The Swordsman | |
---|---|
Directed by | Joseph H. Lewis |
Written by | Wilfred H. Petitt |
Produced by | Burt Kelly |
Starring | Larry Parks Ellen Drew George Macready |
Cinematography | William E. Snyder |
Edited by | Al Clark |
Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1.7 million (US rentals) [1] |
The Swordsman is a 1948 American swashbuckler film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Larry Parks, Ellen Drew and George Macready. [2] It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
In 18th century Scotland the clans McArden and Glowan are at long standing feud. Alexander, an attractive McArden, falls in love with the beautiful Barbara Glowan.
Unfortunately their relationship angers Barbara's cousin, Robert Glowan, who attempts to destroy the McArden clan completely. Alexander, anxious to marry Barbara, works to end the feud and have the two clans live at peace.
The movie has an interesting parallel with the Massacre of Glencoe, as commented below.
The film was based on an original script by Wilfrid Pitit. It was originally called Annie Laurie, then in November 1946, the title was changed to The Forge Man by which time Larry Parks was set to star and Joseph H Lewis was to direct. [3] The same month, Hedda Hopper said the movie's title was Glencoe and that it was filming in secrecy. [4]
Filming finished by March 1947. [5]
The New York Times called it "a plain old fashioned horse opera" noting many of the situations and dialogue could have come straight from a Western. [6]
The massacre of Glencoe is an infamous chapter in Scottish history. In late January, 1692, a party of about 120 men, under Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon asked for lodging to the MacDonalds of Glencoe. They were well received, the MacDonalds ignoring that the party was actually a punitive expedition sent for petty motives: their Chief, Alasdair Mac Iain, had been, due to bad weather and other reasons — some totally beyond his control — 6 days late to take an oath of allegiance to King William III but which had been, nevertheless, taken and accepted on 6 January. However, in the early morning of 13 February, following orders received on the previous night, they massacred the MacDonalds, killing Mac Iain and about 30 others. In the movie, Captain Robert Glowan pays a friendly visit to the MacArdens with a similar intent — he has a small group with him but his brother Bruce waits in the valley with a larger troop. However, the action of the beautiful Lady Barbara Glowan frustrates their plan: she suspects her cousin’s intents and sends a messenger to Lord Glowan, who sends a party of his own men to attack the assailers, thus saving Mac Ian and his MacArdens. Thus, in way, that very sad business is somehow reverted in the movie and given a happy ending.
The Massacre of Glencoe took place in Glen Coe in the Highlands of Scotland on 13 February 1692. An estimated 30 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by Scottish government forces, allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II.
Elda Furry, known professionally as Hedda Hopper, was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, over 35 million people read her columns.
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald, is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, recognises under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476. Queen Mary of Denmark is member of Clan Donald.
Ian McDonald may refer to:
Robert Campbell, 5th Laird of Glenlyon, was a minor member of Scottish nobility and is best known as one of the commanding officers at the Massacre of Glencoe.
John MacDonald, known as Iain Lom was a Cavalier poet and Tacksman of Allt a' Chaorainn from Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, who composed war poetry in Scottish Gaelic. In addition to being appointed by King Charles II as the first Poet Laureate of Scotland, Iain Lom has long been considered to have a permanent place in the canon of Scottish Gaelic literature.
Ellen Drew was an American film actress.
The Clan Henderson also known as House of Henderson is a Scottish clan. The clan's historical seat is at Fordell Castle in Dalgety Bay, Fife. The current clan chief is Alistair Henderson of Fordell.
The MacDonalds of Glencoe, also known as Clann Iain Abrach, is a Highland Scottish clan and a branch of the larger Clan Donald. Named after Glen Coe, the MacDonalds lived there from the early 14th century, until the glen was largely abandoned during the Highland Clearances of the late 18th century.
The Lady's from Kentucky is a 1939 film directed by Alexander Hall and starring George Raft and Ellen Drew. It was written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan from a story by Rowland Brown. The screenplay involves a failing bookie (Raft) who becomes half owner of a racehorse, with a Kentucky lady (Drew) owning the other half. ZaSu Pitts plays a supporting role.
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