Cinematical

Avast readarrs! Today be Septembarr 19th -- Talk Like a Pirate Day, where land lubbers lounge with arrsome pirate lingo without pillaging saucy wenches, donning patches, or walking the plank. Ye might ARR the day away, or watch yeself some Petarr Sarrsgarrd. But maybe ye like to pull out the bung, drink up ye Grog, and fire up the VCARR. If ye do, here be a treasure chest of movie booty and pirate kings. Godspeed!

Sorry, this is as far as my pirate-speak goes!

The Pirate King -- The Pirates of Penzance (1983)

In 1980 New York City theater producer Joseph Papp fired up The Pirates of Penzance for his Public Theater, with a young Kevin Kline cast as the Pirate King. It was so successful that the cast brought it to Broadway, and then onto the big screen with almost everyone reprising their roles (Angela Landsbury was the lone change). Kline swaggered, swung his sword, and wrapped his tongue around 'often' and 'orphans,' because -- he is the Pirate King, Taran-tara, Taran-tara, and it is, it is a glorious thing to be a Pirate King!
Captain Blood -- Captain Blood (1935)

Captain Blood is certainly not the only pirate film Errol Flynn was in, but it is one of his most famous. It was nominated for an Oscar, and while director Michael Curtiz didn't get a nod, he received the second-highest number of votes -- all write-ins. Flynn's Peter Blood went from life as an Irish doctor, to slavery, and then into a life of piracy. As a rogue pirate, Captain Blood is a charismatic, good-looking antihero full of bravery and that '30s sort of smile -- as well holding a spot as one of cinema's classic swashbucklers.

Dread Pirate Roberts -- The Princess Bride (1987)

Partially based on Flynn's Robin Hood, Cary Elwes' Wesley/Dread Pirate Roberts captured hearts and earned him a solid spot in cinematic history. He was the thought-to-be-slain love, who turned into the feared Pirate said to have killed him. Inconceivably, he wouldn't fall from ropes. He couldn't be stopped by Inigo Montoya -- or by a run-in with a giant, or poison, or the Fire Swamp -- or even death!

The Black Pirate -- The Black Pirate (1926)

There is NO honor among thieves, but there is honor in being an epic pirate. Douglas Fairbanks is one of the unforgettable -- and in The Black Pirate, he did it in the realm of silent film -- all in a goofy, low-cut, tank-top-like top and shorts, no less. Like Flynn, Fairbanks' pirate started as a land lubber, and slid into an acrobatic, memorable pirate who somehow got away with phrases like "grieve profoundly."

Captain Hook -- Peter Pan (1953)

The lone animated pirate, the dude didn't get many breaks. He wore a hook because a crocodile ate his hand, and as if that wasn't enough, he was so darned tasty that the thing followed him everywhere. He's pretty wimpy and foolish, but everyone knows who he is, and how he was to be foiled by a tight-wearing kid who flies. He might not be as ARRsome as the rest, but he's one of the most well-known, pirates around.

Long John Silver -- Treasure Island (1950)

Before Disney whipped up Hook, it gave families Treasure Island. Based on the famous novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Newton starred as the famous pirate and lovable villain -- Long John Silver who comes up against the tough kid, Jim (Bobby Driscoll). Treasures, hats, and parrots -- the flick has it all. And to top off the influence of Long John, we can't forget the food chain.

Captain Jack Sparrow -- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Of course, no one could wrap up some swashbuckling love like Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. He's got it all -- the love of rum, the clothes, the bad-guy allure -- whether he's chasing the Pearl, or showing Will the proper way to ooze chemistry with Elizabeth. He's also the only one who truly looks like he could be a pirate -- he's not spring clean fresh, but a little dirty, and wonderfully rough around the edges.