THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH [1954 / 2009] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] All the Thundering Excitement of The Age of Chivalry! All the Pageantry and Excitement of Knighthood’s Epic Age!
In one his earliest and most dashing performances, Tony Curtis pursues his real-life bride Janet Leigh, while defending the British throne in this swashbuckling saga filled with jousts, jests and medieval super heroics.
The setting is in the reign of King Henry IV of England. Myles Falworth [Tony Curtis] is headstrong, handsome peasant, determined to learn the name of his slain father and discover his true heritage. His fiery ambition and swift sword, lead him to the majestic Mackworth Castle. There he must complete for both knighthood, as well as the hand of the fair Lady Anne [Janet Leigh], but her love is claimed by the evil, conniving Sir Walter Blunt [Patrick O'Neal]. All the while the English throne is being challenged to the death, from sinister forces within. Soon the fate of the realm and his beloved Lady Anne will depend upon his martial skill. But Myles Falworth must first unlock the secret of his own shocking, mysterious identity.
FILM FACT: It was the second of five films in which husband and wife Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh appeared together on screen during their marriage (1952-1961). The film was Universal-International's first feature in CinemaScope. It opened in New York City on the 6th October, 1954 at the Loew's State Theater. The film is famous for an apocryphal line, rendered as "Yonda stands da castle of my fodda" or similar. The plot details above show that this would not fit the story: there is no "castle of my father." The line is said to have come from a remark made by Debbie Reynolds on television. This chestnut used to be quoted in Radio Times whenever the film was on BBC television, and found its way into a 2007 study of Tony Curtis's work by Clive James and Tony Curtis has denied ever saying that line, but he did actually say a similar line in the film ‘Son of Ali Baba,’ released in 1952 (and one of two "Arabian Nights" style fantasies he did with Piper Laurie), that reads, "This is the palace of my father, and yonder lies the Valley of the Sun," and he did deliver it in a markedly New York accent.
Cast: Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, David Farrar, Barbara Rush, Herbert Marshall, Torin Thatcher, Dan O'Herlihy, Craig Hill, Ian Keith, Doris Lloyd, Rhys Williams, Leonard Mudie, Maurice Marsac, Leo Britt, Charles B. Fitzsimons, Gary Montgomery, Claud Allister, Hamilton Camp, Harry Cording (uncredited), Nicolas Coster (uncredited), Charles Evans (uncredited), Brett Halsey (uncredited), Chuck Hamilton (uncredited), Nelson Leigh (uncredited), Ralph Moratz (uncredited), Damian O'Flynn (uncredited) and Reginald Sheffield (uncredited)
Director: Rudolph Maté
Producers: Melville Tucker and Robert Arthur
Screenplay: Oscar Brodney and (novel "Men of Iron")
Composers: Frank Skinner (uncredited), Hans J. Salter (uncredited) and Herman Stein (uncredited)
Cinematographer: Irving Glassberg (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.55:1 (CinemaScope)
Audio: English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 99 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Universal-International / EUREKA! Entertainment Ltd
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH’ [1954] is now available for the first time anywhere in the world in glorious 1080p encoded image and in its original aspect ratio 2.55:1 and not as stated on the back cover as 2.35:1 aspect ratio. ‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH’ stars Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh was Universal-International's first feature in CinemaScope. In one of his earliest and most dashing performances, a young Myles Falworth [Tony Curtis] pursues his real-life bride Lady Anne [Janet Leigh], while defending the British throne in this swashbuckling saga filled with jousts, jests and medieval super heroics. The setting is England in the reign of King Henry IV, and Myles Falworth [Tony Curtis] is a headstrong, handsome peasant determined to learn the name of his slain father and discover his true heritage. Myles Falworth fiery ambition and swift sword lead him to the majestic MacWorth castle. There he must compete for both knighthood as well as the hand of the fair Lady Anne [Janet Leigh], but her love is claimed by the evil, conniving Sir Walter Blunt [Patrick O'Neal]. All the while the English throne is being challenged to the death from sinister forces within. Soon the fate of the realm, and his beloved Lady Anne, will depend upon his martial skill, but not before Myles Falworth must unlock the secret of his own shocking, mysterious identity. With its outstanding supporting cast and dazzling set design this is truly an epic tale of which legends are made! Starring the ever charismatic, multi-award winning Tony Curtis of ‘Some like It Hot,’ ‘Sweet of Smell of Success’ and ‘The Defiant Ones,’ the OSCAR® nominated Janet Leigh of ‘Psycho’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate, and directed by the OSCAR® nominated cinematographer Rudolph Mate.
‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH’ is set in medieval period England, and is the story of Myles Falworth [Tony Curtis] a peasant raised without ever knowing who his real father was. He goes to Mackworth castle to become a knight and regain his birth right. There he falls hopelessly in love with the Mackworth's daughter Lady Anne [Janet Leigh]. Their relationship leaves him very unpopular amongst the castle's inhabitants, jeopardising his ultimate goal; to bear the Black Shield of Falworth. Based on the novel “Men of Iron” by Howard Pyle.
‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH’ was Universal-International's first feature in CinemaScope; with colours almost hallucinatory in their garishness. The action is largely confined indoors with little location work off the lot. On a hunting trip the ageing King Henry IV [Ian Keith], needs must curtail his exercise, whereupon his host, Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban [David Farrar], is flattered to hear from his hangers-on that he will soon be the most powerful man in England. Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban [David Farrar] and his entourage stop at a humble farm to partake of some refreshment and one of the Gilbert Blunt, Earl Alban's lackeys makes lecherous advances to the young peasant girl he finds there and he is soundly beaten by the girl's brother Myles Falworth who also knocks about the Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban's guards. Myles Falworth’s sister Meg [Barbara Rush], and their companion Diccon Bowman [Rhys Williams], make their escape to the local monastery, where the Abbott gives them a letter of introduction to the William, Earl of Mackworth [Herbert Marshall]. The Abbott explains that the William, Earl of Mackworth owes the youngster's father a favour. The siblings know nothing of their parentage and Myles Falworth in particular is eager to know his birth right.
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH’ appears with very decent and approaching stellar 1080p image on this Blu-ray release. Colours are bright and grain is apparent and detail advances beyond stand definition. This is only single-layered but it's always nice to see an earlier classic brought to hi-definition disc. The print used for this 55-year old film seems in quite good shape. In motion the image is very smooth and exceptionally clean with only a very few erratic speckles being noted. Skin tones seem true and contrast exhibits adequate, if not piercing, black levels. For the majority of the film daylight scenes are used and they look very good. This Blu-ray has no intrusive noise. By modern standards this is fairly tame visually but as a representation of the original - I doubt much more could be done. This Blu-ray looks like the film ‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH’ with vibrant colours and consistent grain that stand out as the most impressive attributes.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – No boasting going on here, as it appears to be the same 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio channel track used on the previous inferior DVD release of ‘THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH.’ I would have thought that an upgrade to 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio would have been more appropriate, but the film doesn't really require a dynamic audio upgrade. The film's score is fairly typical of the 'genre' and it doesn't produce heavy bass or rousing fanfare and excepting in some of the action sequences at the end of the film. As stated above there are no Subtitles, which is quite strange for people who purchase the Blu-ray in a non-English speaking country.
Finally, if you lean towards a 50's medieval/Arthurian/knights themed film and then this has what you are looking for. It's cool to see youthful Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh together with the romance/adventure aspects, though curiously Tony Curtis, in his highly readable autobiography, claims this was the first and last. The glamorous couple cavort across Ye Merrie Olde England or the Universal-International back lot, and save Henry IV from a fate worse than a Kenneth Branagh remake. This swashbuckler features suave Herbert Marshall, decent swordfights, early CinemaScope photography and some wonderful Brooklyn accents, especially the infamous line when Tony Curtis says "Yonder lies the castle of my fodda" is from this film, though others say it's from ‘The Prince Who Was a Thief.’ However, Tony Curtis in his autobiography claims it was from ‘The Son of Ali Baba.’ Although some may find the film slightly underwhelm in its content. Perhaps one could say it is a poor-man's ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood.’ I think the appeal lies mostly in the nostalgia for this early CinemaScope romp. It could easily be a solid first-feature 'B' picture for a home theatre night. The Blu-ray gives the film the best home theatre presentation that you are likely to see and if you love your films in the CinemaScope aspect ratio and also in the stunning and glorious Technicolor, then you are in for a real treat, especially how old the film is and despite some people have given it a not so warm review, I still think it is a very enjoyable film and so pleased it is now ensconced in my ever increasing Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
