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Buccaneer's Girl
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Wikipedia article
'Buccaneer's Girl' is a 1950 American Technicolor romantic adventure film directed by Frederick de Cordova starring Yvonne De Carlo and Philip Friend.'[https://web.archive.org/web/20090206230004/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/27994 Buccaneer's Girl]', British Film Institute"Yvonne De Carlo Wields Mean Cutlass as Pirate" Scheuer, Philip K. 'Los Angeles Times', 16 March 1950: A9
Plot
Deborah McCoy, a New Orleans singer, is on a ship that is captured by the forces of the pirate captain Fredric Baptiste. Baptiste keeps McCoy captive but she escapes in New Orleans and is hired as a singer by Mme. Brizar, the proprietor of a school for young ladies.
Deborah is sent to a party held by Captain Robert Kingston, the head of the Seaman's Fund. Robert is also Baptiste. She discovers that Baptiste uses his piracy activities to subsidise the Fund, which supports local seamen. Robert is engaged to Arlene Villon.
The businessman Narbonne discovers Baptiste's ruse and sets a trap for him. Deborah overhears this and joins Baptiste on the open seas. They attack Narbonne's ships.
Baptiste is captured by Narbonne but Deborah helps him escape.
Cast
* Yvonne De Carlo as Deborah McCoy
* Philip Friend as Frederic Baptiste
* Robert Douglas as Narbonne
* Elsa Lanchester as Mme. Brizar
* Andrea King as Arlene Villon
* Norman Lloyd as Patout
* Jay C. Flippen as Jared Hawkins
* Henry Daniell as Captain Duval
* Douglass Dumbrille as Captain Martos
* Verna Felton as Dowager
* John Qualen as Vegetable Man
* Connie Gilchrist as Vegetable Woman
* Ben Welden as Tom
* Dewey Robinson as Kryl
* Peggie Castle as Cleo
Production
The film was originally known as 'Mademoiselle McCoy and the Pirates'. In May 1949 Joseph Hoffman was hired to work on the script.
It appears to have always been considered a vehicle for Yvonne De Carlo. Paul Christian was originally announced as her co-star."Looking at Hollywood" Hopper, Hedda. 'Chicago Daily Tribune', 21 June 1949: 19. Christian ended up being replaced by Philip Friend, who was cast on the basis of his performance in another Universal film, 'Sword in the Desert' (1949).
Robert Douglas was cast as the lead villain in the film, the first of a three-picture contract he made with Universal."FELDMAN WORKING ON FOUR PICTURES: 'Silver Whistle,' 'Wayward Bus,' 'Finian's Rainbow' and 'Tender Mercy' Are Projects" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 'New York Times' 30 June 1949: 19.
Filming began July 1949.
The supporting cast included Ethel Ince, widow of John Ince, playing her first role in thirty years."Garfield to Do Story of Toscanini Protege; Wyler Gets Gotham Hit" SCALLERT, EDWIN. 'Los Angeles Times', 22 July 1949: 13
When asked about the film, De Carlo said, "What a dilly! I had six knock down, drag out fights in that one. And I was just recuperating from an operation."
Reception
Yvonne De Carlo later wrote in her memoirs that while touring Argentina, Eva Pern called her to say how much she enjoyed De Carlo's movies, particularly 'Buccaneer's Girl'. De Carlo wrote, "It later dawned on me that she could identify with the character of Deborah McCoy, who capitalized on her position as a prostitute to move up into high society."
References
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