1953's "Raiders of the Seven Seas" is a colorful swashbuckler for handsome star John Payne, the second time he was paired with Lon Chaney on the open sea. Where 1949's modern day "Captain China" found the two in brutal opposition, here they are 16th century comrades in plunder once Payne's Barbarossa escapes the Moroccan Sultan's harem and frees the slaves of a passing Spanish ship bound for Tortuga. Once there, Barbarossa is instantly mesmerized by the Governor's beautiful daughter Alita (Donna Reed), taking her prisoner once he appropriates more freed slaves for his growing crew. Her arranged marriage to Captain Salcedo (Gerald Mohr) is compromised by his greed and arrogance, as well as his rivalry with Captain Goiti (Henry Brandon), whose successes earn him a promotion to general. Barbarossa may be a rogue but with John Payne in charge, it's impossible to find anyone to outshine his endearing attempts to woo the stubborn Alita to his side. Lon Chaney's friendly Peg Leg is essentially Barbarossa's first mate, and his shocking murder at Alita's expense leaves her stunned and no longer willing to trust her deceptive fiancee. The various twists and turns make the climax well worth waiting for, and it's one of those rare opportunities to see gorgeous Donna Reed on screen in living color. The script may at first seem formulaic, but with such likable leads it comes off as more than a passing diversion (Chaney would play another sympathetic role in one final seafaring adventure, 1954's "The Black Pirates," opposite Anthony Dexter).