The Crimson Blade
(1964)
|
|
| 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The Crimson Blade (1964)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview: | |||
| Lionel Jeffries | ... |
Col. Judd
|
|
| Oliver Reed | ... |
Capt. Tom Sylvester
|
|
 |
Jack Hedley | ... |
Edward Beverley, The Scarlet Blade
|
|
|
June Thorburn | ... |
Claire Judd
|
|
|
Michael Ripper | ... |
Pablo
|
|
|
Harold Goldblatt | ... |
Jacob
|
|
|
Duncan Lamont | ... |
Maj. Bell
|
|
|
Clifford Elkin | ... |
Philip Beverley
|
|
|
Suzan Farmer | ... |
Constance Beverley
|
|
|
John Harvey | ... |
Sgt. Grey
|
|
|
Charles Houston | ... |
Drury
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See more »
Storyline
This historical adventure is set during the English Civil War. When King Charles I is captured by Roundhead forces led by the tyrant Colonel Judd and his right-hand man Captain Sylvester, it is up to a band of locals loyal to the King to try and rescue him. They are helped by Judd's daughter Claire who secretly helps them in defiance of her father Written by Anonymous
Plot Keywords:
interrupted hanging | prison cell | whipping | arms tied overhead | prison escape |Taglines:
The Bold Avenger...Whose Blade Slashed a Kingdom in Half!Certificate:
See all certifications »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
March 1964 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Crimson Blade See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Double-billed with "Son of Captain Blood." See more »Quotes
Capt. Tom Sylvester: [to Claire Judd] I love you even more when you're angry. It does something for your complexion.See more »
The English Civil War much like our own in America has been fodder for numerous historical adventure stories. And the stories have been told from both the Cavalier and Roundhead sides with each taking turn at being the hero and villain of same. It was that kind of period in the United Kingdom history, subject to many different interpretations on all sides.
In this one the Royalist cavaliers are the heroes, they've been driven underground pretty much in 1648 and are now concerned with rescuing King Charles I and spiriting him away to safe exile. Charles is now in the custody of Colonel Lionel Jeffries and Captain Oliver Reed of Oliver Cromwell's Ironsides army and is on the way to London for trial and execution.
Jeffries has set up headquarters in the manor of the Beverleys who were Royalists now dispossessed of their property. Jeffries is one real pig as I recall and not living the spartan puritan life that his kind were wont to preach about. He's even got a marriage arranged for his daughter June Thorburn to Oliver Reed. But June's a secret Royalist whose heart is set on Jack Hedley the elder of the two Beverley brothers who is leader of an underground group of Royalists.
The intrigue in trying to rescue the King is tangled up with the romantic intrigue of this triangle and it leads to a lot of tragedy all around. History tells us what happened to Charles I, if he ruled rather badly, he certainly died nobly for his cause. As for the personal intrigues, you have to see the film for that.
The Scarlet Blade was playing as the second half of a double bill as I recall, probably with some Hammer horror feature. I remember at the time thinking how much more interesting Oliver Reed was as the shrewd, but villainous Roundhead than Jack Hedley was as the dashing, but rather wooden cavalier. Maybe Thorburn ought to rethink what she's doing. Of course this was before Oliver Reed became an international star, but his appeal was dead-on.
If you get a chance to see The Scarlet Blade, you'll see an average, but entertaining swashbuckler that might have been better with Reed as the hero.