Cutthroat Island (1995)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers (WGA):

Michael Frost Beckner (story) &
James Gorman (story) ...

Release Date:

22 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Family | Romance

Tagline:

The Course Has Been Set. There Is No Turning Back. Prepare Your Weapons. Summon Your Courage. Discover the Adventure of a Lifetime!

Plot:

A female pirate and her companion race against their rivals to find a hidden island that contains a fabulous treasure.

Plot Keywords:

Treasure | Pirate | Slave | Pirate Ship | Rope

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Geena Davis	...	Morgan Adams
Matthew Modine	...	William Shaw
Frank Langella	...	Dawg Brown
Maury Chaykin	...	John Reed
Patrick Malahide	...	Govenor Ainslee
Stan Shaw	...	Glasspoole
Rex Linn	...	Mr. Blair
Paul Dillon	...	Snelgrave, Reaper's 1st Mate
Christopher Masterson	...	Bowen (as Chris Masterson)
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Tom Scully
Harris Yulin	...	Black Harry
Carl Chase	...	Bishop
Peter Geeves	...	Fiddler pirate
Angus Wright	...	Capt. Trotter
Ken Bones	...	Toussant

Also Known As:

Corsari (Italy)
Die Piratenbraut (Germany)
L'île aux pirates (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some strong pirate action/violence and brief sensuality.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA | France | Italy | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #34180) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:PG | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (cut)

Filming Locations:

Malta

Company:

Beckner/Gorman Productions

Trivia:

Total cost: $115 million. Total box office earnings: $10 million. Total loss: $105 million.

Goofs:

Continuity: When William Shaw is in the captain's quarters trying to decipher the treasure map, he looks at a log book dated 1670, though the opening titles indicate the movie takes place in 1668.

Quotes:

Dawg: You plannin' to fight me with that little stick?
Morgan: No, Uncle. With this!
[Morgan reveals a loaded cannon and lights it, aiming it at Dawg]
Morgan: Bad Dawg!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Charmed: Charrrmed! (#7.4)" (2004)

A Fun Movie....But TOO Much Action

Despite being fun to watch and very entertaining, this is not a film that draws me back for many viewings. Maybe it's too absurd: a beautiful woman pirate "Morgan Adams" (Geena Davis) punching everyone out at every turn can get a ridiculous and tiresome after awhile. It just an excess of everything, almost cartoon-like.

If you haven't had enough action in first hour (and you do), the last half really goes crazy with a non-stop battle scene that goes on and on and on.

Nevertheless, there are some good things to watch in here besides Davis and her pretty face. the movie was filmed in Malta and in Thailand and features some beautiful island photography. The ship is magnificent and when two ships are side-by-side firing cannons at one another, it's an awesome sight and even more awesome sound. You really need to watch this with a good stereo system to appreciate the great audio work in here.

Frank Langella also makes for an interestingly effective villain ("Dawg Brown") while Matthew Modine ("William Shaw") chips in with a co-star and male companion for the good guy, er good girl , Davis character.