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AdventureActionDrama

The Pirates of Blood River

- Ransacking a lost tropic island... for a fabulous idol of gold!

A group of ruthless pirates attack a 17th Century Huguenot settlement on the Isle of Devon in search of treasure and will stop at nothing to obtain it.

Release Date : 1962-05-09

Language :EnglishFrench

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hammer Film Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Kerwin Mathews

Character Name : Jonathon Standing

Original Name : Kerwin Mathews

Gender : Male

Christopher Lee

Character Name : Captain LaRoche

Original Name : Christopher Lee

Gender : Male

Andrew Keir

Character Name : Jason Standing

Original Name : Andrew Keir

Gender : Male

Glenn Corbett

Character Name : Henry

Original Name : Glenn Corbett

Gender : Male

Michael Ripper

Character Name : First Mate Mack

Original Name : Michael Ripper

Gender : Male

Peter Arne

Character Name : Bosu'n Hench

Original Name : Peter Arne

Gender : Male

Marla Landi

Character Name : Bess Standing

Original Name : Marla Landi

Gender : Female

Oliver Reed

Character Name : Pirate Brocaire

Original Name : Oliver Reed

Gender : Male

Jerold Wells

Character Name : Penal Colony Master

Original Name : Jerold Wells

Gender : Male

Dennis Waterman

Character Name : Timothy Blackthorne, the boy

Original Name : Dennis Waterman

Gender : Male

David Lodge

Character Name : Smith

Original Name : David Lodge

Gender : Male

Jack Stewart

Character Name : Godfrey Mason

Original Name : Jack Stewart

Gender : Male

Marie Devereux

Character Name : Maggie Mason (uncredited)

Original Name : Marie Devereux

Gender : Female

Emile Stemmler

Character Name : A villager (uncredited)

Original Name : Emile Stemmler

Gender : Male

Bert Simms

Character Name : Old Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Bert Simms

Gender : Male

Denis Shaw

Character Name : Silver (uncredited)

Original Name : Denis Shaw

Gender : Male

John Roden

Character Name : 2nd Settler (uncredited)

Original Name : John Roden

Gender : Male

Ernie Rice

Character Name : Pirate (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernie Rice

Gender : Male

Keith Pyott

Character Name : Silas (uncredited)

Original Name : Keith Pyott

Gender : Male

Dido Plumb

Character Name : Prisoner (uncredited)

Original Name : Dido Plumb

Gender : Male

Michael Peake

Character Name : Kemp (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Peake

Gender : Male

Michael Mulcaster

Character Name : Martin (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Mulcaster

Gender : Male

Desmond Llewelyn

Character Name : Tom Blackthorne (uncredited)

Original Name : Desmond Llewelyn

Gender : Male

Don Levy

Character Name : Carlos (uncredited)

Original Name : Don Levy

Gender : Male

George Hilsdon

Character Name : Penal Colony Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : George Hilsdon

Gender : Male

John Collin

Character Name : Lance (uncredited)

Original Name : John Collin

Gender : Male

Bill Brandon

Character Name : Pirate (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Brandon

Gender : Male

Jim Brady

Character Name : Pirate (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Brady

Gender : Male

Ronald Blackman

Character Name : Pugh (uncredited)

Original Name : Ronald Blackman

Gender : Male

Richard Bennett

Character Name : Seymour (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Bennett

Gender : Male

John Bennett

Character Name : Penal Colony Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : John Bennett

Gender : Male

Diane Aubrey

Character Name : Margaret Blackthorne (uncredited)

Original Name : Diane Aubrey

Gender : Female

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I do not count my chickens before I see them, and then I wait until the eggs are hatched out. Pirates of Blood River is directed by John Gilling and written by Jimmy Sangster. It stars Christopher Lee, Kerwin Matthews, Glenn Corbett, Michael Ripper, Andrew Keir, Oliver Reed, Marla Landi and Peter Arne. Music is by Gary Hughes and cinematography by Arthur Grant. When Huguenot Jonathan Standish (Matthews) is found guilty of adultery, he is banished from the village and sent to serve hard labour at the penal colony. However, managing to escape, Jonathan is captured by pirates led by Captain LaRoche (Lee) and forced to lead the pirates back to his home village, where, LaRoche is convinced valuable treasure is hidden. One of Hammer Film Productions pirate ventures, Pirates of Blood River is landlocked but still a whole bunch of piratical fun. Sangster's screenplay dangles interesting carrots that aren't fully unearthed, such as the religious fervour holding the Huguenot village in its grip, and questions of main character's pasts are left unanswered, but cast are very spirited and Gilling, in spite of being brought in late and being a pain in the ass, crafts a fast paced picture of excitement and tension. The small budget and absence of a ship and seafaring malarkey is barely noticed, though this place of plunder doesn't look much like a tropical island. There's good action, especially for the "big" battle at the finale, while it's good to see low cost effects, such as a piranha attack simulated by ripples on the water, actually be very effective for dramatic purpose. Blindfold duelling, too, always a bonus. Plenty of beards, jolly roger speak, bodily abuse and guerrilla warfare, enough in fact to lift it above its obvious flaws. 7/10