Double Crossbones

Double Crossbones is directed by Charles Barton and written by Oscar Brodney. It stars Donald O'Connor, Helena Carter, Will Geer, John Emery, Charles McGraw, Hope Emerson and Morgan Farley. Music is by Frank Skinner and cinematography by Maury Gertsman.

Davey Crandall (O'Connor) and friend Tom Botts (Geer) are falsely accused by the corrupt Governor Elden of Charleston (Emery) of fencing stolen pirate booty. Bluffing their way onto the ship of local buccaneer Capt. Ben Wickett (McGraw), the pair soon become embroiled in piracy purely by accident and then have to pretend they are in fact pirates just to prove their innocence!

Nothing to dislike here, it does exactly what it promises to do, it's avast yee frothy merriment with a little song and dance routine thrown in for good measure. It's comedy satire on the seven seas where everybody seems to be having great fun. There's treachery and trickery, a gorgeous dame to be spared from the villain's plans and a splendid narrative set up that puts all the famed pirates of Tortuga in one "brotherhood" meeting room.

O'Connor comes off as a poor version of Danny Kaye, but he is an amiable lead here, with energy unbound and a quip on the lips he makes the most of the standard screenplay. The production design is mightily handsome and Gertsman's Technicolor photography is quite simply stunning. Support cast list is impressive, with McGraw (sadly not in it enough) and Emerson (stealing the film) the highlights.

It's all very playful and colourful and not intended for deeper dissection, accept it on its own frothy terms and it becomes a fun 75 minutes of film. 6.5/10

In colonial Carolinas, Davey Crandall (Donald O'Connor) is a shopkeeper's apprentice. He and the governor's ward Lady Sylvia Copeland (Helena Carter) are in love. The governor intends to pair her off with an English lord. Davey intends to get his own ship to be worthy of her hand. He inadvertently uncovers the governor's dirty dealing. He and his friend Tom Botts and the shopkeeper are all arrested. He and Tom manage to escape. They accidentally steal a ship and he becomes known as a pirate called Bloodthirsty Dave.

This is supposed to be a comedy although IMDB does not list it as such. I get it. I didn't laugh. Comedy can get dated and become unfunny. I don't think that this is the case here. Davey needs to be dumber and maybe the comedy could be funnier.

I can't understand how anyone about to watch this movie, knowing it stars Donald O'Connor, can be surprised to discover that it's funny, lighthearted, and contains some dancing.

I was thoroughly delighted each time I watched it. Besides the fantastic, under-appreciated Donald O'Connor, the cast includes Will Geer (Grandpa Walton), as well as many other actors fans of classic movies and TV will recognize, by sight if not by name. The plot is no more far-fetched than any other pirate movie, and the acting is very good.

If you want to watch a serious pirate movie, by all means put in "Captain Blood." But if you're looking for some upbeat entertainment, I heartily recommend "Double Crossbones."

Donald O'Connor is an apprentice in a shop which is part of a chain of conspiracy leading from pirates to the colony's governor. He winds up in prison as part of a cover-up/double-cross, escapes and with Will Geer fakes his way to command of a pirate shi. Learning that the governor is about to marry Helena Carter, who is sweet on him and he on her, he tries to persuade the Brethren of the Coast to invade Charleston, but fails. So he goes in himself.

It's thorough-going nonsense that never takes itself seriously. O'Connor sings and dances a couple of times, is an idiot with the cutlass or skilled as the situation calls for, and is supported by a raft of minor players, some of whom were notable in the silent era, and others who would become noticeable on TV in the 1960s.

Don't know why this has such a low rating. Gorgeous Technicolor, rousing Frank Skinner score, top-notch model and process work, fast run time. The fist-fight scenes are well staged and bully for Donald O'Conner's action work, he actually looks like a real fencer! Add Helena Carter's captivating beauty and the tried-and-true mistaken identity plot and I think it's terrific entertainment.