The Devil-Ship Pirates

1964
Approved
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

942

YOUR RATING

Action Adventure Thriller

A damaged privateer deserts the Spanish Armada and makes land for repairs near a village on the British coast, terrorizing the local inhabitants.A damaged privateer deserts the Spanish Armada and makes land for repairs near a village on the British coast, terrorizing the local inhabitants.A damaged privateer deserts the Spanish Armada and makes land for repairs near a village on the British coast, terrorizing the local inhabitants.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

942

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
According to Sir Christopher Lee, Hammer had built a full-sized galleon in some sand pits on a steel structure under the water. Although warned not to have too many people on-board at once, one day the tea boat was lifted onto a platform level with the water with too many people getting their tea. The ship capsized throwing most of the cast and crew in the water. Lee was on the poop deck and luckily managed to hold onto the rail. Thankfully no one was drowned or seriously hurt.

Goofs
The naval battle depicted in the opening credits sequence, purported to be a battle involving the Spanish Armada in 1588, and which is obviously stock footage from some other film, includes wooden naval vessels and, more glaringly, naval attire from a much later period, late-18th Century at least.

Quotes
The Bosun: [Referring to the Spanish attache] He's still alive!
Captain Robeles: Throw him overboard!

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: July 1588

In the English Channel the British Fleet has been battling for two days against the mighty Spanish Armada....

Badly damaged, with half their crews killed, the ships of Spain battle their way on up the Channel. And in the thickest part of the fighting is one of the smallest Spanish ships-the licensed privateer "Diablo".

Alternate versions
For its original UK cinema release the film was cut by the BBFC with edits to the fight in the tavern in order to receive a 'U' certificate. All later video releases were restored and uncut.

Connections
Featured in The World of Hammer: Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee (1994)

User reviews24

Review

Featured review

7/10

Great Title.

Don Sharp directed this pirate film set in 1588, where a pirate ship led by Captain Robeles(played by Christopher Lee) is fighting for the Spanish Armada against the British. Their ship is badly damaged, and must go into dock for necessary repairs before they are captured. Their only chance is to convince an isolated nearby English village that in fact, the Spanish have won the battle(and not the other way around) which they manage to do at first, but after awhile, the village men become suspicious, and begin a campaign of sabotage and resistance, in the hope that they are in fact right... Good adventure yarn with interesting premise, fine acting, and well-staged action scenes. One of the best non-horrors from Hammer studios.