The Buccaneers (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Buccaneers was a 1956 Sapphire Films
television drama series for ITC Entertainment
, networked by CBS
in the US and shown on ATV
and selected ITV
companies in the UK.
Starring Robert Shaw
as Dan Tempest, the series, aimed at children, followed the adventures of Tempest and his crew of former pirates as they made their way across the seven seas in The Sultana.
The series ran for 39 half-hour monochrome episodes and was produced by Hannah Weinstein
and Sidney Cole
for Sapphire Films Limited. Director was Ralph Smart
. They were made at Nettlefold Studios
at Walton-on-Thames
and made use of a model of the prow of a ship in a studio as well as some buildings and painted backgrounds, with some outdoor scenes added which could not be done in a studio (probably some from the nearby River Thames).
This series was one of very many swashbuckling adventure series produced during the period by or for Lew Grade
's ITC.
Various parts by Tony Thawnton, Terence Cooper
, Rupert Evans, Roy Purcell and Denis Lacey.
Woodes Rogers and Blackbeard are based on historical characters. Woodes Rogers really did serve as Governor and brought the Kings pardon to ex-pirates. Blackbeard
was a notorious pirate.
The complete series is available on R2 DVD from Network in the UK. There are a number of public-domain DVDs of the series in the North American market, as well as a complete series release.
In 1976 Robert Shaw virtually reprised his role on the big screen in Swashbuckler
.
regions varied date and order.
Sapphire Films
Sapphire Films was a British television production company, active in the 1950s. Amongst their best-known series are The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, The Buccaners, and The Four Just Men produced for ITC Entertainment and screened on ITV in the UK, as well as being...
television drama series for ITC Entertainment
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
, networked by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in the US and shown on ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
and selected ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
companies in the UK.
Starring Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (actor)
Robert Archibald Shaw was an English actor and novelist, remembered for his performances in The Sting , From Russia with Love , A Man for All Seasons , the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three , Black Sunday , The Deep and Jaws , where he played the shark hunter Quint.-Early life...
as Dan Tempest, the series, aimed at children, followed the adventures of Tempest and his crew of former pirates as they made their way across the seven seas in The Sultana.
The series ran for 39 half-hour monochrome episodes and was produced by Hannah Weinstein
Hannah Weinstein
Hannah Weinstein was an American journalist, publicist and left-wing political activist who moved to Britain and became a television producer. She is best known for having produced The Adventures of Robin Hood television series in the 1950s...
and Sidney Cole
Sidney Cole
Sidney Henry Cole was a British film and television producer and editor.Cole was educated at the LSE, and entered the film industry as a scenario reader for Stoll Picture Productions, a company founded by Sir Oswald Stoll...
for Sapphire Films Limited. Director was Ralph Smart
Ralph Smart
Ralph Smart was a film and television producer, director, and writer, born in England to Australian parents in 1908. He found work in Britain with Anthony Asquith and later alongside the film director Michael Powell, whom he assisted with "Quota quickies": low-budget B-pictures to fill production...
. They were made at Nettlefold Studios
Nettlefold Studios
Nettlefold Studios were located in what is now Hepworth Way, Walton-on-Thames. Cecil Hepworth began film making there in 1899, but the name derives from the subsequent owner, Archibald Nettlefold, who rebuilt the studios on the original site. During the late fifties the studio changed its name to...
at Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a town in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey in South East England. The town is located south west of Charing Cross and is between the towns of Weybridge and Molesey. It is situated on the River Thames between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock.- History :The name "Walton" is...
and made use of a model of the prow of a ship in a studio as well as some buildings and painted backgrounds, with some outdoor scenes added which could not be done in a studio (probably some from the nearby River Thames).
This series was one of very many swashbuckling adventure series produced during the period by or for Lew Grade
Lew Grade
Lew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Russian-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
's ITC.
Main cast
- Robert ShawRobert Shaw (actor)Robert Archibald Shaw was an English actor and novelist, remembered for his performances in The Sting , From Russia with Love , A Man for All Seasons , the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three , Black Sunday , The Deep and Jaws , where he played the shark hunter Quint.-Early life...
as Dan Tempest - Alec ClunesAlec ClunesAlexander "Alec" Demoro Sherriff Clunes was an English actor and stage manager.Among the plays he presented were Christopher Fry's famous play The Lady's Not For Burning. He gave the actor and dramatist Sir Peter Ustinov his first break with his production The House of Regrets. His film career was...
as Woodes Rogers in episodes 1-3. - Peter HammondPeter Hammond (actor)Peter Hammond Hill was an English actor and television director.He made his film début in Waterloo Road in 1945 and went onto carve a career playing handsome boy next door types throughout the late forties and early fifties most notably as Peter Hawtrey in The Huggetts Trilogy - Here Come the...
as Edward Beamish. - Brian RawlinsonBrian RawlinsonBrian Rawlinson was an English actor and writer who was prolific in films and TV from the 1950s....
as Gaff Guernsey - Paul Hansard as Taffy
- Wilfred Downing as Dickon
- Edwin RichfieldEdwin RichfieldEdwin Richfield was an English actor.His film credits include: X the Unknown, Quatermass 2, The Camp on Blood Island, The Face of Fu Manchu and Quatermass and the Pit....
as Armando - Neil Hallett as Sam Bassett
- Willoughby GrayWilloughby GrayWilloughby Gray was an English actor of stage and screen born in London ....
as Pop
Various parts by Tony Thawnton, Terence Cooper
Terence Cooper
Terence Cooper was a film actor.Born in 1933 at Carnmoney, today an area within the borough of Newtownabbey near Belfast, Northern Ireland, Cooper is most famous for appearing in the 1967 film, Casino Royale, a James Bond satire based on Ian Fleming's first Bond novel of the same name...
, Rupert Evans, Roy Purcell and Denis Lacey.
Woodes Rogers and Blackbeard are based on historical characters. Woodes Rogers really did serve as Governor and brought the Kings pardon to ex-pirates. Blackbeard
Blackbeard
Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies....
was a notorious pirate.
Production notes
Sources report that Robert Shaw was unavailable for the first few episodes, but nevertheless shooting went ahead without him. In the majority of episodes, he is listed as "With" rather than "Starring" in the title sequence, for reasons that are open to speculation.The complete series is available on R2 DVD from Network in the UK. There are a number of public-domain DVDs of the series in the North American market, as well as a complete series release.
In 1976 Robert Shaw virtually reprised his role on the big screen in Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler (film)
Swashbuckler is a romantic adventure film produced in the U.S. by Universal Studios and released in 1976. It is a story that takes place in Jamaica in 1718 about a band of buccaneer pirates, led by Captain “Red” Ned Lynch, pitted against a greedy overlord, evil Lord Durant...
.
Episode list
Airdate is for ATV Midlands ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
regions varied date and order.
| Episode # | Prod # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate |
|---|
External links
- Screen Online
- CTA information
- http://islands.thebahamian.com/map_nasraw.jpg Modern map of New Providence.
