‘THE BLACK PIRATE'

Evening Star, Issue 19613, 20 July 1927, Page 5

‘THE BLACK PIRATE'

Douglas Fairbanks lias long boon noted for his lavish and ambitious picture productions, bub in ‘ The Black Pirate,’ which comes to the Octagon Theatre on Friday evening, ho is reported as having outdone his own previous efforts. It is a faithful, thrilling epic of the golden days of buecanecr- . ing near the end of the eighteenth ceni tnry, and depicts vividly and colorfully the hectic life of the daredevil roamers cf the Spanish Main during, that era. In every way it is the most stupendous!) production that Fairbanks lias ever attempted, and from end to end it is filled with the unique athletic feats that place a Fairbanks picture in a class by itself In ‘ The Black Pirate ’ the star has thought up a number of new ideas that are as thrilling as they are novel.' The entire picture has been filmed in a remarkable new color process known as technicolor that reproduces with exactitude every tint, shade, and hue of Nature itself. Unlike many other color attempts, technicolor is entirely natural, minus all exaggeration, and restful to the eyes. The story opens with a burly pirate tearing the rings from the fingers of his captives. A . young boy who has been captured offers to join the crew with the secret intention of avenging the death of his father, who was killed by the pirate. In order to prove himself the boy says that he will capture a ship singlehanded. In this he is successful. He joins the band ,and is named “The Black Pirate. 1 ' Among the passengers of the captured ship was a beautiful girl, for whom the pirates drew lots. It was her‘misfortune to be von by the villainous second mate. The Black Pirate falls in love with her, and in order to protect her he suggests that she be held, unharmed lor a day in order to ransom her. As the boat leaves for the ransom he smuggles a, note aboard summoning aid, but his plans arc frustrated by the second mate. While attempting to icscue the girl the pirate is denounced and ordered to "walk the plank. Through the agency of a friend, however, he is able co slip his bonds and escape by swimming to the mainland. He returns with a - ship and men, captures the pirate vessel, and saves the girl. An unusual feature is the tact that there are only two women in the cast. Billie Dove is the heroine, and Tempo P.igott plays one of the minor roles.