Clothes Make the Pirate

Clothes Make the Pirate
Directed by	Maurice Tourneur
Produced by	Sam E. Rork Productions
Written by	Marion Fairfax
Based on	Clothes Make the Pirate by Holman Francis Day
Starring	Leon Errol Dorothy Gish Nita Naldi Tully Marshall
Cinematography	Henry Cronjager Louis Dunmyre
Edited by	Patricia Rooney
Distributed by	First National Pictures
Release dates	November 29, 1925 (1925-11-29)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Clothes Make the Pirate is a 1925 American silent film starring Leon Errol and Dorothy Gish. The film was written by Marion Fairfax from the novel by Holman Francis Day and directed by Maurice Tourneur. It is a so-called lost film, with only a one-minute trailer surviving.

Synopsis

The film is a comedy that centers on a disgruntled 18th century Bostonian, played by Errol, who while wishing that he was a pirate, dons the clothes and play-acts the part. He is mistaken for the real pirate, Dixie Bull (played by Walter Law) whom Errol, of course, bumps into later in the film. More importantly, Errol "slays" the villain and puts his foot upon the pirate's head. This is more than enough and he heads back home to his unappreciated wife, played by Dorothy Gish.

Cast

• Leon Errol as Tremble-at-Evil Tidd
• Dorothy Gish as Betsy Tidd
• Nita Naldi as Madame De La Tour
• George F. Marion as Jennison
• Tully Marshall as Scute
• Frank Lawlor as Crabb
• Edna Murphy as Nancy Downs
• James Rennie as Lieutenant Cavendish
• Walter Law as Dixie Bull
• Reginald Barlow as Captain Montague

Reception

Contemporary reviewers of the time claimed Errol was miscast, perhaps for the comedic cowardice of the part. Variety Magazine gave the film a poor review, stating that the children would like it. However other reviews, such as that in the Los Angeles Times of 10 Jan 1926 gave the film, as a satire, generally good reviews.

External links

• Clothes Make the Pirate at IMDb
• Movie trailer (1:08) at Internet Archive