The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer

Year: 1938

Runtime: 126 mins

Language: English

Director: Cecil B. DeMille

AdventureDramaRomanceHistory

The greatest adventure romance in Cecil B De Mille’s glorious gallery of screen triumphs! French pirate Jean Lafitte rescues a girl and joins the War of 1812.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Buccaneer (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Buccaneer (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1814-1815

The events unfold in the final phase of the War of 1812, as British forces threaten Washington and then focus on New Orleans. The period is defined by naval exploits, privateering, and frontier loyalties. Amid this tension, the defense of New Orleans becomes a pivotal moment for American identity and regional alliances.

Location

Washington, D.C., Louisiana (New Orleans), the swamps of Louisiana

The film opens with the White House in Washington, D.C. during the closing stages of the War of 1812. It then shifts to Louisiana, where Lafitte operates a trading post and his pirate crew navigates the bayous near New Orleans. The swampy environment becomes a crucial backdrop for pirate activity, defense preparations, and clandestine meetings.

🏛️ Washington D.C. 🗺️ Louisiana 🏞️ New Orleans swamps

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:27

Main Characters – The Buccaneer (1938)

Meet the key characters of The Buccaneer (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jean Lafitte (Fredric March)

Charismatic pirate-turned-seafarer who runs a shadow trading post in Louisiana. He weighs offers from the British against his loyalty to his home, ultimately aiding New Orleans with a pragmatic sense of honor. Lafitte faces the consequences of past violence while trying to protect his people, and he chooses to depart only after ensuring the city’s safety.

🗺️ Pirate 🛡️ Protector 💡 Strategist

Gretchen (Franziska Gaal)

The sole survivor saved by Dominique You after being forced aboard a wrecked ship. She becomes Lafitte’s maid and secretly falls in love with him, complicating loyalties amid the conflict. Her presence testifies to the human cost of war and the quiet bonds formed in peril.

💃 Survivor 💕 Love interest 🧭 Witness

Annette de Remy (Margot Grahame)

A young woman of good family who embodies society’s constraints and expectations. She challenges Lafitte to renounce piracy, and her heart is broken when Lafitte departs after the tragedy surrounding the Corinthian. Her arc reflects the clash between aristocratic propriety and wartime loyalty.

👑 High society 💔 Heartbreak 🕊️ Hope

General Andrew Jackson (Hugh Sothern)

Brevet Major General who leads American forces and is wary of Lafitte’s aid. He ultimately agrees to pardon Lafitte’s men, but only after the crucial defense of New Orleans. Jackson embodies pragmatic leadership under pressure and the cost of strategic compromises.

🗽 Leadership ⚔️ Military strategy 🧭 Caution

Captain Brown (Robert Barrat)

Lafitte’s captain who disobeys orders by seizing the Corinthian, burning ships, and killing the crew. His actions precipitate Lafitte’s harsh response, highlighting the perils of mutiny and divergent loyalties within a pirate hierarchy.

⚔️ Mutiny 🛳️ Naval action 🔥 Violence

Dolly Madison (Spring Byington)

The First Lady who evacuates the White House as the British advance, representing civilian leadership and the resilience of national institutions during wartime.

🏛️ Leadership 🕊️ Resilience 👑 Civilians

Senator Crawford (Ian Keith)

A political figure who nudges Lafitte toward collaboration with the British, embodying wartime politicking. He meets a fatal end in a swordfight with Lafitte, underscoring how ambition can collide with the harsh realities of honor.

🏛️ Politics ⚔️ Conflict 💀 Rivalry

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:27

Major Themes – The Buccaneer (1938)

Explore the central themes of The Buccaneer (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🛡️ Loyalty & Honor

Jean Lafitte wrestles with a pirate’s reputation and a deeper loyalty to Louisiana. He resists British offers and aligns with American defenders when the moment requires it. His decisions show a code of honor that transcends profit and personal risk. The theme highlights how allegiance can redefine a life spent on the edge of law.

⚔️ Betrayal & Redemption

Captain Brown’s disobedience triggers deadly consequences and tests Lafitte’s trust. Senator Crawford’s scheming further complicates loyalties, culminating in a sword confrontation that reshapes allegiances. Gretchen’s survival and Lafitte’s responsibility for the tragedy force a reconciliation with the past. Redemption emerges through decisive action and guarded forgiveness.

🔥 War & Defense

New Orleans becomes the crucible where strategic choices and courageous action determine the city’s fate. Lafitte’s gunners and Jackson’s leadership marshal limited resources into a formidable defense against a disciplined British army. The narrative ties personal risk to collective resilience, underscoring how courage and collaboration win battles. The cost of war is felt in torn loves and hard decisions.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:27

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The Buccaneer Summary

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The Buccaneer Summary

The Buccaneer Timeline

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The Buccaneer Timeline

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