This 1954 swashbuckler is most notable for the romantic pairing of real-life married couple Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Curtis plays a lowly country bumpkin who runs afoul of the slimy local lord when he defends his sister’s honor against the lout’s advances. Forced on the run with his sister (Barbara Rush) in tow, he comes to the assistance of a princess (Leigh) while on the road, earning her favor and the opportunity to train to become a squire in her father’s court.
Buy The Black Shield of FalworthIt’s no surprise that our humble peasant has a secret, prestigious lineage, but Oscar Brodney’s plodding script takes us through the tedious motions of his extensive training in the company of peers to become a squire, then a knight, before finally bringing his family’s tragic past into focus just in time for the finale. Although there’s barely any time allotted for romance, the squire manages to steal the heart of the princess during their infrequent meetups, even as one of his fellow trainees falls for his sister. The film is mostly focused on the peasant’s familial redemption arc, leaving romance, and Leigh, largely afterthoughts.
As directed by Rudolph Mate, the film is pure formula from beginning to end, with the actors delivering their lines with such perfunctory stiffness that they may as well all be in armor. Costumes are just ok, with all of the lads forced into ridiculous tights and Curtis’s armor looking more like leftover robot props than sturdy protection, although Leigh gets a couple of decent gowns. Oddly, the male hairstyles are of the mullet variety, so it’s hard to take the actors seriously as they pursue knightly business up front while being ready to party in the back. There’s a surprisingly expansive outdoor set for the final showdown, but other exteriors are barely disguised as the Universal Studios backlot and a nearby ranch, while interiors are blandly designed. Curtis is game and puts in a valiant effort, but the film rarely rises above matinee fodder.
While no restoration information is provided, the Blu-ray presents the film in 2.35.1 aspect ratio, notable as being Universal’s first feature made in the CinemaScope format for more epic scope than its decidedly small stakes warrant. Technicolor hues are rich and vibrant, and no obvious defects are present, while sound is serviceable in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. No bonus features are included.
