I would call this an impossible film to direct, with all those children and pirates playing around, the pirates getting more hysterical than the children because of their pranks, while Alexander Mackendrick actually keeps the whole polyphonic drama in very firm hands in spite of all its diversions and violently upsetting turnings, just the introductory storm scene when the tempest actually blowing the whole mansion of the family to pieces, is a masterpiece of cinematic innovation. At the same time it is a psychologically extremely interesting drama, especially for child psychologists, as the film shows exactly the natural reaction of the children to everything that happens to them. The pirates were not willing to get all those children on their hands, but once they had them they had to mind them with a vicious circle of consequences to handle, which finally brought them all down. Anthony Quinn is brilliant as captain Chavez, and he does get the last laugh.
Review of A High Wind in Jamaica
