The Black Arrow (1948)

Yong nobleman Richard Shelton returns from the War of the Roses to find his father murdered, a fugitive family friend blamed, and his uncle occupying his estates.

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (novel), Richard Schayer,

Stars:

Louis Hayward, Janet Blair, George Macready

Cast

Cast overview:
Louis Hayward	...	Sir Richard Shelton
Janet Blair	...	Joanna Sedley
George Macready	...	Sir Daniel Brackley
Edgar Buchanan	...	Lawless
Rhys Williams	...	Bennet Hatch
Walter Kingsford	...	Sir Oliver Oates
Lowell Gilmore	...	Duke of Gloucester
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Bishop of Tisbury
Paul Cavanagh	...	Sir John Sedley
Ray Teal	...	Nick Appleyard
Russell Hicks	...	Sir Harry Shelton
Leslie Denison	...	Sir William Catesby
Betty Fairfax	...	Dame Carter
Billy Bevan	...	Dungeon Keeper (as William Bevan)

Storyline

Sir Richard Shelton, a young British nobleman, returns from the War of the Roses to find his father dead and his accused murderer, Sir John Sedley, living in the forest with a fugitive band of die-hard rebels like Robin Hood. Shelton's uncle, his father's sinister and cruel half-brother, Sir Daniel Brackley, is living on his father's estates and has reinstated cruel corporal punishment among the peasants, something his father had abolished. Shelton's suspicions are aroused when a yeoman loyal to Brackley is murdered using a black arrow. Other Brackley henchman, including Shelton's former mentor and Master-at-Arms, who had access to the supposed murder of his father by Sedley are also on the Black Arrow's death list. Shelton's growing antipathy toward Brackley is complicated by his uncle's desire to marry Sedley's beautiful daughter, an ambition shared by Shelton.

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Plot Keywords:

war of the roses | estate | master at arms | murder | half brother | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | History | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Sangue e Espada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward Small Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Duke of Gloucester is generally portrayed sympathetically although Hollywood historically has depicted him as an arch-villain under his later title, Richard III.

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Quotes

Duke of Gloucester: I don't enjoy indoor archery especially with myself as a possible target.

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Connections

Version of Chyornaya strela (1987)

User Reviews

Oh Daniel my uncle !

Based,like this other Gordon Douglas "roguess of Sherwood" on a vague screenplay inspired by Robin Hood,"black arrow" shows more originality ,in spite of two lackluster principals: Louis Hayward is a million miles from Eroll Flynn,being rather clumsy -I remember he was pretty mediocre as Lombard in Clair's "and then there were none" ;Janet Blair is a little better as another Lady Marian avatar,but she is not Olivia De Havilland either.George McReady easily stills the show,being nasty ,treacherous,unctuous ,the perfect baddie .

The story takes place after the Wars of the Roses but history is quickly forgotten and we have another story à la Robin Hood.That said,the movie is entertaining,it's action-packed and there's never a dull moment .