The Pirate (1948)

Directed by Vincente Minnelli. Starring Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Owen, George Zucco, Lester Allen.

Minor Gene Kelly musical romance slots him in the role of an actor in a traveling circus who becomes instantly smitten with a young woman (Garland) in a Caribbean port town who’s betrothed to the wealthy, self-important mayor (Slezak). In order to romance her, he hypnotizes her into revealing that she yearns for the adventure and romance of a pirate of legend named Macoco, and then pretends to be that very same pirate. A big and colorful production that struggles to wheeze to life; its farcical plot construction gets bowled over by melodramatic indulgence and artless spectacle, and Cole Porter’s tunes are hardly vintage. Garland’s listless efforts bear the marks of exhaustion, while Kelly’s tongue-in-cheek style clashes with the show that director Minnelli and company are trying to put on; as a result, the audience can’t believe either star, and so the movie simply trudges along from one set piece to the next. Even the “Be a Clown” dance number with Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers can’t fully convert the albatross into worthy escapism…though it’s certainly a dazzling display of athleticism and stamina. (Fans of Singin’ in the Rain are likely to also notice some similarities between that song and “Make ‘Em Laugh”.) The only film that Garland and Minnelli made together while they were married.

47/100