Don Sharp directed this pirate film set in 1588, where a pirate ship led by Captain Robeles(played by Christopher Lee) is fighting for the Spanish Armada against the British. Their ship is badly damaged, and must go into dock for necessary repairs before they are captured. Their only chance is to convince an isolated nearby English village that in fact, the Spanish have won the battle(and not the other way around) which they manage to do at first, but after awhile, the village men become suspicious, and begin a campaign of sabotage and resistance, in the hope that they are in fact right... Good adventure yarn with interesting premise, fine acting, and well-staged action scenes. One of the best non-horrors from Hammer studios.

This is quite an exciting Hammer action film dealing with a Spanish Armada ship that lands on the English Coast oh, and takes over the village, hiding the fact that the Spanish have surrendered to the crown. The villagers do not know what's going on, and Captain Christopher Lee intends on holding out as long as he can, before taking his ship and the remaining crew to the East Indies rather than back to Spain. But clever villagers managed to plot a rebellion even though they don't know the truth, and of course with that truth is revealed, they have the key to defeating Lee and his men even though he plans on taking a bunch of hostages to ensure their easy escape.

A fun, colorful adventure yarn that is non-stop excitement and features laid in a great part outside of horror villains. It looks like no expense was spared in creating a believable atmosphere, with the village and surrounding area (which includes mock that could suck anybody that falls in under) nicely designed. Lee is having a lot of fun and looks great in his tight uniform got taken from ship's captain to pirate, conqueror and kidnapper. The Supporting Cast is great too, and there are some very intense moments involving potential car games that manage do not go through at the last minute. And of course there's a little kid who ends up saving the day by finding out the truth. While this may not be historically accurate and obviously fictional, it's a great look at the Elizabethan age that builds up to a sensational explosive conclusion.

1588. A severely damaged Spanish pirate ship is forced to pull into a small isolated village on the British coast for repairs. The pirates led by the stern, fearsome, and ruthless Captain Robeles (a terrific performance by Christopher Lee) convince the villagers that they have won the war and are their rightful masters. Director Don Sharp, working from a tight and compelling script by Jimmy Sangster, does a sound job with the engrossing story: the steady pace never falters, there's a vivid and credible evocation of the period, the lively sword fights are staged with real skill and brio, the pirates are a memorably scruffy and scurvy bunch, the strong central theme about bravery and cowardice adds extra substance to the narrative, and the thrilling fiery conclusion delivers the exciting goods. Moreover, further kudos are in order for the fine acting from a bang-up cast, with especially stand-out turns by Barry Warren as the firm and no-nonsense Don Manuel Ridrigeuz de Savilla, John Cairney as the bitter and insolent Harry, Suzan Farmer as the sweet Angela Smeeton, Michael Ripper as the jolly Pepe, Duncan Lamont as the tough and loyal the Bosun, Ernest Clark as the wimpy and sycophantic Sir Basil Smeeton, Natasha Pyne as the fragile Jane, and Andrew Keir as the pragmatic Tom. Michael Reed's vibrant widescreen cinematography gives the picture a pleasingly handsome look. Gary Hughes' spirited score likewise does the zesty trick. A very worthwhile and enjoyable movie.