Search - Crystalstone / The Boy and the Pirates (Midnite Movies Double Feature) on DVD

They don't get any better than this.

Armando A. Gomez | 07/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like "13 Ghosts" (1960) "The Boy and the Pirate" is an exceptional matinee adventure/fantasy fare of its day; it doesn't get any better. More importantly, this movie was tailor made for boys 10 to 12 years old; I was 12 at the time when this movie came out and I was hooked. Afterward this movie disappeared from sight and record and I wonder if I have imagined seeing it. But now I own it in DVD and it's like going back into time, a time when fantasy were made more sincerely, not condescending or patronizing as it is done today. At times there are scenes that are too funny, enjoyable, while others are terrifying, like our young hero facing life threatening situations. Regardless of the sled ride the kids get from watching this movie, the film does make a moral statement that should be taken very seriously: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!


Immediate Retraction

June 30, 2010

In the past five years, the top ticket items of Hollywood's best fantasy movies all proved to be winners--and me wrong! This contradicts my past premise, which I wrote for the above review of "The Boy and The Pirates," in 2006. In it I said that today's "fantasy movies" were "condescending or patronizing." Although time has made a liar out of me, this I do know: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will keep up with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in fantasy excellence. This epic fantasy series, by C. S. Lewis, is unmatched in Hollywood. The Chronicles of Narnia are not alone. Others fantasy epics such as The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, Stardust, Inkheart, Alice in Wonderland and the Lord of the Rings are unforgettable--but it's Narnia that will win the hearts and joys of families in the U.S. and around the world. For true fantasy movies are for family viewing. In short, I'm happy to be proven wrong, and even happier to state, through its previews, that "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" will be the best of the best--unseen!

PS: I did not include "Pan's Labyrinth" into the list. But don't get me wrong. Labyrinth has earned its critically acclaimed accolades in fantasy hands down, but unfortunately, it's not for family viewing. Although with the Harry Potter series, which preceded 2006, I considered it as an exception of my assertion that fantasy films were "condescending or patronizing."


"

Highly enjoyable viewing

Mad L | Pasadena, CA USA | 11/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These where very enjoyable films. If your a pirate buff then I highly recommend them for your collection."

Pye-rates n' childruns.... Arrrrr!

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 05/08/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE BOY AND THE PIRATES was written and directed by one of the kings of mid-20th Century schlock, Bert I. Gordon.

SYNOPSIS:
12 year old Jimmy finds a bottled genie as he walks along the Massachusetts shore and is granted his fondest desire: to be a pirate! But the reality of buccaneer life is mostly drudgery and sweat and nothing like Jimmy's fantasies. All he wants now is to go back home to his parents.

CAST--
The young star of the movie, Charles Herbert debuted as a kindergartener in the Lucy/Desi comedy, THE LONG, LONG TRAILER (1953). He portrayed Sophia Loren's stepson in HOUSEBOAT (1958) and was one of the Mackay kids in the big screen version of PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1960). Charles was also in THE FLY (1958) and William Castle's 13 GHOSTS (1960), his last film. After some sporadic TV work as an adolescent, Charles Herbert was out of showbiz at age 20. He was drug addicted for nearly 40 years, but finally turned his life around in 2005.

Herbert's pre-teen co-star in "Boy and Pirates," Susan Gordon (Katrina/Kathy) is daughter of director Bert.

Baritone Murvyn Vye (Blackbeard) debuted in 1947's GOLDEN EARRINGS, and introduced the title song.

Paul Guilfoyle (Snipe) tries to kill Jimmy Cagney in WHITE HEAT (1949), but instead is murdered while locked in a car trunk.


Additionally, this fine DVD features CRYSTALSTONE (1988)-- It's the story of young orphans, brother and sister, who embark on an adventure to locate a magical gem. Along the way they escape from a Captain Hook-like pirate and are befriended by a ship's commander who's often quite befuddled by grog.


Also recommended--
Disney's BLACKBEARD'S GHOST (1968) stars Peter Ustinov as the pirate along with Dean Jones and Elsa Lanchester.


Parenthetical numbers preceding title are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource wesite.

(5.7) The Boy and the Pirates (1968) - Charles Herbert/Susan Gordon/Murvin Vye/Paul Guilfoyle/Joe Turkel

(5.8) Crystalstone (Spain/UK/USA-1988) - Frank Grimes/Kamlesh Gupta/Laura Goodwin/Edward Kelsey/Sydney Bromley/Patricia Conti"