If you can get past the dance sequence in the governor of Panama's court (which is basically a bunch of long haired men in fancy hats and well dressed ladies walking around in circles) and an obvious orgy on the island of Jamaica that seems to be ripped off from the golden calf worship scene in "The Ten Commandments", you'll find some serious moments in this film about the life of Captain Henry Morgan (Steve Reeves). It's actually pretty upscale for a sword and sandal film, one step above a gladiator movie, with impressive sets and sword fights, along with a romance between Morgan and the daughter of his enemy, the governor of Panama.
This is quite unemployable film, although I did cringe at a scene where the remaining prisoner not chosen for clemency is about to be drawn and quartered. Morgan is the last man given clemency, turned over by the woman who bought him as a slave and found him with a female slave. Of course when she turns up in Tortuga, he takes her prisoner, and it's interesting to note that she considers him a barbarian because he's a pirate while she's as a slave owner because she's the governor's daughter. Reeves is amazing to watch, not just as a gay icon, but for his easy charm on film, very handsome both with and without his beard. It's always obvious how these films are going to end, but when they are done right (which this one is), they become classics, and this is one of the better pirate films as well, even though Morgan as presented here is not your typical jolly Roger.
This is quite unemployable film, although I did cringe at a scene where the remaining prisoner not chosen for clemency is about to be drawn and quartered. Morgan is the last man given clemency, turned over by the woman who bought him as a slave and found him with a female slave. Of course when she turns up in Tortuga, he takes her prisoner, and it's interesting to note that she considers him a barbarian because he's a pirate while she's as a slave owner because she's the governor's daughter. Reeves is amazing to watch, not just as a gay icon, but for his easy charm on film, very handsome both with and without his beard. It's always obvious how these films are going to end, but when they are done right (which this one is), they become classics, and this is one of the better pirate films as well, even though Morgan as presented here is not your typical jolly Roger.