The Pirate

The Pirate


MGM, 1948, Color, 102 minutes, ***½

Premiere release May, 1948

General release June, 1948



Young Carribean native Manuela (Judy Garland) yearns to see the world and dreams of being whisked away by the dreaded pirate, Macoco. But when she gets a taste of life in the big city she finds it a bit too bawdy for her tastes and quickly returns home. But life and romance pursue her in the form of Serafin, an actor who has heard her confess her romantic yen for Macoco. He disguises himself as the feared pirate and follows the young girl to her home where he attempts to fulfill her most secret desires. Lots of classic Garland comedy. Judy sings a very provocative "Mack the Black", and Gene Kelly sings and dances "Be a Clown" with the amazing Nicholas Brothers and later with Judy. Fun-filled film!


Produced by: Arthur Freed

Directed by: Vincente Minnelli

Screen Play by: Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich

Based on the Play by S. N. Behrman as produced by The Playwrights Producing Company and The Theatre Guild

(some sources also credit Lillian Braun, Anita Loos, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Joseph Than and Wilkie Mahoney as having contributed to the writing)

Musical Direction: Lennie Hayton

Instrumental Arrangements: Conrad Salinger

Songs by: Cole Porter

Dance Direction by: Robert Alton and Gene Kelly

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith

Paintings by: Doris Lee

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Arthur Krans

Costume Supervision: Irene

Costumes Designed by: Tom Keogh

And Executed by: Karinska

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Harry Stradling

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: Henri Jaffa

Film Editor: Blanche Sewell



Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Score, Musical (Lennie Hayton)



Cast: Judy Garland [Manuela Alva], Gene Kelly [Serafin], Walter Slezak [Don Pedro Vargas], Gladys Cooper [Aunt Inez], Reginald Owen [The Advocate], George Zucco [The Viceroy], Nicholas Brothers [Dance Specialty], Lester Allen [Uncle Capucho], Lola Deem [Isabella], Ellen Ross [Mercedes], Mary Jo Ellis [Lizarda], Jean Dean [Casilda], Marion Murray [Eloise], Ben Lessey [Gumbo], Jerry Bergen [Bolo], Val Setz [Juggler], Gaudsmith Brothers [Themselves], Cully Richards [Trillo]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: includes vocal of "Mack the Black" (excerpt sung by Chorus); [0:14] Niña (sung and danced by Gene Kelly with Chorus Girls); [0:31] Mack the Black (sung and danced by Judy Garland and Chorus); [0:54] The Pirate Ballet (production number, played by Orchestra, danced by Gene Kelly and Ensemble); [1:14] You Can Do No Wrong (sung by Judy Garland); [1:27] Be a Clown (sung and danced by Gene Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers); [1:34] Love of My Life (sung by Judy Garland); [1:38] Be a Clown (sung and danced by Judy Garland and Gene Kelly)