The Buccaneer (1958): cast, story & where to watch
1958 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1958, The Buccaneer is a drama, adventure, war and history film directed by Anthony Quinn, running about 119 minutes. “Piercing Drama of La Fitte - Man or Devil ?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. During the War of 1812 against Britain: General Andrew Jackson has only 1,200 men left to defend New Orleans when he learns that a British fleet will arrive with 60 ships and 16,000 men to take the city. In this situation an island near the city becomes strategically important to both parties, but it's inhabited by the last big buccaneer: Jean Lafitte. Although Lafitte never attacks American ships, the governor hates him for selling merchandise without taxes - and is loved by the citizens for the same reason. When the big fight gets nearer, Lafitte is drawn between the fronts. His heart belongs to America, but his people urge him to join the party that's more likely to win.
Who’s in it. The Buccaneer stars Yul Brynner as Jean Lafitte, Claire Bloom as Bonnie Brown, Inger Stevens as Annette Claiborne and Charlton Heston as Gen. Andrew Jackson, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, The Buccaneer has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Buccaneer page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Buccaneer tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Buccaneer (1958)?
- In US, The Buccaneer is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Buccaneer worth watching?
- The Buccaneer holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, adventure, war and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Buccaneer?
- The Buccaneer stars Yul Brynner, Claire Bloom, Inger Stevens, Charlton Heston and Charles Boyer.
- When was The Buccaneer released?
- The Buccaneer was released in 1958, with a runtime of about 119 minutes.