THE SCARLET BLADE

 

I finally caught up with one of the very, very few post-1957 Hammer films I had not seen. THE SCARLET BLADE (1963) is one of Hammer's colorful historical adventures, written & directed by John Gilling. (For whatever reason, the movie was titled THE CRIMSON BLADE in America.) 

England, 1648. Royalist Edward Beverly (Jack Hedley) has been presumed killed in battle. Edward takes advantage of this situation to assume a secret identity--that of the elusive Scarlet Blade, a man who constantly harasses Cromwell's forces. Edward's father, who has been hiding King Charles, is executed by the nefarious Colonel Judd (Lionel Jeffries). Judd's daughter Clare (June Thorburn) is secretly aiding the Royalist cause. Judd's right hand man, Captain Sylvester (Oliver Reed), desires Clare, and hopes to win her by assisting in her Royalist efforts. Clare and Sylvester learn the true identity of the Scarlet Blade, but the Captain cannot be trusted...especially when he finds out that Clare and Edward are attracted to each other. 

Hammer's historical romps don't get near as much attention as the company's Gothic horrors, but for the most part these costume adventures were well-crafted pieces of entertainment. THE SCARLET BLADE fits that description, mainly due to the fact that it was crafted by John Gilling. Gilling may not have been popular with the people he worked with, but he knew how to make a fast-moving, low-budget story pleasing to an audience. THE SCARLET BLADE is another handsome Hammer production, with fine cast wardrobes and period detail, and plenty of scenes shot at familiar places as Black Park forest and the Bray Studios village set. The great Jack Asher was cinematographer here (this would be his next-to-last Hammer film) and this time he gets to show off his splendid work in Hammerscope. Gary Hughes, who provided music for most of the Hammer historical adventures, did the rousing score for this one. 

If you want a serious and thorough examination of the English Civil War, this is not the movie for you. (For the record, THE SCARLET BLADE favors the Royalists.) Gilling's story is a cross between the legends of Robin Hood and the Scarlet Pimpernel, transplanted to 17th Century England. 

THE SCARLET BLADE might have been better if it had a more charismatic leading man. Jack Hedley is all right in the role, but he's not exactly an Errol Flynn type. I do have to say that Hedley is involved in several action scenes here, and he comes off quite well, as he should have--before he began his acting career Hedley was a Royal Marine commando, and he served in several conflicts, while being wounded multiple times. 

It doesn't help Hedley that Oliver Reed gets the most interesting role as the devious Captain Sylvester--and Reed makes the most of it. (It also didn't help Hedley that John Gilling's script--and direction--favor Reed and Lionel Jeffries). Sylvester isn't an all-out bad guy, but he is someone who is willing to play both ends against the middle to advance himself. In all the Hammer historical adventures that Reed appeared in, he was cast as a villain. Somebody at Hammer should have tried casting Reed as the hero in one of these pictures--he had far more screen presence than the actors who got the leading man role in them. 

The role of Captain Judd as played by Lionel Jeffries is intriguing as well. Judd immediately comes off as a arrogant martinet, but it's mentioned that he used to be a Royalist, and it's suggested that he switched sides due to money....which probably explains why he tries to act more Cromwell than Cromwell. Jeffries is better known for his comic roles, but he's serious and believably forceful as Judd, and he makes the man more than just another Sheriff of Nottingham type. 

June Thorburn as Clare shows some spunk when standing up to Oliver Reed, and there's the expected welcome Hammer faces among the supporting cast. Michael Ripper plays a curly-haired gypsy (!!) who is a friend of Edward, and Suzan Farmer (looking lovely as always) plays Edward's sister. Duncan Lamont is a Roundhead officer who tries to outdo Judd, and George Woodbridge has a cameo as a town crier. 

THE SCARLET BLADE does exactly what it was designed to do--it takes viewers away from their ordinary lives and gives then 80-some minutes of decent, efficiently made entertainment. It's another example of how successful the company's production setup could be with the right people involved.