The movie, released in 1965 and directed by Alexander Mackendrick, is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Hughes. The Jamaican family in question is the Thornton family, consisting of parents Robert and Mary and their five children: John, Emily, Edward, Rachel, and young Laura. The parents decide to send their children to England to receive a proper British education, as they believe it will benefit them in the long run.
However, things take a turn for the worse when the ship carrying the children is overtaken by a group of pirates led by Captain Chavez (played by Anthony Quinn). The pirates, who initially plan to ransom the children back to their family, become enamored with the children's innocence and eventually decide to keep them on board as their own.
The movie explores the moral ambiguity of the situation, as the children adapt to life on the ship and form close bonds with the pirates, despite the fact that they are being held captive. Meanwhile, the Thornton family back in Jamaica are frantically trying to locate their missing children, with the help of a sympathetic British naval officer named Elwood (played by James Coburn).
The film features impressive cinematography and an all-star cast, including Deborah Baxter as Emily, Mark Lester as John, and Lila Kedrova as the ship's cook, La Paloma. The movie was praised for its depiction of the complex emotions and motivations of the characters, as well as its exploration of themes such as colonialism and the corrupting influence of power.