The Saracen Blade ** (1954, Ricardo Montalban, Betta St John, Rick Jason, Carolyn Jones,Michael Ansara) – Classic Movie Review 9107

‘Twenty lashes don’t do any good. Give him [Pietro] thirty.’ – Haroun (Leonard Penn).

Director William Castle’s 1954 romantic adventure The Saracen Blade is based on Frank Yerby’s novel and stars Ricardo Montalban as Pietro Donati, a Middle Ages Italian warrior who sets off to punish his father’s killers, Enzio Siniscola and Count Alessandro Siniscola (Rick Jason, Michael Ansara), in this slapdash but jolly enough adventure tale of crusading and avenging knights.

Feeble script and stilted direction notwithstanding, it is still fairly entertaining thanks to the cheerfully silly story, merry cast and some lovely Technicolor images shot by Henry Freulich (though some are apparently stock footage colourised).

Also in the cast are Betta St John as Lady Iolanthe Rogliano, Carolyn Jones as Elaine of Siniscola, Whitfield Connor as Frederick II, Edgar Barrier as Baron Rogliano, Nelson Leigh, Pamela Duncan, Leonard Penn and Guy Prescott.

The score consists entirely of stock music.

It was shot far from Italy at Santa Clarita, California; Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California; and Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, 10700 W Escondido Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, California.

The Saracen Blade is directed by William Castle, runs 78 minutes, is made by Sam Katzman Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by DeVallon Scott and George Worthing Yates, based on Frank Yerby’s novel, is shot in Technicolor by Henry Freulich, is produced by Sam Katzman and scored by Mischa Bakaleinikoff (musical director / composer: stock music), with Art Direction by Paul Palmentola.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9107

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com