Entertainment

3 BEST Soviet movies about pirates

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3 years ago

January 23, 2024

Staff Reporter

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In the Soviet Union, movies about pirates were mainly screen adaptations of Western novels about ruthless English cut-throats and Spanish galleons full of gold. But, at times, there were original stories in which Soviet seamen confronted sea bandits.

Below are the three best Soviet movies about pirates.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel was adapted for the screen three times in the USSR. In addition, in 1988, an animated film came out that became extremely popular both at home and abroad.

Of all the Soviet screen adaptations, the 1971 version is considered to be closest to the book.

The movie was shot in Crimea by the Moscow-based ‘Maxim Gorky Central Film Studio for Children and Youth’. And many parts were played by Baltic actors, mainly from the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The part of the brigantine ‘Hispaniola’, in turn, was played by the diesel/sail fisheries vessel ‘Klim Voroshilov’. Once, under its pirate flag, it almost sailed to Turkey, but was stopped by border guards.

“We are amazed by the natural beauty of Yalta and by how authentically the movie portrays the Caribbean, in which the events of the film unfold, and by the brigantine, which is indistinguishable from ships of that era,” wrote the Latin American press after the movie was released internationally.

Released on the eve of the disintegration of the USSR, ‘Captain Blood: His Odyssey’ was inspired by several novels by Italo-British writer Rafael Sabatini about the adventures of a bold and sharp-witted buccaneer named Peter Blood.

The movie was actually co-produced with France and the principal parts were played by actors from both countries. Curiously, the Irishman Blood was played by French actor Yves Lambrecht, while his on-screen adversary, the French (!) Captain Levasseur, by Soviet actor Leonid Yarmolnik!

“An ample budget, substantial technical resources, six months of shooting in Moscow, Yalta and Cuba, two reconstructed life-size ships and five mock-ups,” is how the Belgian newspaper ‘Le Soir’ summed up the production in 1992.

At the same time, the same newspaper criticized the movie for its poor acting and excessively free interpretation of Sabatini’s novels. ‘Captain Blood: His Odyssey’ does, indeed, have numerous critics, but, for many people in post-Soviet space, it is on their list of favorite movies.

The movie was a box office sensation, becoming the highest-grossing Soviet movie in the USSR. It was seen by more than 87 million people in 1980.

It is the late 1970s. The Soviet cargo ship Nezhin is on its way from the Philippines to the Soviet Union with a consignment of opium for the pharmaceutical industry. But it is not destined to reach Vladivostok – the ship is attacked by pirates.

The makers of ‘Pirates of the 20th Century’ struggled for a long time with the censors as to what valuable cargo the Nezhin was supposed to be carrying. The bureaucrats objected to both uranium and opium. Finally, an exasperated Stanislav Govorukhin, the film’s screenwriter, declared acerbically that no-one would attack a ship with tonnes of blank party membership cards on board.

The props department prepared five dummy sea-bottom mines made of wood for the production, one of which ended up being carried out to sea in a gale. When the Black Sea Command learned of this, director Boris Durov received a right old dressing down from the military.

Although the film is set in the 1970s, numerous examples of World War II weapons can be spotted in it, including the German MG 34 light machine gun, the British Sten submachine gun and the German StG 44 assault rifle.

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Source: RBTH

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Entertainment

Dubai Miracle Garden returns as UAE’s cooler season begins

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1 month ago

October 9, 2026

Staff Reporter

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Dubai’s Miracle Garden has reopened for its 15th season as temperatures begin to fall across the UAE. The popular attraction in Al Barsha South welcomed visitors on Thursday, 8 October, with the new season being launched under the theme “Fifteen Years, Blooming Together”.

Sheikh Theyab bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, chairman of Miracle Group, inaugurated the new season. The garden will remain open until 31 May 2027, with a programme of weekly themes and events planned around the UAE’s cultural and national calendar.

Visitors will see activities linked to occasions including Pink October, United Nations Day, UAE Flag Day and Diwali. The programme will also include live music, family entertainment and fitness activities held as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Events are also planned for Commemoration Day and Eid Al Etihad.

“For fifteen seasons, Dubai Miracle Garden has grown alongside Dubai and its people,” Sheikh Theyab said. “This season is dedicated to the community that made it possible, particularly the families and residents who return year after year.”

Mohammed Zaher Hammadih, group chief executive of Miracle Group, said the weekly programme was intended to encourage visitors to return throughout the season.

“As we mark our 15th season, Dubai Miracle Garden continues to bring people together through shared experiences,” he said. “Our weekly programme gives families a new reason to return, with cultural celebrations, live entertainment and activities to enjoy throughout the season.”

The garden features more than 150 varieties of flowers and is known for its large-scale floral displays, some of which have previously set Guinness World Records.

Since opening in 2013, it has attracted millions of visitors and become one of Dubai’s established family attractions.The garden is open daily from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and from 9am to 11pm at weekends.

Tickets start at Dh105 for adults and Dh84 for children. Children under three can enter free of charge.

Entertainment

Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: Tickets on sale as festival returns with bigger family zone

Published

3 months ago

August 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.

The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.

The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.

Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.

Other ticket options

Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
Friday: Dh75
Under 15s: Free
People of Determination + carer: Dh375

Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.

Bigger family attractions

Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.

The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Six sports and top rugby action

Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.

Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.

The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.

The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.

Music all weekend

Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.

Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.

For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.

With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.

Entertainment

Dubai launches ‘Dubai+’ family streaming platform to boost digital media and creative economy

Published

10 months ago

January 29, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, has approved the launch of Dubai+, a new family-oriented digital media platform, reinforcing Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for digital media and the creative economy.

The approval came as Sheikh Ahmed chaired the Dubai Media Council’s first meeting of 2026 at Dubai Media, where members reviewed sector strategies and plans to strengthen content creation, innovation and local production capabilities.

What is Dubai+?

Dubai+ will offer a wide range of family-friendly content, bringing together:

Local and Emirati productions
Arab series and films
International entertainment

The platform reflects Dubai Media’s integrated digital ecosystem strategy, responding to shifting viewer habits and the growing demand for high-quality, on-demand digital content.

“We believe media is a strategic force that shapes awareness, supports development and builds trust,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

Boosting Local Film and Content Production

The Council also reviewed plans to:

Enhance local production capabilities
Support cinema as a cultural and creative industry
Invest in programmes that drive creative and economic growth

Samr Al Marzooqi, Director of Films and Production at the Dubai Media Council, outlined upcoming initiatives aimed at showcasing Emirati and international talent while strengthening Dubai’s film sector.

Next Phase of Growth

Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, said the next phase will focus on monitoring implementation and ensuring measurable outcomes across the sector.

Secretary General Nehal Badri added that priorities include encouraging private sector participation, accelerating content development, and investing in talent, advanced production technologies and future-ready capabilities.