8mm Forum: THE MAGIC SWORD retrospec

This is topic THE MAGIC SWORD retrospec in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006267

Posted by Laksmi Breathwaite (Member # 2320) on June 04, 2011, 12:07 AM:

Hey Guys I saw the MAGIC SWORD Directed by Bert I. Gordon. Starring Basil Rathbone, Gary Lockwood, Estelle Winwood! It was 5X400 reel Super 8 color sound Red Fox release. The print was tinted but it was a nice viewing for such an old film. A classic film that story went like this. The son of a sorceress, armed with weapons, armour and six magically summoned knights, goes on a quest to save a princess from a vengeful wizard. Wow! what a classic and in the end Patrick's faith in God save them not magic. It is the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. And sexy Anne Helm would make any Saint fall down WoW!

In this fun-filled adventure-fantasy, a rookie knight embarks upon a valiant quest to save a princess who has been captured by a malicious magician. Along the way he must battle the usual assortment of dragons, ogres and other mythical beings.The Magic Sword might seem a bit childish and hokey but it's actually quite a bit of fun fantasy. It has some scarry moments for the youngest and could cause nightmares for the more impressionable but with all the incredible advances in special effects the kiddies are exposed to these days they will they will still enjoy this, I loved it !! It was released in 1962 and was reviewed by Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine the same year. It was directed by Bert I. Gordon and stars Gary Lockwood (2001 A Space Odyssey '68), Richard Kiel (The Spy Who Loved Me '77, Moonraker '74, Anne Helm (Follow That Dream '61), Basil Rathbone (The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Maila (Vampira) Nurmi. This is probably the best thing Bert I. Gordon ever did. Bert directed Begining of the End and Earth vs the Spider. Later in his career he did Food of the Gods and Empire of the Ants. So if you have a chance to get a hold of this feature grab it . And if anybody would like to review it and had a chance to see a print lets hear what you have to say.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 04, 2011, 12:22 AM:

Laksmi... are your reels from the latest Ebay auction?. If so....hmmmmmmm for that price it seems very high to me having seen this pinkish quality.

Anyway I do remember that you are looking for Forbidden Planet right? someone just posted it for sale in the film sale section. Good luck and may be you can also post the screen shot here once you succeed to buy it.

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on June 04, 2011, 10:20 AM:

John, I bought a copy of this film back in the 1970s from RED FOX when it was first available. The color was good, but not what you would call saturated. I've had three prints of this film over recent years, and they all had some fade, but the print your screen shots are from is definitely the worst I've seen. Check out my short review of this film from 2005 in the film review section of the forum [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 04, 2011, 10:33 AM:

I agree, I certainly hope that this wasn't the print just offered on ebay. It's close to "bin quality"

(this is one of my personal classifications ... "Bin Quality" means that it is so faded that I couldn't in all good conscience attempt to even sell it and so, it's one step away from the garbage.)

Posted by Laksmi Breathwaite (Member # 2320) on June 05, 2011, 11:46 AM:

I have had 3 copies of this film over the years and they all went red. I think it is the film stock RED FOX used. But I still enjoy watching the film. When I first got the film it was perfect colors like the nude girl pic then they went red over time. Yeah I just got it off eBay but I had 2 other copies in real bad shape. This one had no scratches or splices. And the cases were in perfect shape. Much of the film had a red color all over anyway especially in George's foster mother's lair etc which is most of the movie.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2