Anne of the Indies *** (1951, Jean Peters, Louis Jourdan, Debra Paget, Herbert Marshall, Thomas Gomez, James Robertson Justice, Sean McClory – Classic Movie Review 13,300

‘The storming, slashing, sweeping saga of history’s fabulous pirate queen!’ The 1951 Technicolor swashbuckling adventure film Anne of the Indies stars Jean Peters as female pirate Captain Anne Providence.

‘The storming, slashing, sweeping saga of history’s fabulous pirate queen!’

Director Jacques Tourneur’s 1951 Technicolor swashbuckling adventure film Anne of the Indies stars Jean Peters as female pirate Captain Anne Providence, Louis Jourdan as Captain Pierre François LaRochelle and Debra Paget as Molly LaRochelle, along with Herbert Marshall, Thomas Gomez, James Robertson Justice, Francis Pierlot and Sean McClory.

The screenplay by Philip Dunne and Arthur Caesar is credited as being based on a 1947 short story by Herbert Ravenal Sass.

Jean Peters enjoys a bravura role as cocksure early 18th century female pirate Captain Anne Providence, based on the real-life Anne Bonny, who terrorises the West Indies and clashes with her old boss Blackbeard (Thomas Gomez), aka Captain Edward Teach. Meanwhile the British force the French captain Pierre François LaRochelle (Louis Jourdan) into setting a trap for Anne (Peters).

The yarn is sometimes preposterous, maybe, but it is always jolly and lustily done. And, with the appealing performances from Jourdan, Paget, Herbert Marshall as Dr Jameson and James Robertson Justice as Red Dougal, plus 20th Century Fox’s colourful production and Tourneur’s lusty direction, the film sweeps ahead to the finishing line as lively adventure fare.

There is notable, crafted work behind the scenes, shot in Technicolor by Harry Jackson, scored by Franz Waxman, with Art Direction by Albert Hogsett and Lyle R Wheeler, and costumes designed by Edward Stevenson. It is an expensive production, and, though popular, may have struggled to get its money back. It took $1,550,000 at the US box office, but a previous 1948 attempt to make the film was abandoned as costing too much at $1.5 million.

Release date: October 18, 1951 (US).

The film is based on a 1947 Saturday Evening Post short story by historical fiction author Herbert Sass, who was later asked to write a movie treatment of it. In 1948 he handed in a fictionalised version of the true story of Anne Bonny, with a 10-page actual basis of the story. The final film script is entirely different from the original story, though Sass still got writer credit.

The screen rights to Herbert Sass’s story were bought by producer Walter Wanger in February 1948 as a vehicle for Susan Hayward but it was shelved and by 1950 she was unable to star in the film. Valentina Cortesa was going to take over, and then Constance Smith, before Jean Peters landed her first starring role. Fox studio boss Darryl F Zanuck said the studio had developed Peters for seven years and she ‘comes through big’ in the film.

Anne Bonny

A 1724 engraving of Anne Bonny from A General History of the Pyrates.

Anne Bonny (disappeared after 28 November 1720) is among the few recorded female pirates in history. She served under John Rackham, aka Calico Jack. Her date and place of birth are unknown.

There are very few recorded female pirates in history but John Rackham is remembered for having two female crew members: his lover Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

Rackham accepted the King’s Pardon in 1719 and moved to New Providence, where he met Anne Bonny, who was married to James Bonny. Anne joined him when he stole a British sloop in 1720 and returned to piracy with a crew including Mary Read, who was disguised as a man.

The crew were captured at sea in October 1720. Rackham and the male crew were tried and sentenced to death, but Bonny and Read survived by claiming to be pregnant. Read died in jail in April 1721, but Bonny’s fate is unknown.

The cast and credits

The cast are Jean Peters as Anne, aka Captain Providence, Louis Jourdan as Captain Pierre François LaRochelle, Debra Paget as Molly LaRochelle, Herbert Marshall as Dr Jameson, Thomas Gomez as Blackbeard, James Robertson Justice as Red Dougal, Francis Pierlot as Herkimer, Sean McClory as Hackett, Holmes Herbert as British sea captain, Byron Nelson as Bear handler, Mario Siletti as Auctioneer, James Dime as pirate, Douglas Bennett, Carleton Young, Lynn Davies, Lester Matthews, Olaf Hytten, William Walker, Sheldon Jett, Gene Ramey, and Harry Carter.

Anne of the Indies is directed by Jacques Tourneur, runs 82 minutes, is made and released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Philip Dunne and Arthur Caesar, based on a short story by Herbert Ravenal Sass, is shot in Technicolor by Harry Jackson, is produced by George Jessel, and is scored by Franz Waxman, with Art Direction by Albert Hogsett and Lyle R Wheeler, and costumes designed by Edward Stevenson.

Jean Peters (October 15, 1926 – October 13, 2000)

Jean Peters in Anne of the Indies.

Jean Peters recalled: ‘I would have died if I’d lost the part of Anne. The costumes are delirious. Any girl would look good in them. They have tight-fitting trousers and open throat shirt down to here, and free top boots. I’m in rags, really, but so picturesque and flattering. And the character is terrific. She’s a complete primitive, a girl raised by Blackbeard the pirate, who knows no other life than the law of might. Just an animal. Of course, I’m aware it’s a dangerous part, too. You could make an awful fool of yourself if you went overboard.’

Jean Peters’s stardom was short lived. After her final film A Man Called Peter (1955), she left 20th Century Fox to enjoy her private life.

Debra Paget

Debra Paget (born Debralee Griffin; August 19, 1933) is best known for Broken Arrow, Prince Valiant (1954),  The Ten Commandments (1956) and Love Me Tender (1956), and the snake dance scene in The Indian Tomb (1959).

Robert Newton’s portrayal of Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and Long John Silver (1954) has helped to popularise the portrayal of a pirate in pop culture.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,300

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