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The Pirates of Penzance

  • 1983
  • U
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Ronstadt, George Rose, and Rex Smith in The Pirates of Penzance (1983)
ComedyMusicalRomance

After a young man leaves a band of pirates, hilarity ensues.After a young man leaves a band of pirates, hilarity ensues.After a young man leaves a band of pirates, hilarity ensues.

  • Director
    • Wilford Leach
  • Writers
    • W.S. Gilbert
    • Wilford Leach
  • Stars
    • Kevin Kline
    • Angela Lansbury
    • Linda Ronstadt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    4.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wilford Leach
    • Writers
      • W.S. Gilbert
      • Wilford Leach
    • Stars
      • Kevin Kline
      • Angela Lansbury
      • Linda Ronstadt
    • 66User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos39

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    Top cast56

    Edit
    Kevin Kline
    Kevin Kline
    • The Pirate King
    Angela Lansbury
    Angela Lansbury
    • Ruth
    Linda Ronstadt
    Linda Ronstadt
    • Mabel
    George Rose
    George Rose
    • Major-General
    Rex Smith
    Rex Smith
    • Frederic
    Tony Azito
    • Sergeant
    David Hatton
    David Hatton
    • Samuel
    Stephen Mo Hanan
    • Samuel
    • (singing voice)
    • (as Stephen Hanan)
    Anthony Arundell
    • Pirate
    John Asquith
    • Pirate
    Mohamed Aazzi
    • Pirate
    Tim Bentinck
    Tim Bentinck
    • Pirate
    Ross Davidson
    • Pirate
    Mike Grady
    Mike Grady
    • Pirate
    Simon Howe
    • Pirate
    Tony Millan
    • Pirate
    G.B. Zoot Money
    • Pirate
    Andrew Paul
    Andrew Paul
    • Pirate
    • Director
      • Wilford Leach
    • Writers
      • W.S. Gilbert
      • Wilford Leach
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews66

    7.14.1K
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    Featured reviews

    TheNovelist

    Exactly, why wasn't this movie a hit?

    This movie's great even though it's quite clear that this movie was low budget. Still, why wasn't it a hit? It's wonderful! Linda Ronstadt's Mabel is superb, I wish I could hit those high notes as flawlessly as she does and plus she is so pretty! Who can play the Pirate King as charismatically as Kevin Kline? You just have to love his crazy antics and that voice, oh! It's obvious he has great talent and that Tony Award he won for his portrayal of The Pirate King on Broadway was well-deserved. I wonder if he can still sing and dance... Rex Smith is divine as Frederic; his singing voice is powerful yet has a tender appeal. He is quite talented in his portrayal of a gullible yet loveable Frederic. Angela Lansbury is lovely in her portrayal of the deaf nursemaid and she has such a wonderful voice; it fits the role perfectly. The pirates, the daughters, the policemen, were all wonderful. I especially love the policemen's song-and-dance numbers. Tony Azito's nasal voice and rubber-like movements are perfect as the Sergeant. I have nothing bad to say about this movie, only I wish it were longer and it did not end so soon! See this movie! It's funny, romantic, and has good music.
    tuneyloon

    Kline is fabulous! SEE THIS MOVIE!

    I STRONGLY recommend "The Pirates of Penzance". Kevin Kline steals the show as the "Pirate King". He is fabulously funny!!! His looks, voice and energetic acting make him the perfect Pirate King. Angela Lansbury adds to the fun as Ruth, a maid-of-all-work who has seen better days. Linda Ronstadt as Mabel shows off her versatile voice and gets into the silly spirit of Gilbert and Sullivan. Rex Smith does an adequate job as Frederick, the slave of duty who is forced by fate to serve as a pirate.

    If you think opera is boring, give this a try! Gilbert and Sullivan operettas are hilarious and this version has lots of fun with Gilbert's humor. There is one "Abbott and Costello"-like turn on the word "orphan" that cracks me up! The contrast between the cocky confidence of Kline and his pirates and the quaking-yet-committed police force is a joy to behold. The "Major General's Song" has been parodied so many times (perhaps most notably as Tom Lehrer's listing of all of the chemical elements) that it is instantly recognizable even if you do not know the operetta. The cast has such fun with this it is hard not to be drawn into it.

    All-in-all, "The Pirates of Penzance" is a modern update that loses neither the spirit nor the substance of Gilbert and Sullivan's original. See this movie - soon.
    10mstomaso

    Take Heart .... Take Mine

    I fell in love with Linda Ronstadt the first time I saw this film in 1983. I also fell in love with Angela Lansbury and, perhaps even Kevin Kline.

    This fantastical, comedic, interpretation of the wonderful Gilbert and Sullivan musical updates the music, the humor, and performance, while actually enhancing the theatrical quality of the original play and leaving the plot, characters, and script largely intact.

    The film feels like an exciting, quite silly, and very fun play seen from the best possible angles on an elaborate but very stagy set. The actors intentionally overact - as if their most subtle movements must be seen by an audience in a three story balcony. The music is also somewhat overblown, but absolutely wonderful. Did I mention Linda Ronstadt? Her vocal performance is frankly unbelievable! She might not be much of an actress, but acting talent was really not required for the role of Maybelle.

    The story is about Frederick (Rex Smith), a young man who has just left his indenture under the flamboyant, somewhat unsuccessful and soft-hearted 'Pirate King' (Kline) and his band of fairly inoffensive ruffians. Vowing to slay his beloved friend to atone for the sins he probably did not commit during his indenture, Frederick leaves his doomed friends and comes ashore, only to fall immediately in love with Maybelle, but the pirates are only a few steps behind him.

    The entire story is told with very minimal dialog and a lot of great music, slapstick, and camp. The voices are cast perfectly, and Kline's physical performance is nothing short of amazing.

    What can I say? I've just watched 'Pirates' again after a hiatus of about 18 years, and the old magic came back immediately. I love this film, and heartily recommend it to all. Not everybody will feel as I do, but I can't even attempt objectivity in reviewing this film.

    Enjoy!
    wisewebwoman

    An absolute gem!!

    I am a true G & S Aficionado but this surprised and delighted me. The cast are brilliant but Kevin Kline has the edge. Agile, in great voice, lots of humour and quick, funny bits in his performance (blink and you miss them). His dancing and acrobatics are superb. The police also had me howling with laughter along with their police dogs and the major general romping through the fields with the pirates singing UNDERWATER in the babbling brook has to be a classic. This scene has to be seen to be believed. Bravo, cast !! This should have had a lot more publicity. I would adore seeing it in the large theatre, at least we had "Topsy Turvy" this year. This Pirate is fun for all ages.
    10bariman171

    Good Show, Good Show!

    I first saw this incarnation of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" at the age of 10, but just recently saw it again when my school decided to perform it for our annual spring musical. At the age of 18, I expected that I would find it immature after having liked it at 10. Needless to say, I was wrong. This is a wonderful adaptation of a great operetta, and becomes even better with the experience of performing it.

    Fans of Kevin Kline rejoice! He plays the perfect "Pirate King," the silly leader of a band of pirates who seem to be completely incompetent, if only at piracy. He delivers his lines with precision and, along with David Hatton (Samuel), adds a much needed low bass-baritone to Rex Smith(Frederic) and the rest of the pirates' tenor in the pirate tunes.

    The late Tony Azito(Police Sergeant)'s performance is literally unbelievable, as he looks more like a man made out of rubber rather than flesh and bone.

    I would recommend this to anyone, especially die hard Gilbert and Sullivan fans.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the chorus consisted of British performers, they are all lip-synching to the American singers from the original Broadway production.
    • Goofs
      About 40 minutes into the film, while Mabel sings "Poor Wandering One," a bird flies behind Frederic and hits the "sky" backdrop, causing the bird to fall to the ground. This is only visible if watching the film in its original aspect ratio of 2.35 to 1. For television airings which have modified the dimensions of the film, the bird is still shown but you do not see it hit the backdrop.
    • Quotes

      Samuel: I can explain in two words: we propose to marry your daughters.

    • Crazy credits
      The classic 1927 Universal logo is shown in sepia tone, albeit in widescreen, and there is no "A MCA Company" byline.
    • Connections
      Featured in Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Pour, Oh Pour The Pirate Sherry
      Music by Arthur Sullivan

      Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert

      Performed by Stephen Mo Hanan, Kevin Kline and Pirates

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Pirates of Penzance?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 12, 1983 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Linda Ronstadt Official Site
      • Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty
    • Filming locations
      • Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Pressman Film
      • St. Michael Finance Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $694,497
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $255,496
      • Feb 21, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $694,497
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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