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Daybill
1976 pirate adventure film Swashbuckler (also known as The Scarlet Buccaneer in the UK). Directed by James Goldstone, the movie is set in 1718 Jamaica and follows a group of pirates who team up with a noblewoman to overthrow a tyrannical governor.
Cast and Key Characters
The film features a notable ensemble cast, many of whom are pictured at the bottom of the poster:
Robert Shaw as Captain "Red" Ned Lynch, the swashbuckling pirate leader.
James Earl Jones as Nick Debrett, Lynch’s loyal right-hand man.
Peter Boyle as Lord Durant, the villainous and greedy acting governor of Jamaica.
Geneviève Bujold as Jane Barnet, the hot-tempered noblewoman who joins the pirates.
Beau Bridges as Major Folly, a bumbling British military officer.
Geoffrey Holder as Cudjo, a knife-throwing pirate.
Anjelica Huston also makes her film debut in a non-speaking role as the "Woman of Dark Visage".
Plot Summary
The story begins with Captain Lynch rescuing his friend Nick Debrett from execution. They are soon approached by Jane Barnet, who wants to hire them to assassinate Lord Durant after he imprisoned her father and seized their wealth. While their initial ambush fails, Lynch eventually leads a full-scale assault on the governor's headquarters to free the citizens of Jamaica and defeat Durant.
Reception and Legacy
Released by Universal Pictures, the film was a critical and box office disappointment at the time, often described as an "odd mix of slapstick and swordplay". However, it has gained some recognition for its high production values, including the use of a full-scale replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship, The Golden Hinde. Critics have praised the chemistry between Shaw and Jones, though some felt the plot was "paper thin".
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