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.
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan became Earl of Argyll and later Duke of Argyll.
Elda Furry, known professionally as Hedda Hopper, was an American gossip columnist and actress. At the height of her influence in the 1940s, more than 35 million people read her columns. A strong supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, Hopper named suspected Communists and was a major proponent of the Hollywood blacklist. Hopper continued to write her gossip column until her death in 1966. Her work appeared in many magazines and later on radio. She had an extended feud with Louella Parsons, an arch-rival and fellow gossip columnist.
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald or Clan Mc Donald, 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.
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.
Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, also known as Clan Ranald of Knoydart & Glengarry is a Highland Scottish clan and is a branch of the larger Clan Donald. The clan takes its name from River Garry where the river Garry runs eastwards through Loch Garry to join the Great Glen about 16 miles (25 km) north of Fort William, Highland. The progenitor of the MacDonells of Glengarry is Reginald, 4th great-grandson of the warrior Somerled.
John MacDonald, known as Iain Lom was a 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.
Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, also known as Clan Donald South, Clan Iain Mor, Clan MacDonald of Islay and Kintyre, MacDonalds of the Glens (Antrim) and sometimes referred to as MacDonnells, is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald. The founder of the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg is Eòin Mòr Tànaiste Mac Dhòmhnaill, a son of Iain Mic Dhòmhnaill and Margaret Stewart of Scotland, daughter of King Robert II. Members of the clan actually pronounced and spelled their name M'Connall due to the Gaelic pronunciation of the name Mac Domhnuill thus giving rise to the surname McConnell and its variants. While historically recognised as a clan by the Court of the Lord Lyon, it is now an armigerous clan as it no longer has a chief. The last chief was Sir James MacDonald, 9th of the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg or Clan Donald South, who died in London in 1626.
The Accused is a 1949 American melodrama film starring Loretta Young and Robert Cummings. It was directed by William Dieterle, produced by Hal Wallis, and written by Ketti Frings, based on Be Still, My Love, a 1947 novel written by June Truesdell. Wendell Corey appears in principal support.
The Battle of Carinish was a Scottish clan battle fought in North Uist in 1601. It was part of a year of feuding between Clan MacLeod of Dunvegan and the Clan MacDonald of Sleat, that ended with a MacDonald victory and an enforced peace.
Tell It to the Judge is a 1949 American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Foster and starring Rosalind Russell as a divorcee who tries to get back her ex-husband, played by Robert Cummings.
Joe MacBeth is a 1955 British–American crime drama, directed by Ken Hughes and starring Paul Douglas, Ruth Roman and Bonar Colleano. It is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, set in a 1930s American criminal underworld. The film's plot closely follows that of Shakespeare's original play. It has been called "the first really stand out movie" of Hughes' career.
The Battle of Lagganmore took place in 1646 at Lagganmore in Glen Euchar, west of Loch Scammadale. It was part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, though in this case the battle, which was fought largely between Highland clansmen, incorporated a long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell.
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back is a 1947 American adventure crime mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Ron Randell, Gloria Henry and Patrick O'Moore. The film is loosely based on the H. C. McNeile novel Knock-Out.
Coll Macdonald, 16th of Keppoch, was a Scottish clan chief and prominent Jacobite, active in both the 1715 Jacobite rebellion and Dundee's rising of 1689. He was chief of the Macdonalds of Keppoch, holding land in Lochaber.
The Gallant Blade is a 1948 American Cinecolor adventure film directed by Henry Levin and starring Larry Parks.