A Splendid Escape from Reality
Overall, I enjoyed this movie as much for the historical tidbits that it led me to as for the performances. The theme music is a triumphant march that stimulates the soul, at least my soul. The acting is descent and often excellent. And the songs are pleasant. The writing is often weak.
The movie is, according to the page on IMDB adapted from an American stage play. This stage play is based on a novel written by an Australian and is set in Australia in the late 19th century. Something may have been lost in the translation from Australian English to American English.
I have not read the novel, but I have read about it through research on the web. As always, Wikipedia saves a lot of time, though one should remember that it is a starting point for research, not an end point. Nevertheless, it provides good information on topics that are not too topical or controversial.
The story is set in Australia and "Stingaree" is not a 'highwayman.' 'Highwayman,' is a British term referring to bandits that prowl the highways through the British isles. In Australia similar bandits live off the land in rural areas, the 'Bush.' Naturally, they are called 'Bushrangers.' It is a minor point, but the failure to allow for the differences signal other lapses.
It is unlikely that "Stingaree" carried a Colt 'six-gun.' It is even more unlikely that he or the Territorial Police carried Winchesters. The British produced and exported excellent handguns and rifles. Still, it is an entertainment, not a history lesson. It would help one in transferring the thought process to an Australian setting approximating 1876 if the principals used Commonwealth manufactured firearms.
The members of the credited cast born in England and Australia outnumber the members born in America. But the five principals are Americans and no one attempts an English or Australian accent. Contrary to a much earlier post, at no point in the film does Andy Devine attempt, much less achieve anything approaching an Australian accent. Early in the film in a scene in which Andy is dressed in disguise as a Scotsman he pronounces two or three lines in a terrible approximation of s Scottish brogue for comedic effect.
The faults in the writing certainly rise no higher than faults one might find in recent movies, especially anything that includes any combination of the words "Fast" and "Furious" in its title. (That's okay, to each his own) If you can adopt a 1930's mindset for about 100 minutes, give it a watch. You may like it, too.
The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.