When this movie was being made in Australia in 1982, producers were aware that there was also an american film adaptation of the same play being brought to the screen, so they rushed to get it into the theaters first, as a means for it not to get lost in the shuffle. It bombed anyway, but has developed a sort of cult following with the same people who loved 'Xanadu' and 'Grease 2'. Having popular young actors Kristy McNichol and Chris Atkins helped to appeal to younger girls who in turn have become the fans of the movie today. Kristy McNichol plays the part of Mabel (Mabel?), an u gly ducking who becomes smitten with a young man (Akins) she meets at a swordfighting demonstration during Pirate Day at the local marina. He casually invites her and a few of her friends to go boating the next day. Well, her friends wind up ditching her and in her pursuit to catch up with them in her little sailboat, she winds up getting knocked overboard and.here comes the dream sequence. In the dream she plays Mabel, the daughter of a Major General who dreams of finding true love.