THE PIRATE
US, 1947, 102 minutes, Colour.
Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper, the Nicholas Brothers.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.
One of those MGM musicals they made so well in the 40's and early 50s. Song writer, Arthur Freed, was the producer of so many. Gene Kelly at the beginning of his career is a lively hero. He was soon to make On the Town, An American in Paris and Singin' in the Rain. Judy Garland had already established herself as a leading singer actress at MGM. She was undergoing great personal strain during the filming of The Pirate. Walter Slezak is the perennial villain.
The film is tongue-in-cheek, set in the MGM Latin American fantasy land of such musicals as Yolanda and the Thief. The latter film's director was Vincente Minnelli who was establishing himself as a director of musicals like Meet Me in St Louis. He directed this film and was directing his wife of the time, Judy Garland. Minnelli was to go on to such successes as An American in Paris, The Band Wagon and Gigi as well as minor comedies like Father of the Bride and serious melodramas like The Bad and the Beautiful. Cole Porter wrote the score for this film.
1. MGM production values, Arthur Freed and his talent for producing musicals, Vincente Minnelli and his style?
2. The contribution of Judy Garland and her presence and singing? Gene Kelly and his dancing? A satisfying combination? The choreography, the insertion of the songs and dances?
3. Cole Porter and his particular style of music and lyrics? The big production numbers for this film especially 'Mac the Black' and 'Be a Clown?
4. The MGM fantasy world of Latin America? Corresponding to audience dreams? Manuela and her dreams of the Caribbean, girls' chatter, strict aunts, the mayors of towns, arranged marriages, formalities of behaviour, the role of viceroys, executions? The straight fantasy line of the film? Its conventions?
5. The comic approach to the screenplay? The glorification of Macaco the pirate? Manuela and her initial lyricism? The humour of the dialogue about her arranged marriage? The romance and her declaring her love for Macaco? The song 'Mac the Black'? The humour of the real identity of Macaco? Serafin and his pretence? The play with the wrong identities? The final hypnosis? How enjoyable a light spoof of such action films?
6. The garish colours and tone? The fantasies of Manuela and Serafin? The lavish unreal Latin America?
7. Judy Garland's presence as Manuela? A young girl of dreams, her attitude towards the marriage, longing to know the Caribbean, the encounter with Serafin, the hypnosis and the singing, the preparations for the marriage, her fear of Serafin, the mystery encounter, her wanting to save Serafin's life and giving herself for the town? The execution and its preparations? Her realization of the truth? The jewellery? Her false hypnosis and saving Serafin? The final song and dance act? Judy Garland's songs? love songs, 'Be a Clown'? An attractive romantic heroine?
8. Gene Kelly's vigour as Serafin? Actor, confidence man, the initial song indicating his attraction for the women? The members of his company? The hypnotism and his suggesting things to Manuela? The use of his knowledge about Macaco? The request for Manuela to go with him? The recognition of Don Pedro? The control of the town? The oneupmanship and his being overcome by Don Pedro? The trial? The final hypnosis? The fantasy sequence of his dancing?
9. The atmosphere of girls and a Latin American village? Aunt Inez and her strictness, the Viceroy and his pompous control, the people in the town?
10. Walter Slezak an Don Pedro? coward, unromantic? His tactics as Macaco? His being exposed by the play at the end? Jealousy and his comeuppance? Clashes with the Viceroy?
11. The style of the songs, dance, choreography, the finale with 'Be a Clown'?
12. The perennial values of romantic musical comedies American style?
