The Pirate Movie is a vibrant adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's renowned musical, The Pirates of Penzance. The story begins with a charming pirate actor, Christopher Atkins, who encounters a group of young women during one of his performances. Among them is a shy girl named Mable portrayed by Kristy McNichol. He invites her to join him for a boat ride, but as luck would have it, her friends leave without her. In a frantic effort to catch up, Mable falls into the water and loses consciousness, leading to a fantastical dream about the handsome young man she just met.
The dream transports us to a dramatic scene featuring a fierce battle between two pirate ships. Here, we are introduced to Fredric, played by Christopher Atkins, who is commemorating his 21st birthday, marking the end of his apprenticeship as a pirate. In an unexpected twist, Fredric expresses his disillusionment with his fellow pirates, labeling them as "pathetic" since they show mercy to their captives, particularly the orphans. This soft-heartedness comes from the fact that the pirates themselves share a common background of being orphans. Fredric resolves to abandon his pirate life in favor of combating their tyranny, which leads him to be cast adrift in a dinghy.
After the debate on morals, a group of women appears on the beach, causing Fredric—who has only ever known Ruth played by Maggie Kirkpatrick—to feel overwhelmed and scare all but Mable away. Their subsequent conversation ignites a romantic connection as they quickly fall in love. However, their bliss is interrupted when the pirates capture them, planning to whisk the girls away aboard their ship for marriage. Mable cleverly warns the bandits about her father, the Major-General, portrayed by Bill Kerr. He arrives shortly after, leveraging his supposed status as an orphan to convince the pirates to let the girls go, as they remain docked nearby.
Wishing to marry, Mable and Fredric face a challenge due to a tradition that mandates the daughters marry in the order of their birth—Mable being the last. Complicating matters, her father wishes for her suitor to be wealthy, a condition Fredric cannot meet. Mable persuades her father to allow the marriage on the condition that Fredric retrieves the treasure stolen by the pirates. In a daring escapade, Mable and Fredric board the pirate ship to obtain the treasure map, which is tattooed on the captain's back. The successful recovery of the treasure gifts Fredric the opportunity to lead the fight against the impending pirate attack.
However, complications arise when Fredric learns a shocking truth from the Pirate King, played by Ted Hamilton, and Ruth: because he was born on February 29th, a leap year, he is not yet 21, and won't be for another 60 years. Persuaded by the Pirate King and Ruth, Fredric decides to rejoin the pirates, believing it to be his duty. He then informs the Pirate King of the Major-General's arrest plans, igniting a vow of revenge from the pirate leader.
Mable, left distraught, approaches the police for help to confront the pirates, declaring that she will lead them in the absence of Fredric. During their approach to the Major-General's estate, the comical portrayal of the police as bravado-filled yet cowardly becomes apparent, especially as the pirates approach. As the clashes between police and pirates intensify, the lovers find themselves estranged. The Major-General quietly wrestles with his conscience while the pirate assault escalates, leading to the capture of him and the daughters. The Pirate King condemns the Major-General to death, and the girls face captivity, only for Mable to suddenly realize it's all a dream and yearn for a happy conclusion.
Mable takes it upon herself to unite each of her sisters with either a pirate or a police officer. In an enchanting finale, the pirates and the daughters celebrate their union. When Mable and Fredric are finally united in marriage with the Major-General's approval, their story comes full circle. Mable awakens just in time to be saved by the pirate actor, Christopher Atkins, from the pier, and together they herald a future filled with happiness and song.
