing most of the cast and crew in the water. Lee was on the poop deck and managed to hold on to the rail and no one was drowned or seriously hurt.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3278

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