(1958 - d. Anthony Quinn) Promo-reel.
p.c. Paramount, 1.p. Yul Brynner, Claire Bloom, Charles Boyer, Inger Stevens, CharIton Heston.
As in the promo-reel for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (still available), Cecil B. DeMille does his act before the camera introducing the very last film in which he was involved. Too ill to direct it himself, he was talked into letting his son-in-law, Anthony Quinn direct it, a decision he was soon to regret. He hated the film, and apparently raged every day after seeing the cut rushes.
Being the perfect showman though, he presents the film here as if it were one of his own,'epics', conjuring up pictures of American rocket launches when describing how the rockets ' fired by the British at the Americans in the 1812 war of independence, "The rockets red glare, inspired the Star Spangled Banner "
As in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS promo, DeMille intersperses his version of history while introducing the cast in liberal chunks from the film. Yul Brynner, looking very furtive having sprouted a thick matt of hair on his head plays the Buccaneer of the title, and Charlton Heston plays Andrew Jackson like Moses without the long white beard. Yul Brynner is still strutting around in his KING AND I pose, but you won't be getting this film for the acting of the stars, but for the hamming of C.B. DeMille, the rest of it is a bonus.
The Buccaneer was made in VistaVision, and this excellent CineMagnetics print is slightly masked. There is quite a bit of wear at the start on the master used, but this tends to get less a little way in.
The colour with the exception of a few pale scenes is very good, as is the definition. The sound is average.
A real rarity for those who like to collect items other than cut-downs, or ordinary trailers, and a Cecil B. DeMille reel is a must for any collection, even if you do have THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, to which this would make the ideal companion.
This title is also available from Classic Home Cinema. For review on their version go The Buccaneer
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Originally Distributed by: Jim's Films Illinois |
The above review was printed in |
This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002