Blackbeard: Terror at Sea is the original and colorful story of this fearsome pirate who preyed on Caribbean trade routes and stars actor James Purefoy (Marc Antony in HBO's Rome). The two-hour high definition film charts the exploits of Englishman Edward Teach, an intelligent and charismatic leader who confounded the powers of England and Virginia as he overtook and pillaged 40 ships in two years, stealing hidden cargo and precious exports to and from the Caribbean.

Sea chases, cannon battles and swordplay were common occurrences for Blackbeard and his men, but his carefully calculated visage—displaying cutlasses, pistols, a giant beard and burning cannon fuses coming out from under his hat—was so frightening to his prey that they sometimes surrendered without a fight. In addition to colorful drama and incisive insights into its complex subject, Blackbeard: Terror at Sea unfolds against the tapestry of America's infancy and explores the surprisingly democratic life that pirates experienced at sea.

Blackbeard: Terror at Sea is a portrait of a complex and fascinating outlaw set against the story of America's colonies some 50 years before independence. It depicts Blackbeard's alliance with the governor of North Carolina, and pits him against Gov. Spotswood of the rich colony of Virginia who, with England's King George I, was determined to end the pirate's humiliations of British power.

The pirate known as Blackbeard was born Edward Teach in Bristol, England. He served Queen Anne as a privateer, then learned piracy under the tutelage of Capt. James Hornigold. Many pirates were former sailors in the British Navy. Summarily released from service after the War of the Spanish Succession, thousands of these experienced men found a fairness in piracy that never existed in naval life. As pirates, the men had a say in the running of the ships, electing their captains and sharing the spoils. Blackbeard exploited this by customarily sparing the lives of crews whose ships he captured. The subtle message, passed from crew to crew, was "Surrender without a fight, and your lives will be spared."

Blackbeard sailed a sloop, a small, single-masted boat that was fast and agile, ideal for the shallow coastal waters preferred by merchant ships. He seized goods like tobacco, dyes and sugar—the bonanza of the Caribbean—and from 1716 to 1718 plundered more than 40 vessels. In the film, one of his first conquests is a large slave ship, the Concorde. Pirates rarely considered attacking a ship of that size, but Blackbeard's genius was in wielding the fearsome weapon of intimidation, telling his crew, "I want every ship on the high seas to get the following message—not one of them is safe!"

His instinct about the Concorde is sound. With scarcely a shot fired, he finds 20 pounds of hidden gold dust. Later, he goes so far as to blockade the port of Charleston in pursuit of the Crowley, finding aboard more than half-a-ton of gold. Instead of taking Charleston itself, Blackbeard explains, "It is a glorious thing to take a town. But an even more glorious one not to, when you could. That's real power."

By summer of 1718, Blackbeard appears to have changed his ways. He accepts King George's pardon and decides to live in Bath Town, N.C.: "Because we have achieved all we can at sea, I want to discover what I can achieve on land." He develops an understanding with N.C. Gov. Charles Eden: "You'll let me to do whatever I like and in return, I will help the economy in whatever way I can." During this time, Blackbeard marries Mary Ormond (among the last of 14 wives throughout his life), who is determined to make him a country gentleman. Eventually tired of her nagging, he takes her to a local tavern and ruthlessly offers her up to the pleasures of his crew.

Gov. Spotswood of Virginia sees the true intention of Blackbeard's "retirement." He understands that ingeniously, Eden has pardoned Blackbeard so he is free to go back to pirating, provided, of course, that Eden receives a share of the spoils. Blackbeard develops a ploy to capture other vessels without the official accusation of piracy. He starts a cannon attack, and when the desired ship's flag is lowered, he claims it officially abandoned and takes the spoils.

But the net begins to close in, powered by Spotswood's determination. British Navy Lt. Maynard tricks Blackbeard into thinking a decoy ship is abandoned, but there is a hidden force waiting below deck. The once-indomitable captain sustains 20 cutlass and five bullets wounds. Before he dies, he tells Maynard, "Well done, my friend. You will join me in the pages of history." Maynard cuts off Blackbeard's head and plants it on the bowspit. As legend has it, Blackbeard's body, after being thrown overboard, swims around the ship before succumbing to the deep.

In 1724, Captain Charles Johnson wrote of Blackbeard, "Here was an end to that courageous brute, who might have passed in the world for a hero had he been employed in a good cause."

Blackbeard: Terror at Sea is produced by Dangerous Films Ltd., for the National Geographic Channel. Directors are Tilman Remme and Richard Dale. The writer is Andrew Bampfield; Peter Parnham is the editor and production designer/producer is Tim Goodchild. For NGC, executive producer is Ashley Hoppin; senior vice president of production is Michael Cascio; and executive in charge of production is John Ford.