Lee Eisenberg Christopher Lee's performance as the stern captain keeps "The Devil-Ship Pirates" from being a typical pirate flick. I also thought that Suzan Farmer was a real hottie in this movie, as she also was in "Die, Monster, Die!" True, this wasn't the best role of any of the cast members, but I enjoyed it.Whenever I watch old movies set in centuries past, I notice that they characters look well groomed. I doubt that anyone looked that tidy in 1588. Of course, no one expects action movies to be realistic. Along with the scenes of the captain discussing how to keep the town under control, there's some drinking and swordfights to keep things going.Pretty fun movie.PS: The long-term result of the war involving the Spanish Armada was that the British colonization of the Americas got delayed twenty years: when they returned to the Roanoke colony in 1590, the colony had vanished, and its fate remains a mystery to this day.

Woodyanders 1588. A severely damaged Spanish pirate ship is forced to pull into a small isolated village on the British coast for repairs. The pirates led by the stern, fearsome, and ruthless Captain Robeles (a terrific performance by Christopher Lee) convince the villagers that they have won the war and are their rightful masters. Director Don Sharp, working from a tight and compelling script by Jimmy Sangster, does a sound job with the engrossing story: the steady pace never falters, there's a vivid and credible evocation of the period, the lively sword fights are staged with real skill and brio, the pirates are a memorably scruffy and scurvy bunch, the strong central theme about bravery and cowardice adds extra substance to the narrative, and the thrilling fiery conclusion delivers the exciting goods. Moreover, further kudos are in order for the fine acting from a bang-up cast, with especially stand-out turns by Barry Warren as the firm and no-nonsense Don Manuel Ridrigeuz de Savilla, John Cairney as the bitter and insolent Harry, Suzan Farmer as the sweet Angela Smeeton, Michael Ripper as the jolly Pepe, Duncan Lamont as the tough and loyal the Bosun, Ernest Clark as the wimpy and sycophantic Sir Basil Smeeton, Natasha Pyne as the fragile Jane, and Andrew Keir as the pragmatic Tom. Michael Reed's vibrant widescreen cinematography gives the picture a pleasingly handsome look. Gary Hughes' spirited score likewise does the zesty trick. A very worthwhile and enjoyable movie.

paulnewman2001 Made in 1964, this action romp (set on land) is one of Hammer's few forays beyond the world of horror.Christopher Lee is on crisply villainous form as Captain Robeles, whose modest privateer Diablo comes off worse when the Spanish Armada gets a sound shoeing and has to limp into hiding in the marshes near an isolated English village.To carry out repairs and escape safely, he and his crew hit on the wizard prank of terrorising the villagers into believing the Spanish won the engagement and that they represent the new authority.It's all done on a shoestring but certainly doesn't look it and boasts all the usual Hammer trademarks of solid if slightly dull hero, heaving bosoms, weak authority figures, cowed locals and a meaty villain.

dinky-4 Like its companion film, "The Pirates of Blood River," this Hammer production is set almost entirely on land. There are probably budgetary reasons for this but the results may be a tad disappointing for those seeking a rousing sea-going adventure.There are compensations -- a competent script, adequate mounting, and a cast of capable performers headed by Christopher Lee. What's more, John Cairney, who plays the village's hotheaded rebel, gets a flogging in the town square while bound, bare-chested, to a whipping post. Alas, only the final five of his allotted twenty-four lashes are shown on film.