Growing up in the 80s, Yellowbeard was something of a cable staple – for a time it seemed like it was TV on every weekend. Just about every kid on my block was familiar with this pirate adventure. Then I grew up and forgot all about it. So it comes as a great surprise that Olive Films have brought the title back from obscurity to Blu-ray. This movie (along with Erik the Viking) features an absolutely incredible ensemble cast, including multiple Monty Python alumni. Many refer to this film and Erik as “Python-esque” comedies.
Graham Chapman stars as Yellowbeard, a buccaneer locked away in prison (for tax evasion) with knowledge that everyone desires – the location a massive treasure gained robbing ships across the Caribbean. When he’s set free, he’s introduced to his well-educated son Dan (Martin Hewitt). They set out to recover the loot, but Yellowbeard finds himself followed by ex-shipmates, government officials and just about anyone who has ever caught wind of the vast and mysterious hidden fortune.
Performers involved in all of the nonsense include Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Madeline Kahn, Peter Cook, James Mason, and heck, even David Bowie. This appears to be a fairly well-budgeted movie with large pirate ships, hidden fortresses and a few battle scenes. The Blu-ray image looks fantastic and really shows off the incredibly lush Mexican locations and impressive production design.
Truthfully, the flick itself is pretty scattershot and often ridiculous. One can see how it would appeal to a youngster (with a nonstop barrage of off-color potty humor and breast gags, which get old pretty quickly). Unfortunately, as an adult it doesn’t have quite the same appeal. In fact, a lot of the humor is tasteless. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard quite as many jokes about rape as are crammed into this effort.
With all of the talent involved, some elements do work. There are a few chuckles via a party at Queen Anne’s residence and amusingly bad advice given to Dan by a family member who insists that, “There’s more important things in life than reading.” However, a tipsy Peter Cook steals the show. His interaction with a little girl stands as the high point. Sure, it’s a pair of cheap gags set in a market that involve a kid behaving abhorrently and the elder gentlemen enacting revenge, but it does result in perhaps the biggest surprise and laugh in the flick.
Chapman also gives it his best as the pirate brute (barely even noticing a flogging he receives early on). In fact, it’s quite strange that as the film progresses, his character falls by the wayside to Dan. Yellowbeard largely disappears while numerous others take precedence – he ends up literally running around in the background for most of the second act.
Despite the criticism, it is fascinating just to watch and see famous face after famous face walk out from the wings. And it certainly has some chuckles, even if Yellowbeard really isn’t a very good movie overall. Of course, that’s just my personal opinion. It has loads of fans who would vehemently disagree, particularly those who saw it when they were young. They will all be thrilled at how good this movie looks in high-definition (Olive Films have done an excellent job with the presentation) and will surely enjoy catching up with a childhood favorite.
Below is a trailer for the movie, with a word of warning… like most previews, it contains the majority of the tale’s best gags.