‘HAROLD ROBBINS’ THE PIRATE’ MINISERIES (1978)

 

It was during a three month break from a minor surgery (busted knee) that I took the plunge and watched the two part TV screen adaptation of THE PIRATE, based on the Harold Robbins novel of the same name. Mind you, I still hadn’t opened the book and I was really hesitant to watch the miniseries. Like many of you, I always prefer reading the material on which a film or a mini is based before catching it on screen. However, since I was a tad curious and, more importantly, far from being of sound and mind (I blame the meds), I finally screened it. 

THE PIRATE dives into the melodrama rather quickly when the adopted son (Franco Nero) of a powerful Arab couple ends up ruling the vast oil fortune of his country without knowing he’s actually born to Jewish parents—a secret kept from him for the most part of the miniseries.  His charmed life is shown via many scenes involving the Jet Set where our protagonist ends up having a torrid affair with an American debutante, played by the delightful Anne Archer. So enamoured he becomes of her he chooses to leave his Muslim wife and daughters. Thus begins his many problems, one of which resulting in his eldest daughter (the recently departed Olivia Hussey) joining a clan of rebels to destroy and eventually kidnapping his son from Archer.

I could go on and on about the plot but, like I always say, this would lead me to reveal too much and spoil everything, as if I had not done it already. Anyway, yes, I had fun watching this miniseries. Not my favorite Robbins adaptation (penned by Julius J. Epstein who co-authored the silver screen classic CASABLANCA) but still enjoyable to a certain degree.  Franco Nero is fine as the adopted son. But the real star is without a doubt Anne Archer who gives just the right dose of camp every time she’s on-screen. In fact, she seems to be the only one having fun. In any event, check her out in this if you can. 

I know the mini is still hard to find. It took me years to finally be able to watch it. THE PIRATE certainly deserves to be available everywhere on disc or on a popular streaming service. Maybe there’s a copyright issue or something.  I have no idea. But like the TV remake of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1981) and Robbins other small screen adaptation of THE DREAM MERCHANTS (1980), it sure deserves a wider viewership, however average—well, to me, anyway—a miniseries can turn out to be.

 

Until next post—Martin