Captain Phillip Kent, a soldier of fortune, and his friend Sergeant Pio, journey from Mexico City to Monterey on a secret mission. Their assignment consists in delivering state-of-the art new guns that will help the Californians fight against Spanish royalists who, disguised as pirates, keep ransacking their towns, villages and forts. Once in Los Angeles, they meet two women, Marguerita and Filomena, who have just missed the stagecoach. Kent reluctantly accepts to escort them but soon falls for the prettier while Pio does not remain insensitive to Filomena. However, after a wonderful night in Santa Barbara, the two ladies vanish in the haze. Overcoming their disappointment, the two men hit the road again and finally reach Monterey where they are welcomed by Lieutenant Ortega, Phillip's best friend. Besides a tricky situation due to the constant attacks of the 'pirates', Phillip discovers a new unsettling fact: Marguerita is there in order to be officially engaged to Ortega..
The pirates in the title isn't of the "skull and crossbones" kind but of pirate royalists. It's set on land with rugged landscapes and towns - it's more like a western with wagons trekking and gun running. It's a light, romantic adventure escapade with some action, a love triangle, and comedy, which comes from the sidekick who rattles on about women.
Rod Cameron plays the dashing hero on a mission to deliver guns, Maria Montez is charming as ever as the heroine - Their chemistry is appealing. Gilbert Roland plays the duplicitous general. It's a pleasant viewing with beautiful technicolour and a fast moving plot. The climactic sword fight at the end is quite exciting and comes across authentic with a natural speed between Cameron and Roland without the use of speed tricks or stand-ins. Obviously the actors did a lot of practise to get it right. Enjoyable film.
