The Boy and the Pirates
By Renee Longstreet,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Time-travel pirate adventure with boy hero, guns, swords.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Eleven-year-old Jimmy Warren (Charles Herbert) is frustrated: his parents are bossy, he's not doing well at school, he hates his chores. He's only happy when he's pretending to be a pirate. One day, as he holds an unusual urn that has washed up on the beach, Jimmy wishes aloud that he could be a real pirate. Whoosh -- Abu, the genie appears. He grants the boy's wish, but it may have a terrible outcome. If Jimmy doesn't return the urn in three days, he could end up taking Abu's place inside the glass for an eternity. So Jimmy is transported to a time when pirates were a fearsome presence on the oceans. He's sailing with the legendary Blackbeard. But it's a far cry from what he imagined. A series of battles initiated by the bloodthirsty crew and Jimmy's rescue of an innocent little girl make the boy sorry that his wish came true and very anxious to make his way home.
Is It Any Good?
Made in 1960, this live-action adventure is clumsily plotted, badly acted (the pirates cackle and swashbuckle with unrestrained relish), and many of the battles include on-camera killings. It's cartoonish, but graphic as swords pierce bodies, wheellock firearms drop men at point blank range, and small amounts of blood appear at the place of entry.
Still, it's easy to see that boys who are intrigued by pirates, and the freedom of the seas that pirates represent, would find this movie thrilling and memorable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reasons that time-travel movies are so successful. If you could be transported to a bygone era (or into the future), what would you choose? Why?
Jimmy learns the meaning of the expression, "Be careful what you wish for." Have you ever wanted something, gotten it, and been sorry afterward? What did you learn?
On the surface, Jimmy's family in 1960 seems very different from most families today. What are some of the components of family that have stayed the same and what's changed?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 13, 1960
- On DVD or streaming: June 27, 2006
- Cast: Charles Herbert, Murvyn Vye, Susan Gordon
- Director: Bert I. Gordon
- Studio: United Artists
- Genre: Classic
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Pirates
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 19, 2023
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