The Pirate

Dir. Vincente Minnelli. 1948, 102 mins. U.S. 35mm. With Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Walter Slezak. One of Minnelli’s most purely enjoyable movies, this high-energy musical comedy is an endless hall of mirrors that gives Judy Garland and Gene Kelly two of their funniest roles, allowing him to show off his dazzling athletic prowess and her to flaunt her comic genius in scene after scene. One of the great Freed Unit entertainments—and one of its most decidedly queer texts—The Pirate follows Garland’s frustrated, betrothed Manuela, who wants to escape from her daily drudgery and boring fiancé into a fantasy world and be whisked away by the romantic pirate Macoco. However, the assumed Macoco (played by Kelly) is actually an actor in disguise, while the real Macoco is hidden in plain sight. Wild plot turnabouts abound, as do some of Kelly’s most remarkable physicals feats, in this nonstop Technicolor delight.

Tickets: $17.50 / $12 senior and students / $10 youth / $7 MoMI members. There is a $1.50 transaction fee per ticket for all online purchases. The cost of admission may be applied toward a same-day purchase of a membership.

Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission.