The film opens with the written preface: "Once upon a time, some colonial outposts of Europe’s great powers were ruled by villainous governors who stole the freedom and wealth which rightfully belonged to the people. Such was the tragic condition in Jamaica in seventeen eighteen under the cruelty of the acting governor, Lord Durant. The dungeons of his dark stone fortress cried with the voices of those who stood in his way. At that time, adventurous pirates sailed the waters of the Caribbean. Often they were enemies of the tyrants and heroes of the people. Captain Ned Lynch was one of the most famous of these swashbucklers…"
       It was announced in the 6 Jun 1975 DV and HR that Universal Pictures was to begin principal photography on Swashbuckler in Aug 1975, using locations in the Caribbean Sea. Release of the film was anticipated for winter 1976.
       The 11 Aug 1975 Box reported that Universal arranged a two-month rental of the Golden Hinde, a one-hundred-and-two-foot long replica of the ship captained by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century. In the AMPAS library production files, the ship is referred to as the Golden Hinde II, brought to the attention of director James Goldstone by his fifteen-year-old son, who had read about it in Smithsonian magazine. The ship cost $1.5 million to build, and was docked in San Francisco, CA, following a five month voyage from Plymouth, England, which reenacted Drake’s voyage. Two weeks of filming were scheduled at a location on the west coast of North America. Additional filming was planned for a berth in an undetermined location. The 22 Sep 1975 LAT stated that the ship, which was currently docked at Pier 177 in Wilmington, CA, would sail to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on 26 Sep 1975. However, the 29 Sep 1975 Box reported that the voyage would begin 1 Oct 1975. According to the article, the Golden Hinde landed in Los Angeles, CA, on 21 Sept 1975, and was met at the Wilmington dock by Goldstone. Before it sailed to Mexico, production designer John Lloyd refitted the ship to give it the appearance of an 18th-century vessel. Universal planned a “start-of-production” party at the Wilmington location.
       The 15 Aug 1975 HR and the 24 Aug 1975 LAHExam announced that filming would begin on Swashbuckler 29 Sep 1975. A news item in the 27 Aug 1975 DV stated that location photography would take place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, followed by additional filming at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, CA. News items in the 23 Sep 1975 HR and DV reported that the title of the film was changed to The Blarney Cock.
       According to the 20 Oct 1975 HR, principal photography was underway in the vicinity of Puerto Vallarta. Mexican cast members were to include David Estuardo, Roger Cudtney, Ricardo Noriega and Jorge Bano, whose participation in film has not been determined, as none of their names appear in the onscreen credits. As stated in the article and in production notes from the AMPAS library, the fortress location was a 16th-century sugar mill in Vista Hermosa, near Cuernavaca, Mexico. The mill was built by conquistador Hernan Cortez, and contains “catacomb prison cells.” Other locations include Los Arcos, the partially submerged caves along the Puerto Vallarta coast, and a “restored Spanish colonial hacienda,” used as the governor’s mansion.
       An article in the 29 Oct 1975 Var estimated the film’s budget at $7 million to $9 million, including the cost of the ship, which had arrived in Vista Hermosa the previous week. Location filming in Mexico was scheduled for a total of four weeks.
       The 27 Apr 1976 DV announced that the film’s title had reverted to Swashbuckler, and was scheduled for release 30 Jul 1976. An article in the 5 Jul 1976 Box reported that the film would premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, 29 Jul 1976, followed by “block” bookings the following month. Producer Jennings Lang stated that audiences in test screenings were consistently enthusiastic.
       News items in the 19 Jul 1976 Box reported that Lang and actor Beau Bridges were embarking on promotional tours for Swashbuckler. Lang’s itinerary included Chicago, IL, Boston, MA, New York City, including the Radio City Music Hall press screening, and the film’s opening in London, England. According to an article in the 2 Aug 1976 Box, Lang was accompanied by Goldstone and actresses Alyscia Maxwell, Isobel Estorick, Lee Pulford and Mary Margaret Amato. Cities included Detroit, MI; Toronto, ON; Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; and Cincinnati, OH.
       Costume designer Burton Miller explained in the 23 Jul 1976 LAT that much of the wardrobe in Swashbuckler was inspired by contemporary fashion. Jennings Lang challenged Miller to take a “non-historical approach” to designing the film’s costumes, inducing him to visit the Sunset Strip district of West Hollywood, CA, where the designer observed the fashions worn by “groupies and rock stars.” According to the article, clothing retailer Saks Fifth Avenue featured Miller’s costumes in its window displays. The 2 Aug 1976 Box stated that Miller made promotional appearances for the film in Washington, D. C., Pittsburgh, PA, and Philadelphia, PA, including press conferences and television appearances.
       The film garnered mixed reviews. While the 30 Jul 1976 LAT called it “a dandy light summer entertainment,” but described the portrayal of a character’s homosexuality as “needlessly offensive,” neither the 30 Jul 1976 NYT nor the 28 Jul 1976 Var reviewed the film favorably.
       A news item in the Aug 1976 The Cinemaphile reported Universal’s claim that Swashbuckler leads all other pirate films in “quotient of swordplay,” with a total of “692 sword clashes” throughout the length of the picture.
       The 19 Sep 1975 DV, reported that the film marked actress Louisa Horton’s first screen appearance since her role in Walk East on Beacon (1952, see entry). Swashbuckler also gave Broadway star Mark Baker his motion picture debut, as reported in the 3 Dec 1975 LAT. The film also cast James Earl Jones as the first African American actor to portray a “buccaneer hero,” according to production files from the AMPAS library,
       A news item in the 12 Nov 1975 LAT stated that actress Anjelica Huston competed with several hopefuls for the role of the “Woman of Dark Visage,” including Italian horror star Barbara Steele and British actress Martine Beswick.
       The 26 Nov 1975 DV credited fencing masters Victor Paul and Al Cavens, Jr., as actor Peter Boyle’s instructors for the ten-week study of fencing; however, Cavens, Jr., is not credited onscreen.