THE MAGIC SWORD
US, 1962, 80 minutes, Colour.
Basil Rathbone, Estelle Winwood, Gary Lockwood, Anne Helm.
Directed by Bert I. Gordon.
The Magic Sword is a small-budget fantasy children's film. It was produced and directed by Bert I. Gordon, a director of small-budget films with special effects.
The film is a fantasy about sorcery, a princess who is captured by a mad magician, Prince George to the rescue before the princess is thrown to the dragon. There are also some mysterious knights from many nations who come to life again by magic and accompany George on his quest. (This is the kind of plot that was gently spoofed as well as presented seriously in Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride.) The film has the advantage of Basil Rathbone as the sorcerer and Estelle Winwood as a witch. A young Gary Lockwood is Prince George.
1.Entertaining fantasy? Family adventure?
2.Colour photography, special sets, the mediaeval atmosphere? The special effects for magic, ogres, miniatures, dragons? Musical score?
3.The title, the power of magic, black magic and white magic? Knights, battles, quests, princesses and dragons? A fairy tale?
4.Sybil, her bringing up George? Her humour, her monkey, the twins? Her spells and hocus-pocus? Love for George, wanting to protect him? His tricking her with the birthday gifts? Getting out from the crypt? The battle with the sorcerer? Her mistakes, George losing his power? Her final confrontation and victory?
5.The sorcerer, Basil Rathbone's famous style? Sinister, appearing with the king, his threats? His castle and his minions? The treachery of Sir Branton? The clash for the ring? The magic, the dragon? Giving the princesses to the dragon? The final confrontation with Sybil, her turning into a panther, his death?
6.George, the young prince, looking at the princess by magic, in love? Tricking his mother? Taking the sword, horse and armour? Bringing the knights back to life? The quest, confrontation with Sir Branton? His treachery? The death of the knights? His venturing into the castle, captured by the sorcerer? With the princess? Tortured, the little people helping him to escape, getting his power back, defeating the dragon, the happy ending? The princess, her maid, being captured, in prison, defying the sorcerer? The terror of the dragon? Rescued by Sir George?
7.Sir Branton, suave, a suitor for the princess? Entrusted with mission by the king? His treachery, attempts to kill George? Confrontations with the sorcerer, the ring? His being defeated and betrayed by the sorcerer?
8.The international knights, the different countries, accents? Their valour, deaths in the forest? Their coming to life again?
9.An atmosphere of chivalry, knights and quests, princesses and dragons, magic?
