The Golden Blade ** (1953, Rock Hudson, Piper Laurie, Gene Evans, George Macready) – Classic Movie Review 10,096

Director Nathan Juran’s 1953 film The Golden Blade is a breezy and fun, but daft and not very bright Arabian adventure, with Rock Hudson looking embarrassed as the fearless hero, Basra merchant Harun Al-Rashid, who wins the hand of Princess Khairuzan (Piper Laurie) and defeats the villains, especially the evil Jafar (George Macready).

This escapist fantasy movie is well made, good looking in Technicolor and watchable, though nothing special, thanks to the lightweight performances and predictable script (story and screenplay by John Rich).

Anita Ekberg appears uncredited as one of the handmaidens and Dennis Weaver as a rabble rouser.

Also in the cast are Gene Evans, Kathleen Hughes, Steven Geray, Edgar Barrier, Alice Kelley, Jack Baston, Dorinda Clifton and Guy Williams.

Laurie recalled that she trained hard to dance for the film but was given a dancing double anyway.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,096

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