The Magic Sword (1962 film)

The Magic Sword (also known as St. George and the Dragon, St. George and the Seven Curses, the film's original title,[1] and The Seven Curses of Lodac) is a 1962 American fantasy film, largely aimed at children, that is loosely based on the medieval legend of Saint George and the Dragon.

The Magic Sword
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBert I. Gordon
Produced byBert I. Gordon
Written byBernard Schoenfeld
StarringBasil Rathbone
Estelle Winwood
Anne Helm
Gary Lockwood
Liam Sullivan
Maila Nurmi
Music byRichard Markowitz
CinematographyNicolas Vogel
Paul Vogel
Edited byHarry Gerstad
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • April 1962 (1962-04)
Running time
80 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film appeared on a 1992 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. In a highly unusual admission, characters Joel Robinson and Tom Servo said the film was "pretty good for a Bert I. Gordon film" during a theater segment (though Crow T. Robot seemed to disagree). The writers of the show continued the praise in their book MST3K Amazing Colossal Episode Guide.

Plot

George is the foster son of Sybil, an elderly somewhat ineffectual sorceress. She brought him up after his "royal parents died of the plague" in his infancy. He has fallen in love at first sight with Princess Helene.

Helene is kidnapped by the wizard Lodac, who brazenly informs her father that he intends to feed her to his pet dragon in seven days, revenge for the death of his sister at the same age as Helene is now: 18. George wants to go on a quest to liberate his lady love, but Sybil believes he is too young (he is 20). She tries to distract the youth by showing him a magic sword, a steed, an invulnerable suit of armour, and six magically frozen knights he will command when he turns 21. The impatient George, however, tricks Sybil and locks her in a cellar, then leaves with the magical implements and revived company of knights.

Sir George and his party appear before the king and insist on journeying to Lodac's castle to rescue Helene, against the opposition of Sir Branton, a knight who had previously volunteered for the perilous quest. The king promises the rescuer his daughter's hand in marriage and half his kingdom.

Seven curses bar the path to Lodac's castle. First, they encounter an ogre, who slays Sir Ulrich of Germany and Sir Pedro of Spain before George kills him. When George tries to save Sir Anthony of Italy from being pulled under in a swamp, Branton treacherously comes up from behind and kicks him in as well. Anthony is killed, but George survives with the help of his magic sword.

Later, Branton meets secretly with Lodac. It turns out that Branton has Lodac's ring, which the magician lost and wants back desperately, as his powers are crippled without it. The kidnapping was solely intended to make Branton look good in exchange for the return of the ring. When Sir Dennis of France happens by, Lodac prepares a trap. Mignonette, a beautiful Frenchwoman, distracts her compatriot, then suddenly turns into an ugly hag who attacks him. Fortunately, George saves him with his magic shield.

Lodac finally becomes aware that George is being aided by magic. He contacts Sybil and mocks her abilities. Stung, she tries to cast a spell to help George, but ends up inadvertently stripping away all his magical powers.

Sir Dennis and Sir James of Scotland perish when they reconnoiter ahead. Branton then leads George and Sir Patrick of Ireland into a trap, revealing his partnership with Lodac before sealing them in a cave with deadly green apparitions. Patrick, through the power of his faith, enables George to escape at the cost of his own life.

George sneaks into Lodac's castle and rescues Helene, only to be captured. The magician gives Helene (actually the hag in disguise) to Branton, but once he has the ring, he uses magic to put Branton's head on a plaque on the wall. George is tied up, but escapes with the help of escaped shrunken prisoners. Sybil arrives and finally remembers the spell that restores George's powers, enabling him to slay the two-headed dragon and save Helene. Sybil steals the ring while Lodac is distracted. When the magician threatens the young couple with the seventh curse - himself - Sybil transforms herself into a large panther and kills him. Helene and George get married. When the six knights are restored to life, George's happiness is complete.

Cast
  • Lorrie Richards as Anne
  • Jack Kosslyn as The Ogre
  • Maila Nurmi as The Hag / Sorceress
  • Ted Finn as 1st Dwarf
  • Angelo Rossitto as 2nd Dwarf

Production

The film was shot on the 20th Century Fox backlot and at Samuel Goldwyn Studio.[2]

Comic book adaption
  • Dell Movie Classic: The Magic Sword (September 1962)[3]

References
  1. Issuu.com
  2. p. 81, Weaver, Tom I Was a Monster Movie Maker 2001, McFarland
  3. Dell Movie Classic: The Magic Sword at the Grand Comics Database
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