MovieChat Forums > The Pirate (1948) Discussion > Made it's way on to my guilty pleasure l...

Made it's way on to my guilty pleasure list

posted 14 years ago by Lady_Lane
6 replies | jump to latest

I'm not a terribly huge fan of Vincente Minnelli. While I love musicals, his way over the top, lavish spectacles and sickeningly sweet storylines are usually too much for me to handle. The costumes alone are enough to send me into a diabetic coma.

I thought that this movie would be no exception. You may ask, "Why did you watch it if you don't like Minnelli's style?" Simply put, if Uwe Boll somehow found a way to put Gene Kelly in his next movie, I would watch it (and gag, but watch it all the same...).

But against all odds this movie won me over by the end. Judy was way too hilarious to be written off, and Gene is sensational as he usually is. The mayfly romance plot line usually turns me off, but it all seemed to make sense within the context of the film.

I watched it once and immediately bought the DVD, which now holds a place of honor in my "Guilty Pleasures" section.

The truth ain't like a bunch of puppies running around you pick your favorite!

[–] Doghouse-6 14 years ago

Perhaps it was the tongue-in-cheek nature of the entire enterprise. That's one of the things I enjoy most about it.

And Judy is, indeed, hilarious ("He asked for ME!" I love it).

Poe! You are...avenged!

[–] Felonious-Punk 13 years ago

I agree, Doghouse 6, the ironic tone was great, and went well with the amazing talent of Garland and Kelly. I think they forgot about that tone a little at the end, when it simply ends with the performance of "Be a clown (reprise)". I feel like we needed a little more talking between Gene and Judy but regardless, it's still a movie that must be seen and will be long-loved. Not only am I not feeling guilty, but I want to tell everyone about it so they can enjoy it too!

The closest movies to my heart: http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=46910443

[–] dmnemaine 14 years ago

Interesting that you call it a "guilty" pleasure. I find great pleasure in this film, and I don't feel guilty about that at all.

[–] gbennett5 9 years ago

The OP is an idiot. This is far too sophisticated to be labeled a
"guilty pleasure." Something like "Xanadu" would be a guilty pleasure.

The attacks on Minnelli are also absurd. None of his films are
"sickeningly sweet", but actually deeply sophisticated, stylish and
colorful. He is simply the greatest director of musicals ever.

[–] JohnnyWeissmuller 9 years ago

Arguably so; although he was also a first-rate director of drama, with The Bad and the Beautiful, Some Came Running and Home From the Hill proving testament to that. But The Pirate is a delightful movie. Richly conceived, brilliantly played and directed with real panache. It's very striking in a lot of ways.

NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!

[–] gbennett5 9 years ago

While I concur with Minnelli's spectacular range, I don't agree that
it's "arguable" that he is the greatest director of musical films.
True, most of his movies are not musicals, but he is mostly
identified with the genre because his personal, artistic stamp on
the movie musical is without peer. Stanley Donen lacks Minnelli's
signature and much of his best work in the field is not due to his
unique vision but the talent of others involved (and that includes
"Seven Brides For Seven Brothers").