THE BLACK PIRATE (1926) – Fairbanks starred as the Duke of Arnoldo aka the Black Pirate in this high seas adventure that captured the feel of Rafael Sabatini’s novels and the look of Howard Pyle’s artwork of the Golden Age of Piracy. The seizing, plundering and destruction of treasure-laden ships has rarely looked so stunning.
While pursuing his career of piracy, our hero is simultaneously looking for revenge on the pirate captain who killed his father. The Black Pirate features some of Doug’s best action set pieces since his 1920 classic The Mark of Zorro – all manner of sword fights, including with two swords at once, swinging from the ship’s ropes, seizing a prize ship literally single handed and more.
Fairbanks even imitated his own “slash and ride down a tapestry” stunt from Robin Hood, this time slashing and riding down a sail during an action scene. Ultimately, the Black Pirate gets revenge and saves a beautiful noblewoman from a fate worse than death.
Billie Dove played Princess Isobel, but Douglas’ real-life wife Mary Pickford did an uncredited cameo as the character for the final passionate kiss with our hero.
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