Charge of the Lancers (1954)

The downward spiral of the quality of films Paulette Goddard appeared in in the 1950's would cause a gravitational blackout to anyone viewing them in a single day, but with some of the ... See full summary »

Director:

William Castle

Writers:

Robert E. Kent (screenplay), Robert E. Kent (story)

Stars:

Paulette Goddard, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Richard Wyler

Cast

Cast overview:
Paulette Goddard	...	Tanya
Jean-Pierre Aumont	...	Capt. Eric Evoir
Richard Wyler	...	Maj. Bruce Lindsey (as Richard Stapley)
Karin Booth	...	Maria Sand
Charles Irwin	...	Tom Daugherty
Ben Astar	...	Gen. Inderman
Lester Matthews	...	Gen. Stanhope
Gregory Gaye	...	Cpl. Bonikoff
Ivan Triesault	...	Dr. Manus
Louis Merrill	...	Col. Zeansky (as Lou Merrill)
Tony Roux	...	Asa
Fernanda Eliscu	...	Keta

Storyline

The downward spiral of the quality of films Paulette Goddard appeared in in the 1950's would cause a gravitational blackout to anyone viewing them in a single day, but with some of the all-time great schlock names serving as the producers---Sam Katzman, the Danziger brothers, Albert Zugsmith and---gasp---Sigmund Neufeld--- the results easily met the low expectations. This one is set during the time of the Crimean War and the efforts of the Allies to take the Russian naval base at Sebastopol. Jean Pierre Aumont and Richard Stapley are guardians of a new cannon that can pierce the walls of the Russian fortress, and also rivals for the favors of nurse Karin Booth who, as it turns out, is a Russian spy. Not a spoiler...somebody had to be. The Russians kidnap Stapley (in his pre-Richard Wyler days)to learn from him the secret of the new cannon. Aumont is assigned to rescue him. Oh, okay he says and sets out. On the way he encounters a gypsy family that includes Paulette Goddard as a ...

---

Taglines:

Spectacular zero hour! Adventure into the jaws of death!

---

Genres:

Action | Drama

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

February 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Carga dos Lanceiros

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Crimean War Rewritten For Cold War

After Paulette Goddard ran afoul of Cecil B. DeMille when she was in his Unconquered, Paramount dropped her as a player quite abruptly. As a result the woman was scratching for work.

Which brings us to Charge Of The Lancers, a film set during the Crimean War so that the Russians can be cast as villains fighting against the NATO forces of the day, the French, the British, and the kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont which eventually got to rule all of Italy. The war is one of aggression against peace loving Turkey.

With the Crimean War nicely historically rewritten for the Cold War audience taste, the British have developed a new breech loading cannon that the Russians want to get their hands on. Officers Jean Pierre Aumont and Richard Stapley are bringing a prototype for demonstration. The Russians don't get the gun, but they do capture Stapley.

Aumont's mission now is to get Stapley out of Russian hands before he spills the beans. Circumstances put him in the hands of some passing gypsies with one of them being Paulette Goddard.

Why the gypsies decide to help Aumont is beyond reason. You're supposed to accept the proposition that gypsies are natural born intriguers plus Paulette likes what she sees in Aumont.

As for Aumont his French accent is explained by the fact that he's a French officer detached to British service. He must have felt real silly doing this role.

In fact the whole film is pretty silly. Don't charge for the remote when this one is broadcast.