‘Double Crossbones’ Blu-Ray Review – Lighthearted Pirate Comedy Is A Pleasant Distraction

Donald O’Connor (Singin’ in the Rain) stars as a bumbling shopkeeper’s apprentice who finds his true calling on the South Seas in the comedy adventure Double Crossbones. When Davey Crandall (O’Connor) and his coworker, Tom Botts (Will Geer, Broken Arrow), are falsely accused of dealing in stolen treasure, they try to find refuge onboard Captain Ben Wickett’s ship. Through a series of hilarious mishaps, Davey soon finds himself the supposed captain and is embraced by the ruthless pirate community. Can this former man of peace still find his way into the heart of the righteous Lady Sylvia (Helena Carter, Time Out of Mind) or will his newfound pirate ways send her into the arms of another man? Set sail for romance and redemption in this lively Technicolor classic from director Charles Barton (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein).

For thoughts on Double Crossbones, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/ryBLRvEkLeE?t=689]

Video Quality

Kino Classics presents Double Crossbones with a really lovely Blu-Ray in 1.37:1 from what appears to be an older master that is in good shape. This transfer retains the natural film grain of the presentation with nothing ever seeming overly thick or swarming. The picture has fleeting moments of softness, but the gorgeous “tropical” hues (created on a soundstage) are well saturated with the bright colors popping off the screen. Skin tones are natural and consistent with distinct facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Instances of print damage such as nicks and lines still occasionally flash on the screen, but it is clear that the source has been well maintained over the years with overall clarity and detail appearing strong. The cinematography is served well with image stability and delineation being handled confidently. Black levels hold up admirably with very little in the way of crush. Kino Classics has done a fine job with this presentation. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a favorable DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that serves this film pretty well. Dialogue comes through without issues and exists in perfect harmony with all competing elements. All of the sound effects and the score appear to be faithful to the intent of the creative team. This track shows no substantial age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. The fidelity of the score makes it a winner as it complements the narrative. Despite the strength of this element, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. Kino Classics maintains their consistent quality here.

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film Critic/Author Lee Gambin and Actor/Film Historian Gary Frank provide a very informative commentary track in which they discuss how this fits into the career of Donald O’Connor, the state of the film industry in the wake of meetings of the House Un-American Activities Committee, the tone of the film, the background of the ensemble players, the legacy of the film and much more.

• Trailers: There are trailers provided for Reap The Wild Wind, Unconquered, Buccaneer’s Girl, Against All Flags and Son Of Ali Baba.  

Final Thoughts

Double Crossbones is nothing of great artistic merit, but it proves to be a fun adventure that does not take itself too seriously. Donald O’Connor is the perfect bumbling leading man who quickly finds himself in over his head. The production value is quite nice with fun costumes and great set design to bring this world to life. The film is expeditiously paced with very little time wasted on any filler. This is a simple, enjoyable film. Kino Classics has released a new Blu-Ray featuring a solid A/V presentation and an informative commentary track. If you like Donald O’Connor or find yourself intrigued by the idea of a good-natured pirate comedy, give this one a shot. Recommended 

Double Crossbones is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.