User reviews

This movie begins with an American adventurer named "Captain Phillip Kent" (Rod Cameron) who is on his way to Monterey with a load of new rifles for the Mexican garrison stationed there to help them in their fight against pirates and Royalists who want control of the region known as Alta California. With him is his good friend "Sergeant Pio" (Mikhail Rasumny) who talks incessantly about the women he has already met and those who have yet to know him. Along the way they observe a wagon traveling at high speed and carrying two women which loses a wheel and overturns. Naturally, Captain Kent and Sergeant Pio ride to the scene to render assistance. It's at this time that Captain Kent meets the lovely "Senorita Marguerita Novarro" (Maria Montez) who tells him they were hurrying to catch the stagecoach to Monterey. Although that is the same destination Captain Kent and Sergeant Pio are headed for, they deliberately mislead Senorita Novarro because their mission is extremely secretive. However, being a gentleman, he offers her safe conduct to the nearby town of Los Angeles instead. Unfortunately, Sergeant Pio accidentally lets their destination slip and this results in both Senorita Novarro and her companion "Filomena" (Tamara Shayne) sneaking into the wagon when Captain Kent heads out for Monterey in the morning. What neither Captain Kent nor Senorita Novarro quite realize is that there is trouble brewing at the garrison and they are headed right into it. Now, rather than reveal any more of this film and risk ruining it for those who haven't seen it, I will just say that, unless one is well-read on the history of California, it might be somewhat difficult to understand everything that is going on. For example, the "pirates" aren't exactly the skull-and-crossbones type that many might expect. Instead, they are essentially mercenaries acting under the orders of the Royalists who seek to destabilize the entire region for both military and political reasons. That said, this is more of a "Western film" than a "Pirate movie". On that note, while I found this movie to be somewhat interesting, I must admit that I didn't care for the character of Sergeant Pio that much as his constant warbling about women got to be rather annoying. On the other hand, I thought the presence of Maria Montes--and to a lesser extent that of Gale Sondergaard (as the Governor's wife "Senora de Sola")--was quite refreshing. Be that as it may this turned out to be an okay Western movie and I rate it as about average.

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.

Another of my Favorite Maria Montez movies!

This time she's in old California in this costumed piece. It would be great if they got this to video also!

A bit-o-trivia on this movie.......The part of a young woman played by Julia Andre was actually One of Maria's real life sisters.