Old Ironsides is a 1926 silent film about the fight against piracy in the Mediterranean Sea. It stars Wallace Beery. Boris Karloff plays a Saracen guard. Gary Cooper is an uncredited seaman.
It's that old love-the-bad-guy thing. So it's fun to have talk-like-a-pirate-day and watch swashbuckler movies, but pirates in real life are another thing altogether.
I watched a few minutes but fell asleep — I just can’t do those slow silent films! As for pirates, they started as buccaneers like Sir Francis Drake taking the Manila Galleon. Working sort of underground for one country and against their enemy. Even the Barbary Pirates had a native land. Even the Somali pirates who took ships off the coats of Africa were working out of a native country. So there was always someone to love them.
It's hard for me to fathom that Boris Karloff, who was at one time back in the 80's the guest host of PBS's mystery show, was around for the silent films as a young man. I guess if I do the math it is possible, isn't it?
...I can never understand why in our culture pirates are view favorably.
ReplyDeleteIt's that old love-the-bad-guy thing. So it's fun to have talk-like-a-pirate-day and watch swashbuckler movies, but pirates in real life are another thing altogether.
DeleteEspecially the pirates and robber barons that run the government
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about the Peter Pan movie where Peter grows up to become a corporate pirate
DeleteI watched a few minutes but fell asleep — I just can’t do those slow silent films! As for pirates, they started as buccaneers like Sir Francis Drake taking the Manila Galleon. Working sort of underground for one country and against their enemy. Even the Barbary Pirates had a native land. Even the Somali pirates who took ships off the coats of Africa were working out of a native country. So there was always someone to love them.
ReplyDeletebe well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
We love _our_ pirates. It's _your_ pirates who are despicable brigands ;)
DeleteI SO wish I had time to watch this. I'm still playing catch-up, so maybe later, like in a week or so.
ReplyDeleteSo many movies, so little time ;)
DeleteNot my thing, sorry! Valerie
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the early films, but it's not everybody cuppa tea.
DeleteIt's hard for me to fathom that Boris Karloff, who was at one time back in the 80's the guest host of PBS's mystery show, was around for the silent films as a young man. I guess if I do the math it is possible, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteKarloff's career lasted from 1909 until his death in 1969. Amazing!
DeleteIt's fun seeing people like Cooper and Karloff in their before-I-was-famous roles!
ReplyDeleteI agree :)
DeleteSo interesting to see Boris Karloff and Gary Cooper in the early days of their acting careers, fabulous 😁. Happy weekend! Hugs, Jo x
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see them looking so young :)
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