Not even bad in a good way

Load of rubbish!!

Don't Believe the Hype

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

My love for adventure/swashbuckler films was the main attraction in seeing 'The Black Shield of Falworth', and there are many ones out there. As well as seeing Tony Curtis in an early role and having Janet Leigh, Torin Thatcher and David Farrar in the cast, it was an opportunity too hard to pass up and it turned out to be a worthwhile opportunity. 'The Black Shield of Falworth' may not be an amazing or great film and there may be better adventure/swashbuckler films out there. It is however so much fun and it is very hard to be too hard on such a good-natured film that knows what it wants to be, who its target audience is and doesn't try to be any more than necessary. It is not a film to be taken seriously, this was something learnt from watching other early films of Curtis, and 'The Black Shield of Falworth' does very well in that respect without treating the audience/viewer like idiots or getting too silly.Sure 'The Black Shield of Falworth' is predictable in how it's structured, what happens and the outcomes. Sure people looking for authenticity will be disappointed, with many anachronisms to be found. Sure it can get a little too campy. Curtis may have some awkward moments and his accent jarring with the period somewhat. However, 'The Black Shield of Falworth' looks great. Very colourful, handsomely designed and lovely use of early CinemaScope. The music is suitably peppy and fits well, while the film is ably directed and contains some truly exciting action (namely in the climactic moments). Curtis is an athletic and also dashing and likeable hero, and he is supported well by suave Herbert Marshall and radiant Janet Leigh and Barbara Rush. Torin Thatcher, enjoying himself a lot, and a suitably dastardly David Farrar steal the film though. The chemistry between the cast is great and it was clear that they were having fun and with knowledge what tone to take.Regardless of what one's thoughts on the script is, the script doesn't sparkle and doesn't get too wordy that it bogs down the pace and action, of which it does neither. The pace is lively throughout and the story is told with constant energy and charm with the right amount of tension when necessary.In conclusion, a lot of fun. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Tony Curtis...how I wanted to be him back in 1956.The hair,the voice,the athleticism and grace....and married to Janet Leigh,it must have been just about the perfect life.I saw him on "The One Show" on BBC last month and he still looks better than me,still has the ladies swooning,and he's in a wheelchair for heaven's sake.Go figure. Unfairly denigrated and ignored for nearly half a century,"The black shield of Falworth"is just getting the recognition it deserves as a near perfect example of the Hollywood technicolor costume picture. It has no pretensions to historical accuracy,not a huge use is made of the iambic pentameter,the general filth and casual cruelty and violence of the Middle Ages is nowhere to be seen.This is Henry IVth's England as it never was,presented to ordinary 20th century audiences as a world of gentle knights with perfect teeth,dimpled maidens and big bad barons. It's entertainment,not a history lesson.And very successful entertainment too. Mr T.Curtis is outstanding as the young Falworth.Fizzing with suppressed energy,he tears into the part like a young puppy with a new toy.As a dispossessed heir,it is a role not unlike the one he would later play in the mighty "The Vikings".Mr T.Thatcher(no relation) gives his customary all as his mentor.Miss Leigh is charming and demure,Mr O' Herlihy a bluff Prince Hal. This picture is best viewed from behind a stick of candy floss,having just finished your "Kia Ora" and prior to daring to sneak your hand into your girl friend's.As your heart beats louder in your chest you can think that maybe you wouldn't want to swap places with Tony Curtis after all.

Written as a document the "pink casting couch" phenomenon of the 1950's this movie sees a lot of well turned out lads with greaser haircuts being groomed for knighthood (starring roles) by a lot of Ado-masochistic old men (producers/directors) while being warned away from women. Amazingly this movie got past the Hollywood brass and the censors to become a minor hit which is a testament to Rudolph Mate, a lifelong celibate and dog-handler. Much rambunctious dorm tomfoolery ensues between these little honeys. Critics pan Tony Curtis for his Medieval English accent and at the time some of these critics were old enough to remember the era so their words may ring true. Janet Leigh looks like a pint of milk rubbed with lipstick which may be intentional.

Instead of trying to portray real historical events, Hollywood instead opts for a fictitious story set in the England of Henry IV. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Unusually for Hollywood, they actually make an effort to get things right historically, and broadswords are used as broadswords and not as rapiers. The weaponry and military techniques are pretty OK for a Hollywood film, and are, on the whole, accurate.The fight sequences are very exciting and, along with the training methods, are probably the best bits of the film.As to Tony Curtis's accent. Well, we have in Geoffrey Chaucer an authentic idea of what the English language in London was like in the early 15th century. It is ridiculous to write the script in Chaucerian English - not if you want to fill the cinemas, at any rate. Compare Tony Curtis in Black Shield with Olivier in Henry V. Is Olivier's accent any more correct or authentic? This is not the deepest film ever made, but there is plenty to enjoy about it.