The Black Pirate
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS
in
"THE BLACK PIRATE"
| Story by Elton Thomas |
Directed by Albert Parker |
| Adapted by Jack Cunningham |
Photographed by Henry Sharp |
Copyright 1926 by The Elton Corporation
| General Manager Robert Fairbanks |
Manager of Production Theodore Reed |
Photography in Technicolor
Technicolor Staff
Arthur Ball
George Cave
| Scenario Editor Lotta Woods |
Research Editor Dr. Arthur Woods |
Consultants
Dwight Franklin
Robert Nichols
Supervising Art Director
Carl Oscar Borg
Associate Artists
Edward M. Langley
Jack Holden
| Musical Score by | Mortimer Wilson |
| Marine Technician | P. H. L. Wilson |
| Film Cutter | William Nolan |
THE PLAYERS
Miss Billie Dove
Miss Tempe Pigott
Mr. Donald Crisp
Mr. Sam de Grasse
Mr. Anders Randolf
Mr. Charles Stevens
Mr. John Wallace
Mr. Fred Becker
Mr. Charles Belcher
Mr. E. J. Ratcliffe
Mr. Douglas Fairbanks
A page from
THE
History and Lives
Of the most Bloodthirsty
PIRATES
who ever infested
THE SOUTHERN SEAS
Being an account of BUCCANEERS & the SPANISH MAIN, the Jolly Roger, GOLDEN GALLEONS, bleached skulls, BURIED TREASURE, the Plank, dirks & cutlasses, SCUTTLED SHIPS, Marooning, DESPERATE DEEDS, DESPERATE MEN, and—even on this dark soil—ROMANCE.
It was the custom of THESE PIRATES to SUBDUE their prey, LOOT the ship, BIND their captives and BLOW THEM UP.
The PIRATE LEADER—
The Powder Magazine—
Laying the POWDER TRAIN—
The PIRATE SHIP—
Sole SURVIVORS
Dividing THE LOOT—
"A vast, my bullies. We'll draw lotsand the short strand wins."
The PIRATE LEADERS make ready to take the richest part of the treasure to a Secret Hiding Place.
MAROONED
MY FATHER
I solemnly vow
Buried TREASURE
MY FATHER
I solemnly vow
to bring thy
murderers to
Justice
"Dead men tell no tales."
"I would join your Company."
"Wud ye, now? An' what are your qualeefeecations?"
"Who is your best fighter?"
"He's as braw a lad as ever sought to join our Company."
"There's more to our trade than sword tricks."
"The next ship you pick for prey—"
"I'll wager I can take it single-handed."
Just after dawn—a MERCHANTMAN—
Single-handed—
"Have done with this folly. Let them have the guns."
"Give him his chance. If he fails—there's time enough."
"Where's the rest of the watch?"
"There is more to our trade than sword tricks!"
The Merchantman captured, the Pirates pursue their CUSTOMARY TACTICS—
"Ahoy, you sea wolves! There's something I would say to you."
"Come down, all of you. I'll show you a new trick in your own game."
"Gather round me, ye who love gold."
"Here's a ship captured without firing a gun—sound as the day it was build—not a spar broken."
"Why destroy it and lose the richest part of your adventure? Let's hold it for ransom."
"Let the ransom be fifty thousand pieces-of-eight. We'll send our ship for it and set a time for its return."
"There's sense in what he tells us—"
"Draw lots for her—and the short strand wins."
"Fifty pound a head, you labbernecks."
"How do we know they'll give this ransom?"
"Here's our surety—a Princess—"
"This emblem marks her—a Princess of Royal blood. We'll hold her as hostage."
"She is mine. I won her by lot."
"Shall we sacrifice the good of all for the benefit of one?"
"Riches for all! We vote with you, my bullyboy."
"He bests our Captain in fair fight. He takes this ship single-handed. He stands to win us more gold than we've ever seen. I propose we make him leader."
"If the ransom ship returns, 'tis time enough to make him leader."
"Yo, ho! A leader new—of bully brew—when the ransom ship returns."
AGREEMENT
Which agreement we have come to open
proper discussion and with the consent of
each member of our goodly company.
The amount of the ransom to be
CXXVIII Thousand Pieces of Eight
and confirmation of the weight and fineness
of the gold to be made in the manner aforesaid.
And if Ransom be delivered
BY NOON TOMORROW then will
the Princess be given back unto you
SPOTLESS and UNHARMED.
IfBut if you come by us with ships of war and
ye come against us with Ships of War & Soldiers
THEN SHALL THE PRINCESS
BE PUT TO DEATH AND HER
BODY THROWN INTO THE SEA.
Mac Javish
The Black Pirate
We subscribe this
with our own hands
"Get aboard that ransom ship. When night lowers, blow her to Hell!"
"We give ye from noonday till noondayby the ship's dial."
"I'll be watching in the rigging—tonight."
Show this ring to the Governor
Have him send against us a
detachment of my best soldiers
The "princess" will be set ashore
this night
There is NO honor among thieves.
"The winds are favoring. They will have many hours to spare. I look to see them back before this dial shows noon."
"Lady, I grieve profoundly this mishappening."
"This was for the good of the company. We must not forget the letter of our bond."
"I owe you thanks for saving her—for me."
"That is, of course, if the ransom ship does not return."
EARLY EVENING—the reek of roasting food—rich viands for PIRATE PALATES—
"Have you ever known about—or heard about—or read about—a man falling in love at first sight?"
You are in
constant danger. Set
your plans to follow
mine. This night I
will come to set you
ahore.
"Who is this Black Pirate?"
"A sound enough lad, but he seems to be suffering from an affleection of the heart."
When NIGHT lowers—on the ransom ship—
"You risk your life for me."
"I would do more—I would give it."
"Who are you?"
"A pirate who has found his treasure—and lets it go."
"Quick! Open that door."
"Now hold me at pistol point."
In the dead vast and middle of the night—A TRIAL FOR LIFE—
"This base and scurvy traitorguilty of foulest treason—"
"Our own eyes saw him—"
"The case is plain and needs no further speaking."
"I vote he lives."
"He dies."
"He'll walk the plank."
"Never let that villain from your sight till tomorrow noon strike the dial."
"I know a few tricks of the trade myself. At the bottom of the sea you'll find the ransom ship."
"Be comforted, lass. He lives."
"The agreement reads 'Spotless and unharmed till noon tomorrow'—break that and YE walk the plank."
The noonday of the TOMORROW—
"You know your orders. Follow them. We'll show them a trick they never heard of."
"Heave up your anchor and set sail. Other boats may follow."
"The Governor."
"His Excellency, the Governor."
"You have rid our seas of these villainous cutthroats. We are much in your debt, my Lord Duke."
"Lord Duke?"
"Princess!"
"Your Highness, we give thanks for your deliverance."
"Present me."
"What—you do not know each other!"
"You Highness—His Grace, the Duke of Arnoldo."
"Ladyforgive this suddenness—I have just been made known to you—but—"
"In the presence of all these—and I would it where the whole world—I ask your hand in marriage."
"The treasure in the Secret Hiding Place—a wedding gift."
THE END
Copyright 1926 by The Elton Corporation
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in 1926, before the cutoff of January 1, 1929.
Copyright law abroad tends to consider the following people authors of a film:
- The principal director
- The screenwriter, and/or other writers of dialogue
- The composer/lyricist (if the film is accompanied by sound)
- The cinematographer
- By extension, the authors of any works that may serve as the basis for a film's plot
The longest-living of these authors died in 1974, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 49 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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