THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH

US, 1954, 99 minutes, Colour.
Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, David Farrar, Barbara Rush, Herbert Marshall, Dan O’Herlihy?, Torin Thatcher, Patrick O’Neal?.
Directed by Rudolph Mate.

Another chivalry film which appeared in 1954. Ivanhoe in the early 50s had given audiences a taste for medieval romances and this was common in 1954 with The Black Knight, The Knights of the Round Table, Prince Valiant.

However, this film is set in the times of Henry the Fourth and has an interesting variation on the drunken Prince Hal in the form of Dan O’Herlihy?. The film was made by Universal and used Tony Curtis at a period when he was featured in athletic swashbuckling films. However, the film is in Cinemascope and given lavish treatment as well as a very strong supporting cast including Herbert Marshall as the Duke. English David Farrar is the villain. It features Patrick O’Neal? in a very good role as a villain. Torin Thatcher appears strongly as Sir James. Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, hero and heroine, were married at the time and had appeared in Houdini. The trappings are lavish and enjoyable but the treatment and style are very much American. The original novel was Howard Fast’s Men of Iron.

1. The popularity of films about England and the Middle Ages? The appeals of Knighthood, action, romance - the English setting? The quality of this particular Hollywood example?

2. The use of Cinemascope especially for action sequences, colour, the Hollywood treatment of the British themes? The stars?

3. The story-book atmosphere of Britain? The King, the Court, loyalty, treachery, fights, romances, enemies being routed and peace being restored? Suitable for this kind of adventure film?

4. The film’s presentation of the 15th century setting? The background of the reign of Henry the Fourth, Prince Hal and his feigning drunkenness and the motivations - against the Duke of Alban? The picture of Alban's treachery? The castles, the tournaments, the knightly themes and codes of honour?

5. The political background and the presentation of the character of the ailing Henry the Fourth? Hal and his double appearance and his loyalty, the Duke of Mackworth and his establishment and the way that he ran it, his loyalty compared with the Duke of Alban and his schemes and men?

6. The title of the film and the mystery about Falworth? Miles and Meg and their heritage and its mystery? Their being taken searching, feeling unjustly treated, their vindication?

7. The suitability of Tony Curtis as Miles? The introduction to him and his defence of his sister and his athletic vigour, his presentation at court and the immediate fight with Sir Walter Blunt and the others, the vigour and roughness of his reaction especially against the Earl of Mackworth? The romance with Lady Anne and the climbing of the wall? His trying to find his identity, for instance in the library? The clashes with Sir James? The gradual training and vigour? His learning of the truth? Defending his honour and fighting? The credibility of a knight going through the ranks of training and avenging family honour?

8. The contract with Sir Walter Blunt and his arrogance, growing hostility towards Miles, courting of the Lady Anne, betrayal and helping of his brother? Prince Hal and his friendship? The world of the Squires in the entourages, styles of training, fights in the dormitory? Sir James and his rule over them?

9. The Earl and his plans? His relationship with Prince Hal, the tearing of the page out of the Book of Heraldry, Sir James and his place in the castle?

10. Anne and Meg as glamorous romantic heroines? Their characters, styles? The romance, Anne riding to victory at the end?

11. The Earl's elaborate trick for getting Miles knighted and for the fight against Walter Blunt in the presence of the King? The generating of some suspense at the end?

12. The atmosphere of tournament, the fierce battle?

13. Audiences absorb popular history like this. How accurate a picture of the past? The codes of the past and themes of honour, masculine attitudes of the Middle Ages, the place of the lady? Violence, romance and heroics?