Currently, there are three other reviews for "The Pirate". However, two aren't really reviews...just folks asking where they can find the film (it's currently on YouTube). And, the other, is a recollection about how good the film was several decades ago. In this case, I just finished the movie...though it turned out to be three hours long, not the four listed on IMDB.
The story begins with a Jewish guy seeking shelter along with his pregnant wife in the area which later would become Israel. It's a tragic night for both of them, as the Jewish man's wife dies during childbirth and the Arab's* child dies in childbirth. With such a tragedy, the Jewish father has a suggestion...that Samir Al Fay (father of the dead child) and his wife raise his newborn son. Fay does this and the child is never told that he's actually Jewish.
Many years pass. This boy is now a very important man--both in the oil industry and among the Arab people. Despite having so much and being already married with daughters, Baydr Al Fay (Franco Nero) manages to think with his second brain and has an affair with an American, Jordana (Anne Archer). He wants her to marry him...she doesn't want to be wife #2 in a Muslim man's home. When Jordana becomes pregnant, she manages to convince Baydr to divorce his wife...a pretty sleazy thing for both of them. But he's thinking with his second brain and does as she demands.
For a while, things are just ducky and Jordana has agreed to raise their son, Muhammad, as a Muslim and learning Arabic. But she isn't true to her word and lets his lessons lapse. She also begins demanding more and more and more of her husband...until eventually she overplays her hand and he begins to resent her. She soon takes on a lover and the marriage is essentially over. But what neither anticipate is one of Baydr's daughters has now gotten in with an extremist terrorist group...much of it because she hates her step-mother so much...and who can blame her?! What's next? Well, it won't be good!
Despite being based on a Harold Robbins novel, the film has less sex than I expected and a bit more action. However, I also found the film very frustrating. Jordana was a very poorly written character and her marrying such an important Muslim man and expecting SHE would be the boss in that home is beyond naive to the point of being stupid. Also, the ending...very stupid. While I could accept the notion of Samir Al Fay adopting a Jewish baby, the notion of a partnership between the Israeli secret services and Baydr near the end just defies common sense and is hardly believable...just as it's hard to believe a woman as dumb as Jordana...two big problems with the plot. At times, moderately enjoyable but also a film that makes you wonder at how little Robbins seemed to understand the Middle East.
*While you'd think Al Fay and his family are Palestinians, as they live in what later became Israel, though the film is clear to point out that they ARE Arabs.
