ALL SCI-FI

[Eadie]

My mom and I found three great films in Butch's collection and watched them. They were fantastic!

The Saracen Blade (1954)
1 hour 17 minutes

Plot

Based on the book of the same name by Frank Yerby, it is the story of Pietro di Donati, son of a 13th-century Sicilian peasant orphan, who was born at almost the exact same moment as the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III (September 21, 1415 – 19 August 19 1493 Holy Roman Emperor from 1452 until his death). Pietro is raised by a family friend in 15th century Italy. When the friend is killed by the same nasty baron who murdered Pietro's father as he led the peasants in revolt against the baron's tyranny, Pietro vows vengeance against the entire family. This will prove difficult, since he's been in love with the daughter of the nasty baron since he was a child and wants to marry her.

Their stories are linked against the early 13th century and backdrop of the Children’s and Albigensian Crusades.

Cast

Ricardo Montalbán as Pietro di Donati, Jr.
Betta St. John as Iolanthe Rogliano
Rick Jason as Enzio Siniscola
Carolyn Jones as Elaine of Siniscola
Whitfield Connor as Frederick II
\Michael Ansara as Count Alesandro Siniscola
\Edgar Barrier as Baron Rogliano
\Nelson Leigh as Isaac (who raised Pietro)
Pamela Duncan as Zenobia
Guy Prescott as Donati di Donati, Sr. (as Frank Pulaski)

(Sorry, no YouTube™ link.)

The Black Shield of Falworth (1954)
1 hour 39 minutes

Plot

Myles Falworth (Tony Curtis) and his sister Meg (Barbara Rush) live in obscurity on a farm in Crisbey-Dale with their guardian Diccon Bowman (Rhys Williams). This is to protect them from the attainder placed upon their family by King Henry IV of England (Ian Keith) because their father has been (falsely) accused of treason and murdered by the Earl of Alban (David Farrar). When a hunting party comprising the Earl of Alban, the lord of Crisbey-Dale, and another nobleman, Sir Robert, stop at their farm for refreshment, they are repulsed by Myles, who stops them from molesting his sister.

This confrontation accelerates Diccon's plans to send them to Mackworth Castle in Derbyshire (based on the eponymous castle), so that they can come under the protection of William, The Earl of Mackworth (Herbert Marshall), a close friend of Myles and Meg's father. In Myles he sees the man who can finally rid England of the evil machinations of the Earl of Alban. Myles is first trained to be a squire, then as a knight, and is finally knighted by the king. He is successful in killing the Earl of Alban in a trial by combat, foiling Alban's attempt to seize the English crown. Myles, having fallen in love with the Earl of Mackworth's daughter while staying at the castle, is finally able to propose marriage to the Lady Anne (Janet Leigh) after he has proven his mettle. The Earl gives his hearty consent, and the two families are joined.

Cast

Tony Curtis as Myles
Janet Leigh as Lady Anne
David Farrar as Sir Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban
Barbara Rush as Meg
Herbert Marshall as Sir William, Earl of Mackworth
Torin Thatcher as Sir James
Daniel O'Herlihy as Prince Hal
Patrick O'Neal as Walter Blunt
Craig Hill as Francis Gascoyne
Ian Keith as King Henry IV
Doris Lloyd as Dame Ellen
Rhys Williams as Diccon Bowman
Leonard Mudie as Friar Edward
Maurice Marsac as Count de Vermois
Leo Britt as Sir Robert
Charles Fitz Simons as Giles
Gary Montgomery as Peter
Claud Allister as Sir George
Robin Camp as Roger Ingoldsby
Harry Cording as Captain of King's Guards
Nicolas Coster as Humphrey, Young Squire
Charles Evans as Lord Archbishop
Richard B. Fitzgerald as Sentry
Lance Fuller as Guard
Brett Halsey as Young Squire/Apprentice Knight
Chuck Hamilton as Court Observer
Ramsay Hill as Sir Charles
Bob Hoy as First Guard
Nelson Leigh as Archbishop at Myles' Knighting
James Logan as Archbishop's Helper
Ralph Moratz as Court Knave
Damian O'Flynn as Sir Alexander
Reginald Sheffield as Lord Constable

YouTube™:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DA-EXTC1cQ

Yankee Pasha (1954)
1 hour 24 minutes

Plot

[On-screen text: "Salem, Mass. 1800"] Fur trapper Jason Starbuck (Jeff Chandler) arrives in Salem. A general store owner challenges him to a horse race, but his rider's fiancee, Roxana Reil, gives a helpful tip to Starbuck on how to win the race.

A romantic attraction develops and Roxana's father advises her not to marry a man she doesn't love. Roxana sets sail for France, however, and her boat is attacked by pirates, who kill her father and take Roxana captive in Morocco, making her a slave.

Starbuck pursues her. He is introduced by a U.S. consul to the sultan, who is impressed with Starbuck's rifle marksmanship. He is offered a position with the sultan's infantry and given a slave of his own, Lilith.

Roxana has been sold to Omar Id-Din, who could be plotting against the sultan. Starbuck challenges Omar to a duel, with the winner acquiring the other's rifle and slave. Starbuck wins and intends to return home with Roxana, but they are betrayed by the jealous Lilith, who fights Roxana and tells Omar of their plans.

Starbuck is taken prisoner. Lilith has a change of heart, however, and changes clothes with Roxana to fool the guards. With the help of Hassan Sendar, one of the sultan's soldiers, they help rescue Starbuck, who leads the escape of other prisoners. He throws Omar from a roof. He and Roxana are free, and, as a reward, Hassan is given a new slave, Lilith.

Jeff Chandler recorded the song I Should Care on Brunswick Records from the film.

Cast

Jeff Chandler as Jason Starbuck
Rhonda Fleming as Roxana Reil
Mamie Van Doren as Lilith, Harem Slave
Lee J. Cobb as Sultan
Bart Roberts as Omar Id-Din
Hal March as Hassan Sendar
Tudor Owen as Elias Derby
Arthur Space as Richard O'Brien
Benny Rubin as Zimil
Phil Van Zandt as Baidu Sa'id
Harry Lauter as Dick Bailey
John Day as First mate Miller

and the Miss Universe Beauties

Christiane Martel — Miss Universe, France
Myrna Hansen — Miss United States
Kinuko Ito — Miss Japan
Emita Arosemena — Miss Panama
Synove Gulbrandsen — Miss Norway
Alicia Ibanez — Miss Uruguay
Ingrid Mills…..Miss South Africa
Maxine Morgan — Miss Australia

YouTube™:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GJhNW1TSyw
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Art Should Comfort the Disturbed and Disturb the Comfortable.