"Hey You Guys!" A Film Analysis of Piracy in "The Goonies" [1/INTRO]

 

"Goonies never say die!" This feel-good adventure movie (1985), directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, follows a group of rambunctious and determined kids who call themselves the "Goonies." Determined to save their neighborhood -- the "Goon Docks" of Astoria, Oregon -- from foreclosure, the goonies discover a hidden treasure map that leads them on an adventure to find the legendary One-Eyed Willy's long-lost pirate treasure. While the setting takes place in 1985 and the 17th century pirates are quite literally skeletons at this point, piracy is a major theme in the novel. As we follow along with the goonies' perilous journey through a booby-trapped cave in search of the infamous One-Eyed Willy's pirate ship, The Inferno, there are many references to piracy to analyze. My objective is to identify which aspects of piracy are accurately portrayed, and which aspects aren't, as well as real-life connections to any of the tropes, legends, and characteristics that are shown. I hope to explore whether history really does point to any mysterious caves laden with booby-traps, heaps of buried treasure, and pirates with infamous reputations that makes this movie such a lovable classic. 

The Goonies Movie trailer: