Many of the cast of Monty Python reunite alongside the cream of American and British Comedy talent for this comedic romp scripted by Graham Chapman and Peter Cook. Chapman (Life of Brian) is the titular Yellowbeard, the most feared pirate in history but now languishing in jail (for tax evasion). On the eve of his release the British Admiralty plot to keep him incarcerated in the secret hope he will be forced to escape and then go after his fabled treasure. He duly does, discovering his wife has lost the map but has helpfully tattooed a copy on the head of the son he never knew he had who is, shame of shame, an intellectual. A frantic pursuit for the treasure ensues as Yellowbeard’s son, his old crew, the full might of the British Empire and even the local monks all attempt to beat the unfortunate pirate to his plunder. The film successfully lampoons the ‘pirate genre’ taking in everything from alcoholic noblemen, megalomaniacal Spanish priests, to the pitfalls of pirate maritime etiquette and press gangs as a means of inexpensive ocean travel. Yellowbeard also features the last cinematic appearance of Spike Milligan as well as an hilarious cameo by David Bowie.

Contact the STUDIOCANAL Publicity Team