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The Magic Sword (1962 film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Magic Sword' (also known as 'St. George and the Dragon', 'St. George and the Seven Curses', the film's original title,[http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_073161/28 Issuu.com] and 'The Seven Curses of Lodac') is a 1962 American adventure fantasy film directed by Bert I. Gordon[https://www.parkcircus.com/film/101971-The-Magic-Sword Park Circus] that is loosely based on the medieval legend of Saint George and the Dragon.
Plot
George is the foster son of Sybil, an elderly, somewhat ineffectual sorceress. She brought him up after his "royal parents died of the plague" in his infancy.
He has fallen in love with the Princess Helene but she is kidnapped by the wizard Lodac, who brazenly informs her father that he intends to feed her to his pet dragon in seven days, in revenge for the death of his sister. George wants to go on a quest to liberate his lady love, but Sybil believes he is too young as he is only 20. She tries to distract the youth by showing him a magic sword; a steed; an invulnerable suit of armour; and six magically frozen knights that he will command when he turns 21. The impatient George tricks Sybil and locks her in a cellar, then leaves with the magical implements and the revived company of knights.
Sir George and his party appear before the king and insist on journeying to Lodac's castle to rescue Helene, despite opposition from Sir Branton, a knight who has also volunteered for the perilous quest. The king promises the rescuer his daughter's hand in marriage and half his kingdom.
Seven curses bar the path to Lodac's castle. First, they encounter an ogre, who slays Sir Ulrich of Germany and Sir Pedro of Spain before George kills it. When George tries to save Sir Anthony of Italy from drowning in a swamp, Branton treacherously kicks him in as well. Anthony is killed, but George survives with the help of his magic sword.
Later, Branton meets secretly with Lodac. It turns out that Branton has Lodac's ring, which the magician lost and wants back desperately, as his powers are crippled without it. The kidnapping was solely intended to make Branton look good, in exchange for the ring. Sir Dennis of France comes by and Lodac prepares a trap involving Mignonette, a beautiful Frenchwoman, who distracts her compatriot, before turning into an ugly hag who attacks him. Fortunately, George saves him with his magic shield.
Lodac finally becomes aware that George is being aided by magic. He contacts Sybil and mocks her abilities. Stung, she tries to cast a spell to help George, but ends up inadvertently stripping away all his magical powers.
Sir Dennis and Sir James of Scotland burn and perish from a heat spiral when they reconnoitre ahead. Branton then leads George and Sir Patrick of Ireland into a trap, revealing his partnership with Lodac before sealing them in a cave with deadly green apparitions. Patrick, through the power of his faith, enables George to escape at the cost of his own life.
George sneaks into Lodac's castle and rescues Helene, only to be captured. The magician gives Helene (actually the hag in disguise) to Branton, but once he has the ring, he uses magic to put Branton's head on a plaque on the wall. George is tied up, but escapes with the help of a number of escaped shrunken prisoners. Sybil arrives and finally remembers the spell that restores George's powers, enabling him to slay the two-headed dragon and save Helene. Sybil steals the ring while Lodac is distracted. When the magician threatens the young couple with the seventh curse (himself), Sybil transforms herself into a large panther and kills him. Helene and George get married and the six knights are restored to life.
Cast
*Basil Rathbone as Lodac
*Estelle Winwood as Sybil
*Gary Lockwood as Sir George
*Anne Helm as Princess Helene
*Liam Sullivan as Sir Branton
*Maila Nurmi as The Hag / Sorceress
*Angelo Rossitto as 2nd Dwarf
*Danielle De Metz as Mignonette
*Merritt Stone as The King
*Jacques Gallo as Sir Dennis of France
*David Cross as Sir Pedro of Spain
*John Mauldin as Sir Patrick of Ireland
*Taldo Kenyon as Sir Anthony of Italy
*Angus Duncan as Sir James of Scotland
*Leroy Johnson as Sir Ulrich of Germany (Voice by Paul Frees, uncredited)
*Marlene Callahan as Princess Grace
*Nick Bon Tempi as Left Siamese Twin
*Paul Bon Tempi as Right Siamese Twin
*Ann Graves as Princess Laura
*Lorrie Richards as Anne
*Jack Kosslyn as The Ogre
*Ted Finn as 1st Dwarf
Production
The film was shot on the 20th Century Fox backlot and at Samuel Goldwyn Studio.p. 81, Weaver, Tom 'I Was a Monster Movie Maker' 2001, McFarland
Comic book adaptation
Dell Movie Classic: 'The Magic Sword' (September 1962)
Legacy
The film appeared on a 1992 episode of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000'.[https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/59253/mystery-science-theater-3000-xxvi/ Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXVI - DVD Talk] In a highly unusual admission, characters Joel Robinson and Tom Servo said the film was "pretty good for a Bert I. Gordon film" during a theater segment (though Crow T. Robot seemed to disagree). The writers of the show continued the praise in their book 'MST3K Amazing Colossal Episode Guide'.
References
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