Narrated by Michael Rennie. Director: HENRY HATHAWAY. Screenplay: Talbot Jennings. Based on the novel by Thomas B. Costain. Technicolor photography: Jack Cardiff. Technicolor consultant: Joan Bridge. Music: Richard Addinsell. Music conductor: Muir Mathieson. Art directors: Paul Sheriff and W. Andrews. Film editor: Manuel Del Campo. Special effects: W. Percy Day. Costumes: Michael Whittaker. Sound: Buster Ambler. Western Electric Sound System. Made at London Film Studios, Shepperton, England, and on locations in North Africa. Producer: Louis D. Lighton.
Copyright 24 August 1950 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 1 September 1950. U.S. release: 8 August 1950. U.K. release: 25 September 1950. Australian release: 8 September 1950. Sydney opening at the Regent. 10,910 feet. 120 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Two 13th century Saxons, with a hatred for the Normans, leave England for China where they team up with a vicious Mongol warlord.
NOTES: Negative cost: $4.5 million. Number 14 at Australian ticket windows for 1950, the film was also one of the top 25 attractions at the U.S./Canadian box office for the year. In the United Kingdom, however, where both Power and Hawkins were major money-spinning stars, the film failed to place among the champions.
Michael Whittaker was nominated for an Academy Award for his color costume designs, losing to Samson and Delilah.
Final film of Cecile Aubry, the star of Manon. I'm told she retired from the screen after marrying a Moroccan prince who met her whilst visiting the film set.
VIEWERS' GUIDE: Extraordinarily, the current film censor's classification is "G" for general exhibition. You'd think the movie would at least rate a "PG" for occasional medium-level violence. I would go further. Adults only. It's not just that the violence is occasional, it's the way it's presented. The movie is permeated with a vicious tone of casual cruelty which makes the violence seem even more forceful than what is actually depicted.
INITIAL COMMENT: In many ways, a typical Hathaway film with exciting action episodes and effective use of natural backgrounds. The plot has a Boys Own Paper quality but it is more literate in the telling than it is in the synopsis and the characters are vividly brought to life by a fine cast of seasoned players. Hathaway feels that he was unsuccessful with Welles and Aubry but to my mind Welles has a compelling screen presence even when he is not trying as here.
Aubry makes a charming and unusual Hollywood heroine in that she has a strong personality that belies her youthful appearance. The only colorless player is Mr. Power who gives his usual efficient but unremarkable performance. The film has been lensed on a lavish budget, the sets and the color photography are never less than breathtaking."
UPDATED COMMENT: Alas, my initial enthusiasm was not borne out by a current viewing. True, a viewing on TV, and you just can't hope to match the impact of a movie designed for the cinema screen when that picture is reduced to lounge-room dimensions and shown to an audience of two.
All the same it's curious that I now find myself in agreement with my contemporary colleagues.
Copyright 24 August 1950 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 1 September 1950. U.S. release: 8 August 1950. U.K. release: 25 September 1950. Australian release: 8 September 1950. Sydney opening at the Regent. 10,910 feet. 120 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Two 13th century Saxons, with a hatred for the Normans, leave England for China where they team up with a vicious Mongol warlord.
NOTES: Negative cost: $4.5 million. Number 14 at Australian ticket windows for 1950, the film was also one of the top 25 attractions at the U.S./Canadian box office for the year. In the United Kingdom, however, where both Power and Hawkins were major money-spinning stars, the film failed to place among the champions.
Michael Whittaker was nominated for an Academy Award for his color costume designs, losing to Samson and Delilah.
Final film of Cecile Aubry, the star of Manon. I'm told she retired from the screen after marrying a Moroccan prince who met her whilst visiting the film set.
VIEWERS' GUIDE: Extraordinarily, the current film censor's classification is "G" for general exhibition. You'd think the movie would at least rate a "PG" for occasional medium-level violence. I would go further. Adults only. It's not just that the violence is occasional, it's the way it's presented. The movie is permeated with a vicious tone of casual cruelty which makes the violence seem even more forceful than what is actually depicted.
INITIAL COMMENT: In many ways, a typical Hathaway film with exciting action episodes and effective use of natural backgrounds. The plot has a Boys Own Paper quality but it is more literate in the telling than it is in the synopsis and the characters are vividly brought to life by a fine cast of seasoned players. Hathaway feels that he was unsuccessful with Welles and Aubry but to my mind Welles has a compelling screen presence even when he is not trying as here.
Aubry makes a charming and unusual Hollywood heroine in that she has a strong personality that belies her youthful appearance. The only colorless player is Mr. Power who gives his usual efficient but unremarkable performance. The film has been lensed on a lavish budget, the sets and the color photography are never less than breathtaking."
UPDATED COMMENT: Alas, my initial enthusiasm was not borne out by a current viewing. True, a viewing on TV, and you just can't hope to match the impact of a movie designed for the cinema screen when that picture is reduced to lounge-room dimensions and shown to an audience of two.
All the same it's curious that I now find myself in agreement with my contemporary colleagues.