Best pirate movies

Best pirate movies

Pirate movies have been a Hollywood staple since the silent film era. They did well in theaters for many years, but fell on hard times until Disney revived them with "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." The fourth installment, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," just hit theaters, so we take a look back at the best pirate movies of all time.

'The Sea Hawk'
Just before he directed this classic love story, Michael Curtiz showed that he also knew something about pirates. Errol Flynn played the pirate in this classic, and was there ever any actor who better swashed a buckle? Johnny Depp has nice cheekbones, but everything he brings to the character of Jack Sparrow was done first by Flynn

'Captain Blood'
Although they later reached pirate perfection in "The Sea Hawk," director Michael Curtiz and Errol Flynn combined for one of the greatest sea adventures ever put on film. Flynn plays a doctor who is driven to become a plundering pirate and seeks gold, justice and Olivia de Havilland.

'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'
The two sequels of this movie -- "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End" -- seemed to run about 12 hours each. But the first one was fun, particularly because of Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush as the irrepressible Capt. Barbossa. Sure, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom were in it,

'Mutiny on the Bounty'
One could debate whether this is a true pirate movie, but Fletcher Christian certainly acted like a pirate when he took command of the Bounty from Captain Bligh. You may prefer a different version, but this is the one that won the best picture Oscar

'The Buccaneer'
Anthony Quinn directed, Cecil B. DeMille produced and Yul Brynner starred as pirate Jean Lafitte, who assists Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans. DeMille directed a pretty solid version two decades earlier

'Treasure Island'
Rent this version of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, and introduce your kids to the late, great Jackie Cooper.

'Peter Pan'
Disney's animated version of James Matthew Barrie's tale is just about perfect.

'The Pirate'
Cast alongside Judy Garland, Gene Kelly was the greatest dancing pirate who ever lived not that it's a very big field.

'The Pirates of Penzance'
Based on a Gilbert and Sullivan classic, this film is very theatrical. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Kevin Kline is amazing.

'The Black Swan'
Not to be confused with the dark ballet movie starring Natalie Portman, this swashbuckling film is an excellent, if dated, example of the genre, with Tyrone Power and the magnificent Maureen O'Hara.

'The Crimson Pirate'
Burt Lancaster, pirate. Enough said.