The Crimson Blade (1963)

In 1648, during the English Civil War, Captain Sylvester switches sides between the Parliamentary and Royalist camps as his interests dictate, while King Charles I is on the run from Oliver Cromwell's troops.

Director:

John Gilling

Writer:

John Gilling (screenplay)

Stars:

Lionel Jeffries, Oliver Reed, Jack Hedley

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview:
Lionel Jeffries	...	Col. Judd
Oliver Reed	...	Capt. Tom Sylvester
Jack Hedley	...	Edward Beverley, The Scarlet Blade
June Thorburn	...	Clare 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

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

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | water thrown in face | rock thrown through a window | pulled off a horse | arms tied overhead | 

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Taglines:

A Bold Avenger ... Igniting the Flames of Rebellion in a Land of Blood and Betrayal!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Hammer's 100th film.

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Goofs

Edward Beverly's younger brother Phillip, when planning an ambush to rescue the king, refers to the riflemen he is going to station in some bushes. Rudimentary rifles had been invented but were very slow to use and not in military use at the time and civil war firearms at least in general use would be smooth bore muskets of 10 or 12 bore. Its doubtful if soldiers called rifle men would exist at the time.

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Quotes

Col. Judd: [speaking of Edward Beverley] He's to be subjected to the most extreme forms of persuasion necessary to loosen his tongue.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: 1648 This is the story of a band of freemen who defied a tyrant.

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Connections

Featured in Without Walls: The Obituary Show - Oliver Reed (1993)

User Reviews

Cavaliers and Roundheads

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.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Crimson Blade

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color by Pathé) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1