DEVILSHIP PIRATES (uk dvd)
hammer films

The pirate ship Diablo (Spanish for "Devil"), breaks away from the rest of the fleet during a pitched battle, as the Spanish fleet is defeated by the English in 1588. Under the control of Captain Robeles (Christopher Lee), they shelter in marshland on the Cornish coast, in order to make repairs before setting sail once again for the Indies.
They stumble upon a small village and soon take over, pretending that the English have been defeated, and the Spanish are now the rulers of England.
In just a few days they will leave but not before they pillage and burn the town...

dvd review
The latest Hammer film to be released in the UK by Warner is this 1964 swashbuckler. A global exclusive, Devil-Ship Pirates (to adopt the original punctuation), is often overlooked by fans baying for the blood of the vampire franchises. Those that have taken time out to watch the film have found much to enjoy.

Watching the film for the first time in nearly a decade was refreshing - something like seeing a new Hammer picture. I had paid little attention during my first viewing, but much has changed since then, including my appreciation.

Hammer aimed this one at the kids during the school holidays, aiming for a "U" certificate. The level of violence, and swordplay in particular meant that the film was made very close to the limits of the certificate, and was perhaps a little much for very young audiences.

Devil-Ship Pirates would have played quite nicely as an "X" picture - a little more blood, and a little less restraint would be quite welcome. However, despite the restrictions, the film is very enjoyable. Today's offspring are a little more savy, Pirates of the Carribean offering more than its share of scares, and blazing guns.

Devil-Ship still cracks a fair pace. The concept is remarkably acceptable, and has potential to be further exploited in an updated narrative. The child is allowed to escape to the next town and yet the outsiders never come through. The marsh is allowed to trpa several members of the cast. The whole piece is claustrophobic, and tense. The outside world is never allowed to interfere in this tiny struggle.

Christopher Lee provides another fine swarthy performance as the dark, feared, Spaniard. The rest of the support are as competant. Andrew Keir is a little restrained, but adds welcome experience. Michael Ripper provides one of his beloved characters. This time, a jovial and enthusiastic pirate. Ripper's characters often act like a Greek chorus - lending asides and expositions to events. Totally exaggerated, but fun to watch.

Amongst the other cast members, a young Johnny Briggs (better known as Mike Baldwin from British television's long-running soap, Coronation Street) is a shining, youthful pirate. Barry Warren is the Spanish military representative on board the pirate ship, a stickler for rules, and John Cairney is Harry - the young hero of the piece, who's experiences with Sir Francis Drake have left him distrusting of all Spanish people.

Eye candy is provided by the beautiful Susan Farmer and Natasha Pyne - given slightly more substantial parts to play that the usual Hammer film.

Of course, the legends of the Diablo set are engrained in Hammer fans' inherited mythology - the ship becoming unstable and having to be destroyed amidst the film's firey climax.

Devil-Ship Pirates is superbly directed, and well performed. From the opening scenes of pitched battle between opposing factions, through the miniature invasion of Britain, to the purification ritual of the final fight. All helped by Bernard Robinson's superlative art direction, producing sets which look flawless. The whole film appears so much more expensive than the tiny budget.

An entertaining 82 minutes.

transfer
I can't complain about the transfer. Image seems particularly sharp, and colours are good. Perhaps a tiny bit muted, and not as vibrant as the original Technicolor should have allowed. The film is presented in a non-anamorphic 2.35:1, its original Hammerscope ratio. The lenses used, were devised by Hammer, and the process similar to Techniscope. In places the images looks slightly curved, something which provides an extra visual quirk. There is still some dirt, but overall excellent.

The print itself is a copy of the US version. Sporting the Columbia Pictures name at the start (in the UK, Associated British-Warner-Pathe were the distributors), and logo at the end. The UK print should be identical in length.

extras
My one disappointment continues to be the complete absence of any extra material. Not even a trailer is present on this disc. Surely Warner Bros or Studio Canal could employ someone to write some notes, prepare some interview material, trailers, posters, stills and what not? An excellent film, at a good price, let down only by the lack of supplements.

RJES

PURCHASE R2 DVD

purchase at amazon

DISC:
Release Date: 17th January 2005 (UK)

Feature length: 82 mins
Year of 1st release: 1964
Rating: PG
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 non-anamorphic widescreen
Audio: English 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono
No of Discs: 1
Region code: 2
Catalogue no: Z1 98672
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Price: £15.99 (RRP)
Cast: Christopher Lee, John Cairney, Barry Warren, Ernest Clark, Andrew Keir, Duncan Lamont, Michael Ripper, Susan Farmer
Director: Don Sharp

SPECIAL FEATURES:
* scene selection

see left for full details