This powerful story takes place in 1717, on the high seas with Blackbeard and his evil band of pirates, brutally taking over Captain Benjamin Hornigold's pirate ship, The Queen Anne's Revenge. The notorious pirates then hijack a French sailing vessel, confiscate its cargo, and mercilessly murder the French captain and his crew.

Lt. Robert Maynard, an officer in the Royal Navy, is given a mission by His Majesty The King, to find the Queen Anne's Revenge, its notorious crew of pirates and stop them........ ......... ......... ......... .....

Lt. Maynard falls in love with Charlotte Unger, adopted daughter of the Governor of New Providence, Charles Eden (Richard Chamberlain) . As the romance unfolds, Governor Eden is found devising a plot to kill his adopted daughter, before she turns 21. At that time, she will inherit a fortune from the estate of her deceased parents, and the Governor plans to get rid of her, so he can control the fortune himself. The legendary Richard Chamberlain, plays a villainous
political/pirate conspirator, and is deliciously evil in this intriguing role. With one "chilled" stare, he turns your very heart "stone" cold. The movie was worth watching, for its enjoyment of the versatile actor's "wicked wizardry."

When Robert is discovered eavesdropping while on a mission into town, he is drugged and taken aboard the pirate ship. After a night of drunken partying, at Sally's Saloon, he unknowingly divulged his ability to navigate a ship, and the pirates promptly forced him to navigate The Queen Anne's Revenge, heading out on the high seas, to discover Captain Kidd's legendary treasure. The pirates haven't a clue he is a knowledgeable navigator/officer in the Royal Navy, whose assignment is ........ to STOP their heinous activities.

Rachel Ward, who incidentally played opposite Richard Chamberlain in the famous mini-series The Thornbirds, played Sally, the owner of the infamous Saloon. This time her character was classless and coarse. She smoked a pipe, talked like a sailor, and looked like a dishevelled mess. The tatooed hussy, was also Blackbeard's mistress. Both Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain played against type, and seeing them together again, instantly brings to mind, their magnificent and memorable roles as Meggie and Father Ralph in the greatly loved classic, The Thornbirds.

Blackbeard shares his treasure map, and a letter left by Captain Kidd with the young navigator, Robert Maynard. Lt. Maynard guides him to an island, where they find a colony of stranded subjects, whose allegiance had been to Captain Kidd when he was alive. The various clues deciphered by Lt. Maynard, leads them to a hidden cave, which is only accessible at low tide. The treasure chest is uncovered, but they barely make it out before the tide comes in.

When Blackbeard discovers Lt. Maynard attempting to rescue one of the families on the island, he becomes enraged. As punishment for stealing a dinghy off his ship, the psychopathic Blackbeard leaves Lt. Maynard stranded on an isolated island to die.

The self-sufficient Maynard finds a raft, and sets out to sea. He trades his raft for an abandoned fishing boat, floating aimlessly, and is eventually discovered and picked up by his own military ship. He swiftly sails back to New Providence, where Blackbeard and his pirates are found tyranizing the citizens. There, he confronts the treacherous governor Eden, reveals his secret liaison with the pirates, and exposes his shady plans. In retaliation, the pirates kidnap Charlotte and take her to the infamous Vulture Island. Lt. Maynard commissions his soldiers to find Blackbeard, and bring him to justice. While on their mission, they bravely rescue Charlotte from the predatory pirates.

Together again, and armed with clues, Robert and Charlotte find Captain Kidd's treasure, and load it onto their ship to bring back to New Providence. Blackbeard learns they have the treasure, and The Queen Anne's Revenge attacks Lt. Maynard's military ship. When the pirates board the ship, Lt. Maynard and his soldiers are waiting. The Fighting ensues, and Blackbeard demonstrates his diabolical desperation, but the swift sword wielded by Lt. Maynard, knocks him to the floor, with a calculated blow. With perspiration dripping down his face, Lt. Robert Maynard lays down his bloody sword. He stares off into the horizon, with a satisfied smile on his face. Blackbeard is dead, and Robert raises his valiant sword, for all to share in this triumphant moment! At last ... He has fulfilled the commission to His Majesty The King ........ the maniacal Blackbeard and his ruthless pirates have been stopped!

By Judy Crocker

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