En garde! Rousing Swashbucklers
Films of great daring-do and swordplay.
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- DirectorMichael CurtizWilliam KeighleyStarsErrol FlynnOlivia de HavillandBasil RathboneWhen Prince John and the Norman Lords begin oppressing the Saxon masses in King Richard's absence in 1190s England, a Saxon lord fights back as the outlaw leader of a resistance movement.Flynn's best, mixing humor, drama, swordplay and archery. There are evil villains and pretty maidens. Still unparalleled.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsErrol FlynnBrenda MarshallClaude RainsGeoffrey Thorpe, a buccaneer, is hired by Queen Elizabeth I to nag the Spanish Armada. The Armada is waiting for an attack on England and Thorpe surprises them with attacks on their galleons where he shows his skills with the sword.The better of Flynn's pirate movies, with the actor more confident and the scenes more epically staged.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsErrol FlynnOlivia de HavillandLionel AtwillAfter treating a Monmouth rebel against King James II in 1680s England, a young Irish doctor is exiled as a slave to Jamaica where he captures a Spanish galleon and becomes the most feared pirate of the Caribbean.Flynn in his early swashbuckling days. His acting is a bit off, but there are some great battles. The first of the Rafael Sabatini adaptations.
- DirectorJohn CromwellW.S. Van DykeStarsRonald ColmanMadeleine CarrollC. Aubrey SmithAn Englishman on a Ruritarian holiday must impersonate the king when the rightful monarch, a distant cousin, is drugged and kidnapped.Ronald Coleman stars in the classic dual role, with Douglas fairbanks Jr playing the villain for a change. Court intrigue, romance and an epic sabre battle make this memorable. Created the "Ruritanian" adjective.
- DirectorRouben MamoulianStarsTyrone PowerLinda DarnellBasil RathboneA young Spanish aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of Zorro as he restores justice to early California.In my opinion, the best of the Zorro films (sorry Douglas). Tyrone Power plays both the fop and the hero, while Basil Rathbone sneers as only he can. Rousing score adds to the excitement.
- DirectorGeorge SidneyStarsLana TurnerGene KellyJune AllysonD'Artagnan and his Musketeer comrades thwart the plans of Cardinal Richelieu to usurp King Louis XIII's power.Gene Kelly as D'Artagnan adds a bit of dancer flare to things, while Lana Turner is the femme fatale. Pretty good, if a bit long. I prefer the Richard Lester films, but this is very entertaining.
- DirectorGeorge SidneyStarsStewart GrangerJanet LeighEleanor ParkerIn France during the late 18th Century, a man sets out to avenge the death of his friend at the hands of a master swordsman.Stewart Granger as the wronged man in search of revenge. Mel Ferrer is the villain and Janet Leigh the love interest. Granger is never as charming as Flynn, but the climactic sword battle is unequalled.
- DirectorRobert SiodmakStarsBurt LancasterNick CravatEva BartokDuring the 1700s, pirate Captain Vallo seizes a British warship and gets involved in various money-making schemes involving Caribbean rebels led by El Libre, British envoy Baron Jose Gruda, and a beautiful courtesan named Consuelo.Burt Lancaster shows how a pirate should be played. Tons of fun, with the craziest battle ever unleashed in the climax. Nick Cravat, Lancaster's circus partner, plays the mute Ojo, to comic effect.
- DirectorJacques TourneurStarsBurt LancasterVirginia MayoRobert DouglasDardo, a Robin Hood-like figure, and his loyal followers use a Roman ruin in Medieval Lombardy as their headquarters as they conduct an insurgency against their Hessian conquerors.Burt's earlier swashbuckler, an ersatz Robin Hood-meets-William Tell. Virginia Mayo is the love interest. Pretty good, but Crimson Pirate is much better.
- DirectorLewis AllenStarsCornel WildeMaureen O'HaraRobert DouglasIn 1648 France, it's the sons (and daughter) of the Three Musketeers to the rescue!Maureen O'Hara gets to wield a rapier, alongside Cornell Wilde, Alan Hale Jr., and Dan O'Herlihy. Nice bit of intrigue and some pretty good swordplay.
- DirectorGeorge ShermanDouglas SirkStarsErrol FlynnMaureen O'HaraAnthony QuinnBrian Hawke of the Royal Navy versus the pirates of Madagascar.Not Flynn's best, but Maureen O'Hara adds a nice twist, as a female pirate captain. her fencing won't win awards, but she has a decent lunge.
- DirectorHenry KingStarsTyrone PowerMaureen O'HaraLaird CregarAn ex-pirate contends with rowdy buccaneers and a love/hate relationship with an aristocratic woman who's tougher than she seems.Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara, and George Sanders make for a great pirate film. Sabatini is there only in the title, but the film is fun, even if Power isn't quite the charmer that Flynn was. He is, however, very believable when he is deadly serious.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsRobert NewtonLinda DarnellWilliam BendixHonest Edward Maynard finds himself serving as ship's surgeon under the infamous pirate Blackbeard.Robert Newton really gets to chew some scenery. The hero is rather lacking, but Newton is entertaining enough to keep you interested.
- DirectorByron HaskinStarsBobby DriscollRobert NewtonBasil SydneyThe treasure seeking adventures of young Jim Hawkins and pirate captain Long John Silver.Robert Newton stars in the Robert Louis Stevenson pirate classic. Much of the cast is rather wooden, but Newton carries things with the strength of his personality. Originator of the "arrgh" pirate jokes.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsOliver ReedRaquel WelchRichard ChamberlainA young swordsman comes to Paris and faces villains, romance, adventure and intrigue with three Musketeer friends.By far the best of the Dumas adaptations, faithful to both the story and the characters, as well as the elements of humor, though played more broadly. The swordplay is far closer to reality than most films, with duels far less elegant and more brutal. Faye Dunaway is delisciously evil, aided by Christopher Lee and Charlton Heston is a rare turn as a villain. Oliver Reed is perfect as Athos and Frank Finlay a wonderfully boastful Porthos.
- DirectorRichard LesterStarsMichael YorkRaquel WelchOliver ReedThe Four Musketeers defend the queen and her dressmaker from Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter.More part two than sequel (it was filmed with the Three Musketeers). This is the darker half of the story, but still manages some great comedy, especially the breakfast amidst a battle.
- DirectorJames GoldstoneStarsRobert ShawJames Earl JonesPeter BoyleA pirate and a hot-tempered noblewoman join forces to protect Jamaica from a tyrant.This tries hard, and succeeds for a great portion of the time, though mostly carried by Robert Shaw and James Earl Jones. Peter Boyle is pretty evil, but lacks the seductive charm that many of the great swashbuckler villains had.
- DirectorKen AnnakinStarsSylvia KristelUrsula AndressBeau BridgesWhen French King Louis XIV (Beau Bridges) learns that his twin brother, Philippe (Beau Bridges), could usurp his crown, he sets out to imprison him in the Bastille prison but four loyal musketeers are protecting Philippe.Beau Bridges, along with father LLoyd, adapt the Man in the Iron Mask. Cornell Wilde and Alan Hale Jr. are back in their roles from At Swords Point, with Jose Ferrer as Athos. Ian McShane is the villainous Fouquet, while Rex Harrison is Colbert. It has its moments.
- DirectorGregory RatoffStarsDouglas Fairbanks Jr.Ruth WarrickAkim TamiroffAfter their parents are killed, co-joined twin boys are separated, with one raised as a gentleman in Paris and the other in the mountains becoming a bandit.Douglas Fairbanks Jr. stars in the classic tale of twin heroes.
- DirectorJames WhaleStarsLouis HaywardJoan BennettWarren WilliamDespotic King Louis XIV discovers he has a twin brother who has grown up under the tutelage of his foster father, the patriotic musketeer D'Artagnan.Louis Hayward is the twin hero in this adaptation of Dumas. Not quite as rousing as the Musketeers.
- DirectorDavid GreeneStarsRichard ChamberlainTrevor HowardLouis JourdanA young officer, falsely imprisoned by his jealous "friends," escapes and uses a hidden treasure to exact his revenge.Richard Chamberlain stars in this version of the Dumas' classic tale of revenge. Chamberlain gets more to do than he did in the Lester Musketeer films and handles it well. Tony Curtis didn't quite carry his weight here.
- DirectorMelvin FrankNorman PanamaStarsDanny KayeGlynis JohnsBasil RathboneA hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful King.Danny Kaye gets to play a bumbling Flynn wannabe. Lots of fun, with Kaye's signature wordplay, songs, and some pretty good stunts.
- DirectorMike NewellStarsRichard ChamberlainPatrick McGoohanLouis JourdanD'Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers plot to replace the ineffectual Louis XIV of France with his secretly imprisoned twin brother Phillipe, who is the firstborn and rightful King.Chamberlain returns in another adaptation of Dumas, with Patrick McGoohan as Fouquet and Ralph Richardson as Colbert. Jenny Agutter is lovely as Louise.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsAntonio BanderasAnthony HopkinsCatherine Zeta-JonesA young thief seeking revenge for his brother's death is trained by the once-great, aging Zorro, who is pursuing his own vengeance.Antonio Banderas gets to live out a dream as a modern Zorro and does it quite well, with Catherine Zeta Jones as the love interest. Very well done.
- DirectorDuccio TessariStarsAlain DelonStanley BakerOttavia PiccoloIn the New World, a new Spanish governor finds the province of Nueva Aragón under the iron fist of the corrupt Colonel Huerta and vows to bring justice under the guise of a masked avenger.Alain Delon dons the black mask, while Stanley Baker assumes the villainous role. Rousing fun, with Moustache adding some comic touches. great battle at the end.