Crossed Swords (1977)

Poor boy Tom Canty (Mark Lester) and Edward, Prince of Wales (Mark Lester) exchange identities, but events force the pair to experience each other's lives as well.

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Berta Domínguez D. (original screenplay) (as Berta Dominguez D.), Pierre Spengler (screenplay)

Stars:

Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Mark Lester

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Oliver Reed	...	Miles Hendon
Raquel Welch	...	Lady Edith
Mark Lester	...	Edward / Tom
Ernest Borgnine	...	John Canty
George C. Scott	...	Ruffler
Rex Harrison	...	The Duke of Norfolk
David Hemmings	...	Hugh Hendon
Harry Andrews	...	Hertford
Julian Orchard	...	St.John
Murray Melvin	...	Prince's Dresser
Lalla Ward	...	Princess Elizabeth
Felicity Dean	...	Lady Jane
Sybil Danning	...	Mother Canty
Graham Stark	...	Jester
Preston Lockwood	...	Father Andrew

Storyline

Tom Canty (Mark Lester) is a poor English boy who bears a remarkable resemblance to Edward, Prince of Wales (Mark Lester) and son of King Henry VIII (Charlton Heston). The two boys meet and decide to play a joke on the court by dressing in each other's clothes, but the plan goes awry when they are separated and each must live the other's life.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | boy | prince | king | king henry viii | 

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Taglines:

Another rollicking adventure from the creators of The Three Musketeers.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Crossed Swords

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Film Production, Prince and the Pauper Film Export A.G.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 121 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie's failure was largely blamed on the casting of Mark Lester, who, at eighteen, was nine years older than King Edward VI was at the time of his accession to the throne. Lester's performance in the dual title roles was heavily criticized. However, there were also complaints that the movie was "too Americanized".

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Goofs

Tom Canty and Prince Edward were supposed to eight years old but Mark Lester was eighteen when he played the dual roles.

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Quotes

Tom Canty: If you think the food may be poisoned, why not feed it to a dog, or a plumber?

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Connections

Version of The Prince and the Pauper (2000)

User Reviews

Lavish retelling of the young Prince Edward VI , Henry VIII 's son , taking places with his look-alike , a slum beggar

Nice adaptation from Mark Twain's classic also titled ¨Crossed Swords¨ with a top-of-the range cast . It's a Richard Fleischer's gorgeous film plenty of action , costumed adventure , humor , swashbuckling and lots of entertainment . The movie is very amusing and funny , capturing the flavor of the old times . On the same day two boys cross their fates : the pauper Tom and prince Edward (Mark Lester in double tole) . As a street beggar, Tom flees from pursuers and sneaks into the palace garden and meets the King Henry VIII (Charlton Heston) . Later on , the pickpocket Tom meets prince Edward VI , they change clothes with each other but the guards discover them and throw out the prince, since they are almost identical. Nobody believe them when they try to tell the truth and the young prince has trouble reclaiming his crown. Soon after, the old king dies and the prince will inherit the throne. The young prince turned beggar is aided by a swashbuckling soldier-of-fortune ( Oliver Reed who steals the spectacle as intrepid adventurer ) .

The flick deals about the Prince Edward VI ,son of Henry VIII of England, who's replaced by a beggar and vice versa . The film mingles comedy, adventures, humor, tongue-in-check and history. The starring boy is excellent and Oliver Reed as the preceptor is sublime. Also are splendidly, the supporting roles : Rex Harrison , Harry Andrews , Charlton Heston , Ernest Borgnine , David Hemmings , George C Scott , all are magnificent , including Raquel Welch. In the movie appears several historical characters, such as Henry VIII, Edward VI , Duke of Norfolk , and Lady Jane, princess Elizabeth , both of whom will be queens.

Colorful and evocative cinematography by Jack Cardiff . Imaginative score by Maurice Jarre who includes sensible chores . Direction by Richard Fleischer is very good . This is still one of the best versions along with the starred by Errol Flynn. This entertaining movie should satisfy young and old . Other adaptations about this vintage story dealing with mistaken identity between a prince and a child from the London slums are the following : The classic rendition ( 1937) by William Keighley with Errol Flynn , Claude Rains ; Disney version by Don Chaffey with Guy Williams , TV take on ( 2000) by Gilles Foster with Aidan Quinn ; furthermore , several versions on cartoons .