The Flame and the Arrow (1950)

Dardo, a Robin Hood-like figure, and his loyal followers use a Roman ruin in Medieval Lombardy as their headquarters as they conduct an insurgency against their Hessian conquerors.

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writer:

Waldo Salt

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Virginia Mayo, Robert Douglas

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Dardo Bartoli
Virginia Mayo	...	Anne de Hesse
Robert Douglas	...	Marchese Alessandro de Granazia
Aline MacMahon	...	Nonna Bartoli
Frank Allenby	...	Count 'The Hawk' Ulrich
Nick Cravat	...	Piccolo
Lynn Baggett	...	Francesca (as Lynne Baggett)
Gordon Gebert	...	Rudi Bartoli - Dardo's Son
Norman Lloyd	...	Apollo - The Troubador
Victor Kilian	...	Mazzoni - Apothecary
Francis Pierlot	...	Papa Pietro
Robin Hughes	...	Skinner

Storyline

Twelfth-century Lombardy lies under the iron heel of German overlord Count Ulrich 'The Hawk', but in the mountains, guerillas yet resist. Five years before our story, Ulrich stole away the pretty wife of young archer Dardo who, cynical rather than embittered, still has little interest in joining the rebels. But this changes when his son, too, is taken from him. The rest is lighthearted swashbuckling, plus romantic interludes with lovely hostage Anne.

---

Plot Keywords:

lombardy | insurgency | bow and arrow | medieval times | rebellion | 

---

Taglines:

No army could stop him ! No dungeon could hold him !

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nick Cravat, who plays Piccolo, was an acrobat who was teamed with Burt Lancaster before Lancaster became a star. He appears in many of Lancaster's movies. In this one, and in The Crimson Pirate (1952), he plays a mute. The reason was that his thick Brooklyn accent, which he could not lose, would have been wildly out of place in such period pieces.

---

Goofs

When Dardo and Piccolo trip the soldiers in the castle with the pole, the lead soldier starts to fall without ever having touched the pole.

---

Quotes

Dardo Bartoli: Now, Marchese, we're in the dark where a sword is just a long knife.

User Reviews

Very entertaining....and a lot like ROBIN HOOD, PART II

While this isn't the best adventure film I have ever seen, it might just be the highest energy film and featured stunts you just won't see in films by Errol Flynn or Ronald Coleman. That's because the star, Burt Lancaster, does most of his own stunts--having been a circus performer in a previous career along with his partner, Nick Cravat! It's obvious that he is one of the most athletic leading men in history and apart from his film, TRAPEZE, it's the most incredible stunt-work you'll see him do on film. A couple years after making this film, Lancaster returned for THE CRIMSON PIRATE--a better film, but one that features less of the athleticism of THE FLAME AND THE ARROW. It is interesting that Lancaster's circus partner, Nick Cravat, also plays his best friend in this film and several others (such as THE CRIMSON PIRATE). Some of their stunt-work together is truly amazing.

As far as the plot goes, it's a reworking of the Robin Hood story, but this time it's set in Lombardy (a region in North-central Italy that includes Milan) and the invaders are Hessians (from the region around Frankfurt, Germany). Apart from that, the story elements are very, very similar. Even the part played by Virginia mayo is a copy of Maid Marian from Robin Hood. However, despite being a bit recycled, the film is exciting and fun--if also a bit like "fluff". Good old fashioned, but not especially deep fun, it's a must for Burt Lancaster films--he's dynamite.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hawk and the Arrow

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,600,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,713

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norma Productions, Frank Ross Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1