Somewhere in Europe during the Middle Ages. A strapping young man called Rohalt wishes to become a knight, in order to defend the true Faith and to fight crime and injustice. This is a pretty blameless life ambition - it certainly beats sitting around in your underpants all day while eating vinegar crisps - but sadly Rohalt is the legitimate though unacknowledged heir to the storied country of Arduan, the ownership of which has inspired fratricidal hatred and crime. Will Rohalt survive and thrive ?
In the 1960's and 1970's Belgium (or at least the northern, Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) lived through a golden age for children's television. Many of these series glued people to the screen, to such an extent that one could have started World War III without anyone noticing.
"Sword of Arduan" does not rank between the best of these works : it is well-made and watchable, but not exceptional. The story draws heavily upon Arthurian lore, complete with a sword that can only be removed by the Legitimate One. About the most notable aspects are the striking and unusual locations : part of the series was shot in the South of France, legend has it during a heat wave of eye-watering severity. (This circumstance may help explain why some of the actors and actresses, poor people, look as though they're wilting beneath their medieval costume.) There is also the theme song ("Brother o brother, the evening is red") which is surprisingly catchy - beware the Arduanese earworm !
The images I saw were watchable enough, but some of them seemed to have undergone a slight deterioration, possibly related to ageing or storage and conservation problems.
I award seven stars. I may be too severe in my judgment : the series was made for children and I, for good and evil, am an adult...
In the 1960's and 1970's Belgium (or at least the northern, Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) lived through a golden age for children's television. Many of these series glued people to the screen, to such an extent that one could have started World War III without anyone noticing.
"Sword of Arduan" does not rank between the best of these works : it is well-made and watchable, but not exceptional. The story draws heavily upon Arthurian lore, complete with a sword that can only be removed by the Legitimate One. About the most notable aspects are the striking and unusual locations : part of the series was shot in the South of France, legend has it during a heat wave of eye-watering severity. (This circumstance may help explain why some of the actors and actresses, poor people, look as though they're wilting beneath their medieval costume.) There is also the theme song ("Brother o brother, the evening is red") which is surprisingly catchy - beware the Arduanese earworm !
The images I saw were watchable enough, but some of them seemed to have undergone a slight deterioration, possibly related to ageing or storage and conservation problems.
I award seven stars. I may be too severe in my judgment : the series was made for children and I, for good and evil, am an adult...
