Swashbuckling Movie Suggestions?

[Sanackranib]

swashbuckler

basically anything with Arol Flynn.
There were several movieswhere Burt Lancaster teamed up with a mute and did a lot of accrobatic type stunts.
Any variation of Zoro or the 3 musketeers,
Kings Guard and of course the Princess Bride

 

[Agback]

G'day

First, let me endorse the recommendation of the Rank/Fox version of The Three Musketeers, directed by Richard Lester. It came out in two parts The Three Musketeers in 1973 and The Four Musketeers in 1974, has an absolutely stunning cast, and is the only version to cover all the matter of the original book by Alexandre Dumas (pere). It is certainly streets ahead of the most recent version, which was a travesty. By the way, if you are going to read the book in translation, look for the version translated by William Barrow (I think it is published by Pan)--the translation in the Penguin Classics is disastrously lacking in lightness and charm. While you are in the area, I recommend the recent movie version of The Man in the Iron Mask (Gabriel Byrne, Gerard Depardieu, Jeremy Irons, and John Malkovitch make a great D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers). But avoid reading the book, which is cynical and depressing.

Then, let me recommend the 1940 version of The Mark of Zorro, with Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone. A top swashbuckler.

And while we are in that vein, let's not miss The Scarlet Pimpernel (either the 1938 version with Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon or the 1982 TV version with Anthony Andrewes and Jane Seymour).

Regards,


Ag "buckle my swash!" Back

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Of course, to really GET swashbuckling you have to READ swashbuckling.

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas

You just can't go wrong with Dumas. Honestly.

I agree.

I will never forget the scene when the musketeers are alone in a fort with a servant and the enemy is approaching. What do they do? Have the servant fight off the enemy while they enjoy a fine meal and complain about the lousy service they are recieving.

 

[Pbartender]

Treasure Island (1990)

Not always easy to find, since it was a movie made for Cable TV. If you can find it, though, I recommend it highly.

Great casting, great acting, excellent scenery, costumes and props. The script follows the book nearly word for word. And it's probably as historically accurate as such a movie could possibly get. The quintessential piratical buried treasure hunt story.

 

[johnsemlak]

A couple more Errol Flynn flicks:

The Sea Hawk
The Adventures of Don Juan

 

[fba827]

You may also want to check out the Movie/TV/Book forum.

More topic-focused discussions there so would get better ideas from those already thinking about such stuff
(and less distraction from the other misc. topics that go on in the General Forum)

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=56

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I highly recommend finding the original Zorro by any means necessary. It's a silent film, I believe, the set pieces are as authentic as it is possible to get, and the performance of Zorro is obviously an important moment in American popular culture.

Bob Kane said it was one of the most important influences on the development of Batman.

Gilliam's Rob Roy is a recent movie that illustrates the heart-renching pathos that can be found in swashbuckling's tales of honor and villainy.

The duel at the end is one of the best I've ever seen, for the simple fact that people sweat, show pain when they are wounded, still fight well, and virtue comes up with a more or less believable victory.

There was a fantastic history channel presentation on Swords, or something like that, that featured an extended treatment of different historical swordsman schools and techniques.

If you can find it, it is certainly worth seeing as it featured a demonstration of all of the sword fighting styles reffered to in Romeo and Juliet and how they dictate the puns in the verses and a lot of the physical performance of the play.

The recent version payed some lip-service to this by emphasizing the different models of firearms.

 

[paulewaug]

for something kind of different try
"The Brotherhood of the Wolf"

also the new Johnny Depp movie coming out looks good:
maybe more "piraty" than "swashbuckly" though?

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Also if you have access to "The History Channel" watch for episodes of Conquest, they did really good episodes of Dueling and also being a King's Musketeer vs. Hollywood swashbuckler movies. IMO it's a very good show

 

[gunter uxbridge]

Not an out and out terrible film, but I always liked "Nate and Hayes" with Tommy Lee Jones from 1983. It is set in the waning days of the pirate era/rise of steam powered ships and has a lot of what you are looking for.

 

[Tratyn Runewind]

Hello,

Hmm, most of the best stuff has already been mentioned. I'll put in additional recommendations for some of them, including Captain Blood, the 1970's Musketeer films, the Byrne/Irons/Malkovich/Depardieu Man in the Iron Mask, and the 1990 Treasure Island. I'll also second avoiding the "brat pack" Musketeers film, at least until you've seen better. (TIM CURRY?! I mean, I like the guy, but him as Richlieu?!)

My favorite swashbuckling film that has yet to be mentioned is Danny Kaye's classic comedy, The Court Jester. It's set in an earlier period than the typical swashbuckling film, but it has the proper sword-work and the proper panache.

Hope this helps, and enjoy the movies!