Filmed on location in a faux Baghdad somewhere in a remote corner of the Universal backlot, "The Golden Blade" is colorful childish nonsense that makes the Jon Hall-Maria Montez epics look like David O. Selznick productions in comparison. Written and acted like a sophomore production of Ali Baba in high school, the film is often laughable and nearly critic-proof in its ineptness. Of course, being a studio production, there are a few positive attributes. The 28-year-old Rock Hudson, who plays Harun, an Arab out to avenge his father's death, has boyish charm and incredible good looks; his full head of hair, dazzling teeth, and tall physique are well rendered in the glory of Technicolor. Besides Hudson's physical assets, Maury Gertsman's camera captures the candy-colored sets and costumes of a Baghdad that exists only in the feverish brain of an art director who never opened a book about the Middle East. The flamboyant costumes are dazzling in color, but look as though pulled randomly from the racks in Universal's costume warehouse. The diversity of clothing styles is perhaps appropriate, because the action seems to take place anywhere in any period from the Thousand and One Nights through Arthurian England to an MGM musical or a night at a Las Vegas hotel.
Perhaps the movie is too easy a target and should be enjoyed for what it is, an innocent tale for pre-teens in the early 1950's. Sword fights and jousts, Viziers and Princesses, an Excalibur-like sword and a mysterious legend. However, contemporary sophisticated audiences will certainly roll their eyes at the dialog and wonder how such respected actors as Piper Laurie and George Macready could utter the lines with straight faces; "Have courage and use it like a woman;" "Yes, Oh cunning father." When Gene Evans as Hadi or Tall Son is named Caliph, he takes time out to fluff the golden pillows on this throne, which resembles an enormous bean bag. While most adults should probably overlook this routine programmer, fans of Rock Hudson will certainly delight in catching the star early in his career. While no Errol Flynn in a role that needs one, Hudson is nonetheless engaging and captures and holds the eye whenever he is on screen.
