Shootings, murder plots, psychics, boat chases, fights – and that’s only what happened behind the scenes on the adult movie Captain Lust (1976). But what really happened on set? On this Rialto Report, we speak to the Steven Barry – the scriptwriter, Carter Stevens – the production manager, and finally Beau Buchanan – the film’s director, about the events of August 1976 and the shooting of Captain Lust.

This episode running time is 64 minutes.

I’ve always been intrigued by this 1976 film; it’s an entertaining porn, musical, pirate film – costing well over $100,000 to make – that was inspired by the 1976 American bicentennial celebrations where scores of tall ships convened in the New York harbor.

It tells the story of Captain Lust who discovers the lost treasure map tattooed in Latin on the member of a dumb monk (played by Bobby Astyr). So he kidnaps a nun to read the map for him – but finds himself pursued by Wade Nichols, Jamie Gillis and a host of pirate women including Sharon Mitchell, Ming Toy and Veri Knotti – who demonstrates exactly why she’s called Veri Knotti.

But that’s only half the story.

For years, wild rumors circulated about the making of the movie.

The film’s huge budget was supposedly funded by a psychic, who knew the director because she was in touch with a recently deceased friend of the director.

The lengthy shoot all took place on a boat miles out to sea, where they were said to be chased by coastguards, customs officers, and swarms of fishermen.

One actress was allegedly shot in the chest, whilst another actor fell off the rigging into the water amidst rumors that he never re-surfaced.

At one stage, the director was even said to have locked the cast below deck where they were almost suffocated by the smoke machines that were being used to create atmospheric effects for the filming.

There were rumors that the cast and crew discussed bumping off the director whilst they were out to sea.

And then after the end of the shot, much of the footage mysteriously disappeared at the lab, meaning that it had to be shot all over again.

Forget Pirates of the Caribbean, what really happened during the making of Captain Lust?

On this Rialto Report, I speak to the Steven Barry – the scriptwriter, Carter Stevens – the production manager, and finally Beau Buchanan – the film’s director, for the first time about the crazy events of August 1976.

Three different versions of the truth. One Rialto Report.

As a postscript, the original camera negative of Captain Lust has recently been located by the film preservation company, Vinegar Syndrome.

It is in pristine condition, and is being prepared for a possible future release in association with the film’s director, Beau Buchanan.

Correction:

When talking about the movie Snuff in this episode of The Rialto Report, reference was made to Walter Sear being the person that came up with the idea for Snuff. Steven Barry now remembers that it was in fact Jack Bravman who first thought of the idea.

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