The Pirates of Penzance (1983 film)
Encyclopedia
The Pirates of Penzance is a 1983 musical film based on Gilbert and Sullivan
's comic opera of the same name
. It stars Kevin Kline
, Rex Smith
, Angela Lansbury
, George Rose
, Linda Ronstadt
, and, Tony Azito
. The cast also includes Timothy Bentinck, Louise Gold
, and Tilly Vosburgh
.
It was filmed at Shepperton Studios in London.
The movie is a film version of the 1980 Joseph Papp
production of Pirates. The original Broadway
cast reprised their roles in the film, except that Lansbury replaced Estelle Parsons
as Ruth. The minor roles used British actors miming to their Broadway counterparts. The film was not a box office success, but, according to the IMDB, this "had nothing to do with the reviews, which were often quite positive. The real problem lay with Universal Pictures
' decision to release the film simultaneously to SelecTV
(a Los Angeles
subscription television service) and to theaters. Theater owners were so angry that they boycotted the film; in the end, only 92 theaters agreed to show it, and it enjoyed a long run at only one of them."
The film was released on DVD in September, 2010.
) was sent in the care of his nursemaid, Ruth (Angela Lansbury
), to be apprenticed to a pilot
. But she misunderstood her instructions, being hard of hearing, and apprenticed him instead to a pirate (Kevin Kline
). Now he is turning 21 years old, and his service is finished, so he decides to leave the Pirates of Penzance
. Ruth wants him to take her with him, but he soon meets some young maidens, the daughters of Major-General Stanley (George Rose
), and realizes that Ruth is "plain and old". Frederic quickly falls in love with one of them, Mabel (Linda Rondstadt). He has a strong "sense of duty" and has vowed to lead a blameless life and to exterminate the pirates. Soon, however, the pirates return and seize the girls. Their father then arrives and lies to the pirates, telling them that he is an orphan. He knows that they are orphans themselves and never attack an orphan.
After the pirates leave, General Stanley wrestles with his conscience, having told a lie. Mabel and Frederic try to cheer him up, and Frederic has engaged the constabulary to help him defeat the pirates. The police arrive, but they turn out to be timid. Then the pirate king and Ruth find Frederic alone. They have reviewed the fine print on his apprenticeship indenture and have discovered that he is still a pirate because he was born in leap year
on February 29, and he will not be out of his indentures to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Mabel agrees to wait for Frederic until then! The Police return and, hearing the pirates approach, they hide. The pirates arrive and seize the still guilt-ridden Major-General. The police are coaxed to battle the pirates, but they are defeated. However, the Sergeant of Police (Tony Azito) calls on the pirates to "yield in Queen Victoria's name." The pirates tearfully do so and release the Major-General, surrendering to the police. However, Ruth reveals that the pirates are all "noblemen who have gone wrong", and the Major-General pardons them and invites them to marry his daughters, as all ends happily.
Differences from the stage version
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
's comic opera of the same name
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
. It stars Kevin Kline
Kevin Kline
Kevin Delaney Kline is an American theatre, voice, film actor and comedian. He has won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards, and has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards and an Emmy Award.- Early life :...
, Rex Smith
Rex Smith
Rex Smith is an American actor and singer. Smith debuted in the Broadway play Grease in 1978. He is noted for his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 television series Street Hawk, as well as being a singer and stage actor. During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol...
, Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
, George Rose
George Rose (actor)
\...
, Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, and, Tony Azito
Tony Azito
Tony Azito was an American eccentric dancer and character actor. During his career, he was best known for comic and grotesque parts, which were accentuated by his lanky, hyperextended body.-Training:...
. The cast also includes Timothy Bentinck, Louise Gold
Louise Gold
Louise Gold is an English singer, actress and puppeteer whose career has spanned almost four decades.From 1977, Gold was a puppeteer and voice actress for The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, and she has performed voice and puppet work on various other Muppet films and specials...
, and Tilly Vosburgh
Tilly Vosburgh
Tilly Vosburgh is an English actress. She is the daughter of Dick Vosburgh and former actress Beryl Vosburgh....
.
It was filmed at Shepperton Studios in London.
The movie is a film version of the 1980 Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
production of Pirates. The original Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
cast reprised their roles in the film, except that Lansbury replaced Estelle Parsons
Estelle Parsons
Estelle Margaret Parsons is an American theatre, film and television actress and occasional theatrical director.After studying law, Parsons became a singer before deciding to pursue a career in acting. She worked for the television program Today and made her stage debut in 1961...
as Ruth. The minor roles used British actors miming to their Broadway counterparts. The film was not a box office success, but, according to the IMDB, this "had nothing to do with the reviews, which were often quite positive. The real problem lay with Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
' decision to release the film simultaneously to SelecTV
SelecTV USA
SelecTV was a subscription television service formed in 1976, and first broadcasting in 1978 The service focused entirely on televising movies, and ended in 1991...
(a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
subscription television service) and to theaters. Theater owners were so angry that they boycotted the film; in the end, only 92 theaters agreed to show it, and it enjoyed a long run at only one of them."
The film was released on DVD in September, 2010.
Plot summary
Frederic (Rex SmithRex Smith
Rex Smith is an American actor and singer. Smith debuted in the Broadway play Grease in 1978. He is noted for his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 television series Street Hawk, as well as being a singer and stage actor. During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol...
) was sent in the care of his nursemaid, Ruth (Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
), to be apprenticed to a pilot
Maritime pilot
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths. With the exception of the Panama Canal, the pilot is only an advisor, as the captain remains in legal, overriding command of the vessel....
. But she misunderstood her instructions, being hard of hearing, and apprenticed him instead to a pirate (Kevin Kline
Kevin Kline
Kevin Delaney Kline is an American theatre, voice, film actor and comedian. He has won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards, and has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards and an Emmy Award.- Early life :...
). Now he is turning 21 years old, and his service is finished, so he decides to leave the Pirates of Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
. Ruth wants him to take her with him, but he soon meets some young maidens, the daughters of Major-General Stanley (George Rose
George Rose (actor)
\...
), and realizes that Ruth is "plain and old". Frederic quickly falls in love with one of them, Mabel (Linda Rondstadt). He has a strong "sense of duty" and has vowed to lead a blameless life and to exterminate the pirates. Soon, however, the pirates return and seize the girls. Their father then arrives and lies to the pirates, telling them that he is an orphan. He knows that they are orphans themselves and never attack an orphan.
After the pirates leave, General Stanley wrestles with his conscience, having told a lie. Mabel and Frederic try to cheer him up, and Frederic has engaged the constabulary to help him defeat the pirates. The police arrive, but they turn out to be timid. Then the pirate king and Ruth find Frederic alone. They have reviewed the fine print on his apprenticeship indenture and have discovered that he is still a pirate because he was born in leap year
Leap year
A leap year is a year containing one extra day in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year...
on February 29, and he will not be out of his indentures to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Mabel agrees to wait for Frederic until then! The Police return and, hearing the pirates approach, they hide. The pirates arrive and seize the still guilt-ridden Major-General. The police are coaxed to battle the pirates, but they are defeated. However, the Sergeant of Police (Tony Azito) calls on the pirates to "yield in Queen Victoria's name." The pirates tearfully do so and release the Major-General, surrendering to the police. However, Ruth reveals that the pirates are all "noblemen who have gone wrong", and the Major-General pardons them and invites them to marry his daughters, as all ends happily.
Musical numbers
- Overture
- Pour, oh Pour the Pirate Sherry
- When Frederic Was A Little Lad+
- Oh Better Far to Live and Die++
- Oh False One, You Have Deceived Me
- Climbing Over Rocky Mountain+
- Stop, Ladies, Pray
- Oh Is There Not One Maiden Breast+
- Oh Sisters, Deaf to Pity's Name
- Poor Wandering One++
- Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses
- Hold Monsters
- I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General+
- Act I Finale
- Oh Dry the Glistening Tear*
- When the Foeman Bares His Steel++
- Now For The Pirate's Lair
- When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold+
- My Eyes are Fully Open+++
- Away, Away, My Heart's On Fire
- All Is Prepared
- Stay, Frederic, Stay
- Ah, Leave Me Not To Pine
- Oh Here Is Love And Here Is Truth
- No, I Am Brave+
- Sergeant, Approach++++
- When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment+
- A Rollicking Band Of Pirates, We
- With Cat Like Tread++
- Sighing Softly To The River
- Act II Finale++
Differences from the stage version
- +Shortened
- ++Extended
- +++From RuddigoreRuddigoreRuddigore; or, The Witch's Curse, originally called Ruddygore, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written together by Gilbert and Sullivan...
- ++++Originally dialogue.
- Omitted: How Beautifully Blue The Sky