Buccaneer's Girl Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Buccaneer's Girl Blu-ray Movie Review

A rousing adventure with a knock-out performance by Yvonne De Carlo

Buccaneer's Girl is a must-see action-adventure of the sea with plenty to offer audiences of all ages. The production is based on a story by Joe May (Uncertain Glory, The Invisible Man Returns) and Samuel R. Golding (The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, Fireside Theatre). Fans of classic adventures are strongly encouraged to check out this under-rated gem. Produced by Robert Arthur (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, One More Train to Rob) and John W. Rogers (The Spirit of West Point, Ride Clear of Diablo), Buccaneer's Girl is dynamite fun from beginning to end.

Things get off to a rocky start when the stowaway Deborah McCoy (Yvonne De Carlo) is discovered on the pirate ship she decided to hide away on. Discovered by the charming pirate Frederic Baptiste (Philip Friend), a close connection starts to form between the unlikely pairing and romance ensues. After the pair eventually go their separate ways, McCoy becomes an entertainer: a dancer at that.

McCoy is eventually re-acquainted with Baptiste as she meets his alter-ego persona: the playboy lover, Captain Robert Kingston (at your service). Could there be a second chance at love for the pair? Will McCoy help the pirate Baptiste with his new quest? The storyline unfolds with swashbuckling adventure, non-stop action, and sea-faring fun.

The performances are one of the strongest strengths of the film. Who makes the biggest impression? None other than Yvonne De Carlo. She carries the entire film with her graceful personality and the enthusiasm she holds for the part. The song and dance scenes are terrific fun and she imbues these moments with the kind of energy required to keep audiences glued to their seats. There is something daring about the performance and it gives the film the kind of backbone necessary to be so successful.

"So... what Blu-ray do we watch next?"

There are plenty of other areas in which the production is a success as well. The art direction by Robert F. Boyle (Fiddler on the Roof, North by Northwest) and Bernard Herzbrun (Creature from the Black Lagoon, Alexander's Ragtime Band) gives the film a stylistic quality that is absorbing to watch. The production never seems cheaply done or under-cooked. The efforts of the production crew are quite apparent: the filmmaking shines with the kind of polish one expects from a high-end Hollywood film production.

Edited by Otto Ludwig (Flying Cadets, Saboteur), Buccaneer's Girl is an example of Hollywood coming to understand how to handle adventures: there is never a lull in the editing to make one lose interest. The pace is superb. This equates to a much more entertaining experience. Ludwig did well assembling the film into a cohesive whole.

Buccaneer's Girl is a joy from a cinematographic viewpoint as well. The cinematography by Russell Metty (Spartacus, Bringing Up Baby) gives the filmmaking a sense of style which is beautiful and classical in approach. The visuals certainly contribute to pulling one in to the story even further: it enhances the entire experience. The cinematography is even further enhanced by a score by Walter Scharf (City Across the River, The Countess of Monte Cristo).

Then there is one of the most important “special effects” of the film: the wonderful costumes by Yvonne Wood (The Court Jester, Winchester '73). The gowns for the ladies in the film are quite beautiful and are befitting the characters too. A job well done. Yvonne De Carlo is particularly stunning to behold with her costumes adding to the style of the filmmaking quite well.

Director Frederick De Cordova (I'll Take Sweden, The Gal Who Took the West) capably brings to life the entertaining screenplay by Joseph Hoffman (Against All Flags, The Officer and the Lady) and Harold Shumate (Beyond the Law, Escape by Night). Buccaneer's Girl is a rousing success for its jubilant approach to action-adventure and it never seems to skip a beat. There is something magical about classic adventure stories like this one. The film is a perfect antidote to a rainy Sunday afternoon. De Cordova wants to keep audiences entertained and to let imaginations run wild.

Buccaneer's Girl Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Buccaneer's Girl has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The release is satisfying and immersive. The presentation stuns with wonderful color reproduction throughout. During the viewing, I was amazed by how crisp, clear, and well defined the image was. The scan demonstrates little in the way of print damage issues such dirt, debris, and other unwanted anomalies. Universal and Kino have presented the film in a truly exceptional way.

Buccaneer's Girl Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features DTS HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. Matching the high quality of the video presentation, the lossless audio mix sounds superb. The track has excellent clarity. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The sound effects are well balanced in the soundtrack. There aren't moments of overly harsh sound and it seems to have received an admirable restoration effort as everything feels decidedly crisp for a soundtrack of its age. There are no egregious issues to report with regards to pops, hiss, crackle, and other unwanted anomalies. Kudos to Kino for a job well done.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Buccaneer's Girl Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio commentary by author/film historian Lee Gambin

Buccaneer's Girl Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:20)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Against All Flags (SD, 2:25), The World In His Arms (SD, 1:49), and The Captain's Paradise (SD, 2:07).

Buccaneer's Girl Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There is something wonderfully profound about classic adventure cinema. Buccaneer's Girl is a big success. The filmmakers never forget their audience and manage to keep the story (and characters) engaging from start to finish. Leading lady Yvonne De Carlo delivers a strong performance that ultimately carries the film to its satisfying conclusion. The Kino Blu-ray release features a strong video-audio presentation and some supplements. Highly recommended.