Shiver me timbers, there's nothing like a good pirate movie! A longtime staple of Hollywood action fare, pirate movies date back to the earliest days of the cinema, providing viewers with plenty of seafaring adventure, swashbuckling thrills, romance and always a hint of intrigue.
Here are 10 great pirate movies and just some of the valuable paper and advertising treasures they generated. Ready to walk the plank down Hollywood pirate movie history?
1. "Treasure Island" (1934). Robert Louis Stevenson's classic 1883 novel was faithfully adapted for the big screen in 1934 by MGM. Directed by Victor Fleming, this action story of piracy and buried treasure stars Wallace Beery as Long John Silver, Jackie Cooper as young Jim Hawkins and Lionel Barrymore as Billy Bones. "Treasure Island" was lovingly filmed on location in Hawaii and on California's Santa Catalina Island. "As fine a lot of cutthroats as ever have infested a film turn up as pirates in the latest cinematic conception of Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island'," reported Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times (9/18/34). A lightly restored one-sheet poster style D (27-by-41-inches) featuring Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in fine condition on linen brought $896.25 at auction. A lot of four theater lobby cards (11-by-14-inches) picturing various scenes from the movie in very fine+ condition sold at auction for $448.13.
2. "Captain Blood" (1935). Hollywood bad boy Errol Flynn has the title role of Captain Peter Blood in this swashbuckling tale of betrayal, rebellion and piracy on the high seas. Directed with flair by Michael Curtiz, the film also features Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill and Basil Rathbone. "Captain Blood" was made for a then-staggering $1.2 million and went on to capture five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. One of the more valuable "Captain Blood" items to emerge in recent years was the original Alex Raymond art rendered for the film's half-sheet movie poster, title lobby card and midget window card. Specially commissioned by Warner Bros., this 12.5-by-16-inch painting brought a top bid of $15,535 at auction. More down to earth was a colorful, lightly restored "Captain Blood" Spanish two-sheet poster (39-by-58.5-inches) in fine+ condition which sold at auction for $1,434.
3. "Swiss Family Robinson" (1960). Based on the 1812 novel by Johann David Wyss, Walt Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson" stormed into movie theaters during the 1960 Christmas season. Expertly directed by Ken Annakin, the movie stars John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran as the Robinson family, with Janet Munro and Sessue Hayakawa also on board. Hayakawa as Kuala heads a band of nasty Southeast Asian pirates who invade the island paradise of the shipwrecked Robinson clan, making for one of Disney's all-time live-action adventure pictures. "The Robinsons, their island and Mr. Disney have made a real Christmas contribution for any family," opined Howard Thompson of The New York Times (12/24/60). The one-sheet style A poster (27-by-41-inches) is a big favorite with collectors. One example in folded very fine condition brought a top bid of $215.10 at auction.
4. "The Crimson Pirate" (1952). Burt Lancaster turns in an athletic performance as Captain Vallo, a pirate adventurer in the late 1700s Caribbean, in this rousing action picture directed by Robert Siodmak. "Swashbuckling sea fables get a good-natured spoofing in 'The Crimson Pirate," with Burt Lancaster providing the muscles and dash for the takeoff," reported the Hollywood trade paper Variety (12/31/51). The big three-sheet poster (41-by-81-inches) provides a grand spectacle for collectors, featuring a bare-chested Burt Lancaster swinging from a rope and waving the Jolly Roger. Originally printed in two sections, one example in folded very fine condition sold at auction for $119.50.
5. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003). Johnny Depp, in the role of pirate captain Jack Sparrow, stars in this $140 million spectacular directed by Gore Verbinski which launched the wildly successful "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie franchise. Also in the cast are Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. There's lots of action in this one, as Depp and Bloom team up to rescue the governor's fair-haired daughter from the evil clutches of buccaneer Rush and his cursed, undead crew. "Finally, there's a big-budget popcorn movie that delivers what moviegoers hunger for: humor, action, thrills and charismatic characters," said Claudia Puig of USA Today (7/16/03). Items from the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" installment, which earned five Oscar nominations including Johnny Depp for Best Actor, can be a little pricey. A double-sided one-sheet advance poster (27-by-40-inches) in rolled near mint/mint condition garnered a top bid of $262.90 at auction.
6. "The Sea Hawk" (1940). Errol Flynn has the starring role of English pirate Geoffrey Thorpe in this $1.7 million Warner Bros. swashbuckler directed by Michael Curtiz and filmed on location in Laguna Beach and Point Mugu, Calif. Also on hand are Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains and Donald Crisp. "The Sea Hawk" is prime movie material for collectors, with values reflecting that interest and demand. A complete set of eight theater lobby cards (11-by-14-inches) in fine/very fine condition sold at auction for $4,302. An Australian three-sheet poster (41-by-81-inches) in fine+ condition brought $2,990 at auction.
7. "The Black Swan" (1942). Dashing Tyrone Power plays Jamie Waring, a reformed 17th century pirate who returns to the high seas in order to corral some of his former mates who have refused to give up their old kidnapping ways. Henry King directs, with Maureen O'Hara, Laird Cregar, Thomas Mitchell, George Sanders and Anthony Quinn along for the ride. The midget window card (8-by-14-inches) is a favorite with collectors. One example in fabulous near mint condition garnered a top bid of $1,015.75 at auction.
8. "A High Wind in Jamaica" (1964). Based on the 1929 Richard Hughes novel, "A High Wind in Jamaica" stars Anthony Quinn as pirate captain Chavez, the leader of a band of 19th century buccaneers who find themselves saddled with a group of wide-eyed English schoolchildren. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, the movie also features James Coburn, Dennis Price and Lila Kedrova. Movie material from "A High Wind in Jamaica" is still quite affordable. The standard one-sheet poster (27-by-41-inches) is valued at about $20-$25 in top condition.
9. "The Boy and the Pirates" (1960). One of the lesser-known films in the genre - think "sleeper" picture - "The Boy and the Pirates" was directed by Bert I. Gordon and stars Charles Herbert as Jimmy Warren, a young pirate fanatic who is magically transported back to the days of Blackbeard the Pirate via a genie in a bottle. Murvyn Vye plays a memorable, lusty, robust Blackbeard, with Susan Gordon, Paul Guilfoyle and Joe Turkel in support in this kiddie fare from United Artists. One of the prized treasures from the film is the Dell Movie Classic Four Color #1117 tie-in comic book. One example, featuring Charles Herbert and Murvyn Vye on the cover, in graded CGC near mint 9.4 condition sold at auction for $155.35.
10. "Abbott & Costello Meet Captain Kidd" (1952). Any pirate movie compilation should include at least one comedy, with Warner Bros. "Abbott & Costello Meet Captain Kidd" ably filling the bill. Bud and Lou, one of filmdom's all-time comedy duos, play a hapless pair of tavern waiters who accidentally happen on a treasure map, leading them to the notorious Captain Kidd and buried treasure on Skull Island. Directed by longtime Abbott & Costello movie alumnus Charles Lamont, the film also features Charles Laughton as Captain Kidd, Hillary Brooke, Bill Shirley and Leif Erickson. A complete set of eight lobby cards (11-by-14-inches) in fine+ condition brought $143.40 at auction. A reissue one-sheet poster (27-by-41-inches) from 1960 in very fine condition sold at auction for a reasonable $13.
Auction results and photos courtesy of Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas.