The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance

G 1983 · 112 min · ★ 6.1 · Comedy, Music, Romance, Adventure

As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems.

Directed by Wilford Leach · Written by Wilford Leach

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Rent or Buy

Cast

Kevin Kline The Pirate King
Angela Lansbury Ruth
Linda Ronstadt Mabel
George Rose Maj. Gen. Stanley
Rex Smith Frederic
Tony Azito Sergeant
David Hatton Samuel
Tim Bentinck Pirate
Mike Grady Pirate
Andrew Paul Pirate
Louise Gold Edith Stanley
Teresa Codling Kate Stanley

Make it a double feature

3h 55m together

The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance

Both from Wilford Leach.

More from Wilford LeachSee all →

All's Well That Ends Well

All's Well That Ends Well · 1978

All's Well That Ends Well

MovieDramaComedy

Video recording of a 1978 New York Shakespeare Festival performance. Directed for stage by Wilford Leach and videotaped by Jaime Caro.

The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance · 1980

The Pirates of Penzance

MovieMusicComedy

As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems. Filmed live from Central Park prior to the production's transition to Broadway.

Coriolanus

Coriolanus · 1979

MovieHistoryDrama

A video recording of a New York Shakespeare Festival 1979 stage production of Coriolanus with an all-black and Hispanic cast. Producer Joseph Papp intended to provide professional opportunities for actors of minority ethnic backgrounds. A banished hero of Rome allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city.

The Wedding Party

The Wedding Party · 1969

The Wedding Party

MovieComedyRomance

Young Charlie begins to develop cold feet as his wedding looms nearer. Desperate to throw the plans off-track, he tries a variety of tactics, including attempting to rekindle the relationship between his fiancée, Josephine, and her former boyfriend.

More Like This

Poetic Justice

Poetic Justice · 1993

MovieDramaRomance

Still grieving after the murder of her boyfriend, hairdresser Justice writes poetry to deal with the pain of her loss. Unable to get to Oakland to attend a convention because of her broken-down car, Justice gets a lift with her friend, Iesha, and Iesha's postal worker boyfriend, Chicago. Along for the ride is Chicago's co-worker, Lucky, to whom Justice grows close after some initial problems. But is she ready to open her heart again?

The Island

The Island · 1980

MovieThrillerMystery

David Nau leads a band of modern day pirates who raid yachts and sail boats of people on vacation in the Caribbean. When reporter Blair Maynard and his son arrive to investigate the mystery of the disappearing boats, Nau and his band of raiders decide to induct them into their tribe.

Pump Up the Volume

Pump Up the Volume · 1990

Pump Up the Volume

MovieMusicDrama

Mark Hunter, a lonely high school student, uses his shortwave radio to moonlight as the popular pirate DJ "Hard Harry." When his show gets blamed for a teen committing suicide, the students clash with high school faculty and the authorities.

Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers · 2001

MovieWesternAction

Ten years after the Civil War has ended, the Governor of Texas asks Leander McNelly to form a company of Rangers to help uphold the law along the Mexican border. With a few veterans of the war, most of the recruits are young men who have little or no experience with guns or policing crime.

Newsies

Newsies · 2017

MovieMusicComedy

A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's hard-ball tactics.

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt · 2024

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt

MovieDramaRomance

1915, Sarah Bernhardt is the world's first star. Free. Modern. Divine. Eccentric. Visionary... Between legend and fantasy, Sarah Bernhardt tells us the love story that marked her life.

Little Women

Little Women · 1994

MovieDramaRomance

Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion · 1997

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

Two not-too-bright party girls reinvent themselves for their high school reunion. Armed with a borrowed Jaguar, new clothes and the story of their success as the inventors of Post-It notes, Romy and Michele descend on their alma mater, but their façade crumbles quickly.

Waterworld

Waterworld · 1995

MovieAdventureAction

In a futuristic world where the polar ice caps have melted and made Earth a liquid planet, a beautiful barmaid rescues a mutant seafarer from a floating island prison. They escape, along with her young charge, Enola, and sail off aboard his ship. But the trio soon becomes the target of a menacing pirate who covets the map to 'Dryland'—which is tattooed on Enola's back.

Happy Feet

Happy Feet · 2006

MovieAnimationComedy

Into the world of the Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through song, a penguin is born who cannot sing. But he can tap dance something fierce!

Major League

Major League · 1989

When Rachel Phelps inherits the Cleveland Indians from her deceased husband, she's determined to move the team to a warmer climate—but only a losing season will make that possible, which should be easy given the misfits she's hired. Rachel is sure her dream will come true, but she underestimates their will to succeed.

The Great Mouse Detective

The Great Mouse Detective · 1986

The Great Mouse Detective

MovieAnimationFamily

When the diabolical Professor Ratigan kidnaps London's master toymaker, the brilliant master of disguise Basil of Baker Street and his trusted sidekick Dawson try to elude the ultimate trap and foil the perfect crime.

Missing Link

Missing Link · 2019

MovieFamilyAnimation

The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost considers himself to be the world's foremost investigator of myths and monsters. Trouble is, none of his small-minded, high-society peers seems to recognize this. Hoping to finally gain acceptance from these fellow adventurers, Sir Lionel travels to the Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature known as the missing link.

Moby Dick

Moby Dick · 1956

MovieAdventureDrama

In 1841, young Ishmael signs up for service aboard the Pequod, a whaler sailing out of New Bedford. The ship is under the command of Captain Ahab, a strict disciplinarian who exhorts his men to find Moby Dick, the great white whale. Ahab lost his leg to that creature and is desperate for revenge. As the crew soon learns, he will stop at nothing to gain satisfaction.

Yes Man

Yes Man · 2008

MovieComedyRomance

Carl Allen, a guy whose life is going nowhere, signs up for a self-help program based on one simple covenant: say yes to everything…and anything.

Justice League: The New Frontier

Justice League: The New Frontier · 2008

Justice League: The New Frontier

MovieActionAdventure

The human race is threatened by a powerful creature, and only the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and The Flash can stop it. But can they overcome their differences to thwart this enemy using the combined strength of their newly formed Justice League?

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter