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has too infrequently seen fit to leave well enough alone. ... he irreverence seemed wittier and less broad on the stage than it does here, undermined as it is by awkward camera angles, fussy scenery and a general loss of spontaneity. Spontaneity, or at least the illusion of it, was one of the stage production's greatest assets. ... work better here as part of the group than they do individually, and Mr. Leach hasn't given them enough opportunity to intermingle. ... The movie is best at its most full-bodied. Especially rousing are the group rendition of
640:. The decision was met with immediate resistance from major theater chains, all of which refused to play the film. One theater chain head, remarked, "I would not have played it had they given it to me for nothing. I didn't invest millions of dollars in brick and mortar to play films simultaneously with television. Others agreed: "As far as we're concerned, the picture doesn't exist. We will not play it with TV. We feel we have earned the right to play it first." and "our policy is never to play after cable".
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410:'s name". The pirates tearfully do so, as they love their queen, and release the Major-General, surrendering to the police. However, Ruth reveals that the pirates are all "noblemen who have gone wrong"; the Major-General pardons them and invites them to resume their parliamentary ranks and to marry his beautiful daughters. All ends happily.
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On its opening weekend in the US, the film grossed $ 255,496 from 91 venues, all of which were small locations that traditionally played discount fare; the reduction in theater booking was a result of major chains refusing to play it due to its simultaneous telecast on pay television. The film ranked
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One of the maidens, Mabel, agrees to rescue him from his life of piracy by offering her love, and
Frederic accepts. Soon, however, the pirates return and seize the young ladies, planning to marry them. Their father then arrives and lies to the pirates, telling them that he is an orphan. He knows that
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During its promotional campaign for the film, Universal announced that it would release it in the US on
February 18, 1983, simultaneously in theaters and on subscription television, an unprecedented strategy for Hollywood that was not repeated until 2020, when the same studio gave the animated film
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has been made into a cheerful movie, but it isn't nearly as deft or distinctive here as it was on stage. The principal cast is still on hand, and still a delight, with the felicitous addition of Angela
Lansbury. Mr. Leach's stage production was buoyant and charming. But in adapting it for film, he
397:
Later, General
Stanley wrestles with his conscience, having told a lie. Mabel and Frederic try to cheer him up, and Frederic has engaged the constabulary to help him defeat the pirates. The police arrive, but they turn out to be timid. Then the Pirate King and Ruth find Frederic alone. They have
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films of the same period: "We don't see the pay-per-view showing as competitive with theaters. Cable viewers are older, infrequent moviegoers. If they like the film, the pay-per-view showing will have served as a sneak preview. Papp also defended the decision, saying that he was "interested in
740:, the pretty duets pairing Miss Ronstadt and Mr. Smith, and any exchange featuring Miss Lansbury. Some of the less melodic, more precious scenes are notably weaker. ... here are stretches during which those not fully conversant with the operetta will have difficulty making out its text.
42:
405:
The Police return and, hearing the pirates approach, they hide. The pirates arrive and seize the still guilt-ridden Major-General. Mabel coaxes the police to battle the pirates, but they are quickly defeated. However, the
Sergeant of Police calls on the pirates to "yield in
390:. He has a strong "sense of duty" and vows to lead a blameless life and to exterminate the pirates. Ruth wants him to take her with him, but just then he meets some young maidens, the daughters of Major-General Stanley, and realizes that Ruth is "plain and old".
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and is still apprenticed to the pirate band until he reaches his 21st birthday in 1940. His alliances shift back and forth between the pirates and "respectable society" until the pirates' maid-of-all-work, Ruth, reveals a fact that saves the day.
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remarked that "having sat through four incarnations of this Joseph Papp production, the original
Broadway cast, the Chicago road company, the premiere telecast here on the pay channel ON TV, and Saturday's matinee at the 400 Theater,
682:, as some audience members found it disappointing in comparison with the Broadway production. Despite the film's poor theatrical performance in the US, 9% of the 550,000 subscriber base reported by the pay television network
713:
earns my respect as a durable and satisfying entertainment. This
Gilbert and Sullivan chestnut, which lampoons British manners, is great fun in any form. And reading the intricate libretto brings a laugh, too."
386:. But she misunderstood her instructions, being hard of hearing, and apprenticed him instead to the Pirate King. Now turning 21 years old, his service is finished, so he decides to leave the Pirates of
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on
February 29, and he will not be out of his indentures to the pirates until his 21st birthday in 1940. Mabel agrees to wait for Frederic until then.
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fourteenth at the box office during that weekend. At the end of its run, its worldwide theatrical gross totaled $ 694,497. The film was a
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the pirates are orphans themselves and never attack another orphan; the pirates let him and his daughters go free.
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made the unprecedented decision to release the film simultaneously with a release on pay TV, and the film was a
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as Ruth. The minor roles used
British actors miming to their Broadway counterparts. Choreography was by
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In the 1850s, young
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reaching a mass audience. I decided it was exciting, a little dangerous and a marvelous risk."
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reports an 81% score based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10.
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When the Foeman Bares His Steel++ – Sergeant of Police, Daughters and Police
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No, I Am Brave+ and Sergeant, Approach+++ – Mabel, Police and Sergeant
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cast reprised their roles in the film, except that Lansbury replaced
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When a Felon's Not Engaged in His Employment+ – Sergeant and Police
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Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses – Frederic, Daughters and Pirates
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commented, "I don't see any reason to finance our own debacle."
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Thomas, Jay (February 1983). "Movie to Debut on TV, Theaters".
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A Rollicking Band of Pirates, We – Sergeant, Pirates and Police
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Away, Away, My Heart's on Fire – King, with Frederic and Ruth
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When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold+ – Ruth, King and Frederic
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The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
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Oh Is There Not One Maiden Breast+ – Frederic and Daughters
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The film was released on VHS in 1984 and on DVD in 2010.
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Climbing Over Rocky Mountain+ – Major General's Daughters
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Oh Here Is Love and Here Is Truth – Mabel and Frederic
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Oh False One, You Have Deceived Me – Frederic and Ruth
957:"Weekend Box Office Results for February 18-20, 1983"
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Oh Sisters, Deaf to Pity's Name – Mabel and Daughters
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Pour, oh Pour the Pirate Sherry – Pirates and Samuel
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Sighing Softly to the River – Major-General and Men
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Now for the Pirate's Lair – Frederic, King and Ruth
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651:was a relatively small release compared to the
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718:had a more mixed review to offer the film in
574:Ah, Leave Me Not to Pine – Mabel and Frederic
535:I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General
509:Oh Better Far to Live and Die++ – Pirate King
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518:Stop, Ladies, Pray – Frederic and Daughters
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589:With Cat Like Tread++ – Pirates and Police
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930:have fun stealing a joyous, musical show"
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571:Stay, Frederic, Stay – Mabel and Frederic
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763:– 1982 adaptation of the opera starring
458:singing voice performed by Stephen Hanan
362:. It was produced by Papp and filmed at
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1435:English-language romantic comedy films
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506:When Frederic Was a Little Lad+ – Ruth
477:singing voice performed by Marcie Shaw
1440:English-language musical comedy films
736:, Mr. Rose's show-stopping entrance,
620:Omitted: How Beautifully Blue the Sky
7:
799:British Board of Film Classification
738:A Policeman's Lot Is Not a Happy One
1052:Maslin, Janet (February 20, 1983).
969:. February 21, 1983. Archived from
537:+ – Mabel, Major General and Chorus
27:1983 film directed by Wilford Leach
18:The Pirates of Penzance (1983 film)
924:Siskel, Gene (February 21, 1983).
608:Differences from the stage version
374:, despite generally warm reviews.
25:
1221:Pirates of Penzance – The Ballet!
1405:Films shot at Shepperton Studios
1022:"The Pirates of Penzance (1983)"
1001:Gilbert and Sullivan Discography
825:"The Pirates of Penzance (1983)"
1360:American romantic musical films
1345:American adventure comedy films
1275:Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here
1269:The Paisley Pirates of Penzance
995:Shepherd, Marc (July 7, 2010).
636:a similar treatment due to the
342:, is an adaptation of the 1980
1365:British adventure comedy films
1355:American romantic comedy films
1:
1375:British romantic comedy films
1350:American musical comedy films
559:My Eyes are Fully Open (from
1420:1980s English-language films
1370:British musical comedy films
1330:1980s adventure comedy films
308:comic opera of the same name
83:Sir William Schwenck Gilbert
1400:American swashbuckler films
565:) – Frederic, Ruth and King
220:February 18, 1983
193:Timothy Burrill Productions
190:St. Michael Finance Limited
168:Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan
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1415:British swashbuckler films
1340:1980s musical comedy films
1335:1983 romantic comedy films
1303:Doctor Who and the Pirates
46:Original theatrical poster
595:Act II Finale++ – Company
39:
1410:Universal Pictures films
893:to Make Debut on Pay TV"
866:. Hollywood, California.
440:as Major-General Stanley
298:written and directed by
1289:The Abduction of Figaro
1213:The Pirates of Penzance
1189:The Pirates of Penzance
1180:W. S. Gilbert
1134:The Pirates of Penzance
1123:The Pirates of Penzance
1107:The Pirates of Penzance
1096:The Pirates of Penzance
1085:The Pirates of Penzance
967:Internet Movie Database
835:Internet Movie Database
729:The Pirates of Penzance
711:The Pirates of Penzance
617:+++Originally dialogue.
474:Teresa Codling as Kate
455:David Hatton as Samuel
285:The Pirates of Penzance
172:The Pirates of Penzance
77:The Pirates of Penzance
35:The Pirates of Penzance
1390:Films set in the 1870s
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540:Act I Finale – Company
452:as the Police Sergeant
1380:Films based on operas
239: (United Kingdom)
1425:1980s American films
1245:Major-General's Song
887:(January 29, 1983).
863:The Associated Press
686:purchased the film.
304:Gilbert and Sullivan
228: (United States)
1430:1980s British films
792:Pirates of Penzance
322:The film, starring
1101:TCM Movie Database
1059:The New York Times
898:The New York Times
765:Christopher Atkins
734:With Catlike Tread
721:The New York Times
690:Critical reception
533:Hold Monsters and
422:as The Pirate King
368:Universal Pictures
364:Shepperton Studios
206:Universal Pictures
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638:COVID-19 pandemic
633:Trolls World Tour
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16:(Redirected from
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973:on May 25, 2018
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802:. July 20, 1983
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680:box office bomb
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350:. The original
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1395:Pirate films
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1263:The Elements
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1006:December 20,
1004:. Retrieved
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977:December 20,
975:. Retrieved
971:the original
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716:Janet Maslin
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248:Running time
171:
75:
29:
1239:discography
1216:(1983 film)
1208:(1982 film)
926:"Satirical
700:Gene Siskel
642:Henry Plitt
464:Louise Gold
446:as Frederic
438:George Rose
420:Kevin Kline
366:in London.
344:Joseph Papp
336:George Rose
324:Kevin Kline
296:comedy film
252:112 minutes
130:George Rose
115:Kevin Kline
96:Joseph Papp
89:Produced by
52:Directed by
1325:1983 films
1319:Categories
1112:Letterboxd
776:References
745:Home media
673:Box office
614:++Extended
611:+Shortened
450:Tony Azito
288:is a 1983
274:Box office
224:1983-02-18
180:Production
668:Reception
562:Ruddigore
485:as Isabel
466:as Edith
444:Rex Smith
400:leap year
340:Rex Smith
302:based on
277:$ 694,497
257:Countries
182:companies
154:Edited by
135:Rex Smith
1037:March 1,
1032:Flixster
891:Penzance
840:March 1,
806:March 1,
753:See also
654:Superman
500:Overture
388:Penzance
352:Broadway
316:Leap day
312:Penzance
306:'s 1879
290:romantic
164:Music by
108:Starring
72:Based on
1255:Related
1099:at the
928:Pirates
702:of the
649:Pirates
625:Release
428:as Ruth
348:Pirates
293:musical
235:1983-08
233: (
222: (
599:
338:, and
170:(from
1232:Music
1197:Films
684:ON TV
660:Rocky
384:pilot
1182:and
1090:IMDb
1067:2024
1039:2016
1008:2021
979:2021
943:2024
906:2024
842:2016
808:2016
794:(U)"
767:and
657:and
414:Cast
378:Plot
1186:'s
1137:at
1126:at
1110:at
1088:at
81:by
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