DANCING PIRATE (1936) Charles Collins, Steffi Duna & Frank Morgan I 4K UHD Remastered | TECHNICOLOR

Dancing Pirate is a 1936 American musical comedy film directed by Lloyd Corrigan. It is the third film shot in the three strip Technicolor process and the first musical in that format. Produced by the makers of Becky Sharp, the film was based on the December 1930 Colliers Magazine story Glorious Buccaneer by Emma-Lindsay Squier a serious and action filled romance that may have been inspired by the story of Joseph Chapman. The film features the debut of stage star Charles Collins and the cast includes Rita Hayworth as one of The Royal Cansino Dancers. Other dancers in the film were Pat Nixon and Marjorie Reynolds.

SYNOPSIS
The story of a Boston dance teacher who gets shanghaied by buccaneers who might make his next steps be off the plank!

Set in Boston in the 1820s, the film tells of dance teacher Jonathan Pride, shanghaied by pirates and forced to be a slave aboard his own ship. Jonathan is able to join a provisioning party that lands on the coast of California, then a part of the Spanish Empire where he makes his escape; his only possessions being his umbrella and music box that he uses for his dancing lessons.

He is seen by a shepherd who warns the nearest town whose excitable population transform Jonathan's arrival into a full-fledged pirate invasion. The Alcalde Don Emilio Perena leads the militia into shooting up their own town whilst Jonathan is later captured in the boudoir of the Alcade's daughter Serafina. Jonathan is sentenced to death.

When Serafina and the women of the town discover Jonathan's profession of dancing teacher, his execution is delayed until he teaches the waltz to the women of the town.

Meanwhile, Serafina's suitor Don Balthazar, a Captain of the Guards of the Presidio of Monterey, and some of his soldiers visit the town to not only marry Serafina and Don Balthazar, but unbeknownst to the town he has been cashiered from the Army along with his men who seek to loot the town. Don Balthazar also plans on secretly executing his rival Jonathan.

Jonathan makes his escape and motivates the local downtrodden but peaceful Indians into an uprising through teaching them a torrid war dance.

CAST & CREW
Charles Collins as Jonathan Pride
Frank Morgan as Mayor Don Emilio Perena
Steffi Duna as Serafina Perena
Luis Alberni as Pamfilo (the Jailer)
Victor Varconi as Don Balthazar (Monterey Captain of the Guards)
Jack La Rue as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide)
Alma Real as Blanca (Serafina's Maid)
William V. Mong as Tecolote (Old Indian)
Mitchell Lewis as Pirate Chief
Julian Rivero as Shepherd
John Eberts as Mozo
The Royal Cansino Dancers as Dancers
Rita Hayworth as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by Lloyd Corrigan
Written by Ray Harris (screenplay), Francis Edward Faragoh (screenplay), Jack Wagner (adaptation), Boris Ingster (adaptation), Emma-Lindsay Squier (story)
Produced by Merian C. Cooper (executive producer), John Speaks (producer)
Cinematography William V. Skall
Edited by Archie Marshek
Music by Alfred Newman, Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (songs)
Production company Pioneer Pictures
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release date May 22, 1936
Running time 83 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
The films is set in the 1820s. A dance teacher from Boston is enslaved by pirates, but escapes when the pirate ship lands in Spanish California. The local authorities mistake him for a pirate and sentence him to death. His execution is delayed in order for him to give dance lessons to the local women. When disgruntled former soldiers turn to banditry, the captive teacher counters their efforts by orchestrating a revolt of the indigenous peoples of California.