The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (1981) (TV)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Nicholas Corea

Writer:

Nicholas Corea (writer)

Release Date:

12 April 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Action | Adventure

Plot:

The hero is given his mentor's bow (the Heartbow) which chooses its new owner when passed on. It fires arrows that blow up like grenades...

Plot Keywords:

Sword And Sorcery | Archery | Sorcery | Barbarian | Unsold TV Series Pilot

Cast

Lane Caudell	...	Toran of Malveel
Belinda Bauer	...	Estra
Victor Campos	...	Slant
Kabir Bedi	...	Gar the Draikian
George Innes	...	Mak
Marc Alaimo	...	Sandros
Allan Rich	...	Yos
John Hancock
Priscilla Pointer
George Kennedy	...	Brakus
Robert Feero	...	Captain Ria
Richard Dix	...	Rak
Ivan J. Rado	...	Vors
Sharon Barr	...	Mandras The Horse Chief
Tony Swartz	...	Riis

Also Known As:

Fugitive from the Empire
The Archer and the Sorceress

Runtime:

96 min | Germany:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Mad Dog Productions

Trivia:

The first major film to have a 100% synthesized score.

Quotes:

Thoran of Malveel: My mother used to say that Love and Hate are two horns on the same bull. I'll take your hate, Estra, if that's all you have to give.

I was an Elk Man

Hi, Everyone, I worked as an extra in this TV movie. We worked in the hills near Magic Mountain on December, 3, 4, and 5 of 1980. It rained most of the time. We wore fur hides that kept our upper bodies warm enough. We had some campfires going most of the time.

On one of the days there was an invasion of some type of small winged insect that got into our food and probably can be seen in some of the scenes. The mud was very deep. We would wade into a muddy road area and made glopping sounds as we pulled our feet out.

Somehow it was some of the most fun days I have ever had in the movie business. The group of guys who worked on the show, cast, crew and extras were laughing a lot. Nick the director, was very nice and articulate. Warren, the A.D. was a pleasure to be with. I worked with him many times, including on Thorn Birds and Airwolf.

I watched the movie when they showed it on TV. I have not seen it since. I did enjoy it. I think it would stand up well today if it were re-released with some special notes about the making.

When we did our village (hill dweller types) scenes with George Kennedy, there were more different kinds of animals in one scene than I have ever observed working together in any other project. There were dogs, a bear, cougars, horses and some falcons and a chimp.

The horse was not at all pleased being near the bear and the cougars were not friendly except with their handlers.

Well worth watching.

Tom Willett (Yonhope)