Best quality version of this out of print film, with DVD MENU (song selection), case and art... and shipped fast!

"Grand operatic fun with dashing Kline and wonderful supporting cast."   Steve Crum, VIDEO-REVIEWMASTER.COM

Pirates of Penzance (1983) on DVD! Kevin Kline, Linda Rondstadt and Angela Lansbury; Golden Globe Nominee

"A delight, beautifully sung by Kline, Ronstadt and Lansbury.” James Sanford, KALAMAZOO GAZETTE

Synopsis: Frederick, son of a wealthy 19th century man was to be apprenticed to a pilot, but due to a hard-of-hearing nurserymaid, was instead apprenticed to a pirate. Not just any pirate, but the Pirate King, leader of the not-so-fierce "Pirates of Penzance".  Bu t now his indentures are over, Frederick 's sense of duty calls him to rid the seas of these rather simple ruffians. Despite their track record, the pirates believe that they have an ace up their collective sleeves...  

Item description : Never released on DVD in North America — and now out-of-print in VHS. (Used copies on Amazon can go for upwards of $50.00 for a tape in new or pristine condition, which gives you some idea of how great this movie is)  As a technophile collector I spent quite some time trying to find the best possible copy I could.   Well this is it – significantly better than VHS – basically laserdisc quality. Good-as-new IMPORT, region-free, NTSC disc that will play in most DVD players worldwide.  DVD includes MENU with SCENE SELECTION (so that you can go right to your favorite songs), standard amoray case with nice wrap (cover art as pictured). Here is your chance to get a first class copy of this fun, family film for far less than what I have into it.   SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking exclusively for an official, studio-manufactured North American DVD version of this movie, it doesn’t exist – here or anywhere.   Please don’t buy this.   But if you’re looking for the very best possible version of this film, nicely packaged, you are in luck.  

Product Details

• Starring: Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Rondstadt, Rex Smith
• Director: Wilford Leach
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: PG
• Studio: Universal Studios
• Average Amazon Customer Review: **** 1/2 - based on 89 reviews.

Cast List
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
Louise Gold ....   Edith
Teresa Codling ....   Kate
G. B . Zoot Money ....   Pirate
Tilly Vosburgh ....   Daughter
Peppi Borza ....   Policeman
Preston Lockwood ....   Orchestra conductor
Romolo Bruni ....   Pinafore captain  

TRIVIA

• In Act II, there is an extra song ("My Eyes Are Fully Open") that is not originally from "The Pirates of Penzance." It's a modified version of a song from Gilbert and Sullivan's "Ruddigore". The inclusion of this song required 'Kline, Kevin' , Angela Lansbury, and Rex Smith to sing one of most dizzyingly rapid songs in the entire Gilbert and Sullivan catalogue.
• In this version several lines of dialogue and song lyrics have been changed to be comprehensible to an American audience. Thus "Can it be Custom House?" becomes "Can it be the Coast Guard?"
• Towards the end of the film, the pirates and police interrupt a production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" (also by Gilbert and Sullivan).

GOOFS

• Audio/visual unsynchronized: The lip-synching is often off (or ceases altogether), especially in choral numbers like "When the Foeman Bares His Steel".
• Continuity: As the Sergeant does a backbend while Mabel sings to him, the position of his hand on his chest keeps changing between shots (as opposed to the actual movement prescribed by the choreography).

  MEMORA B LE QUOTES

Samuel : I can explain in two words: we propose to marry your daughters.

[ As the maidens are about to roll up their stockings to go wading]
Frederic : Stop, ladies, pray!
Maidens: A man!

Mabel : Oh Frederic, can you not in the calm excellence of your wisdom reconcile it with your conscience to say something that will ease my father's sorrow?
Frederic : What?
Mabel : Can't you cheer him up?

Pirate King : Do you mean that in order to save his contemptible life, he dared to impress upon our credulous simplicity?

Sergeant : They come in force with stealthy stride. Our obvious course is now to hide!

Fredric : You make it a point of never attacking a weaker party than yourselves, and when you attack a stronger one you invariably get thrashed!
[ Pirates approach him with great indignation]
Pirate King : [ Holding up finger] There's some truth in that.

[ As Major-General Stanley has just entered the scene, all except the Pirate King sing to the tune of "Pirate King" ]
Samuel : For he is a Major General!
Daughters: He is, hurrah for the Major General!
Major General Stanley : And it is, it is a GLORIOUS thing to be a Major General.
All: IT IS! Hurrah for the Major General, hurrah for the Major General!
The Pirate King : That's the same as the "Pirate King" tune!

Major General Stanley : Now that I've introduced my self I should like to know what's going on here?

Frederic : OH, HORROR!
The Pirate King : What's the matter?
Frederic : Ought I tell you? No, no I cannot! And yet as one of your band -
The Pirate King : SPEAK OUT! I-CHARGE-YOU- B Y-THAT-SENSE-OF-CONSCIENTIOUSNESS-TO-WHICH-WE-HAVE-NEVER-YET-APPEALED-IN-VAIN!
[ All are astonished at this feat, including the Pirate King himself]
Pirate King : Yeah.

Sergeant : We observe too great a stress / On the risks which on us press / And of reference a lack / To our chance of coming back! / Still, perhaps it would be wise/Not to carp or criticize / For it's very evident / These attentions are well meant...

Pirate King : Don't swim, Fredric, take the dingy!

Pirate King : Left, right, left, right.
[ shouts]
Pirate King : Stop dinghy!