Der Rebell

Lively, colorful period romp in the Warners’ style made in the wake of ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN (1948) – featuring the same villain, Robert Douglas, no less – but actually fashioned after their most successful swashbuckler, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938).

Burt Lancaster – with his acrobatic training and cheerful countenance in full bloom – is perfect casting for the heroic role of Dardo, a kind of Italian Robin Hood (even down to displaying similar prowess as an archer); Virginia Mayo, then, makes for an ideal heroine – like Olivia De Havilland’s Maid Marian, playing a noble woman who’s gradually drawn to the outlaw’s cause. Again, like the 1938 Robin Hood film, we have two villains: Frank Allenby as a tyrant known as “The Hawk” and the afore-mentioned Douglas as a Marquis; the latter’s role is interesting in that, banished by the former for tax evasion, he manages to infiltrate Lancaster’s band (along with his smart companion, a troubadour played by Norman Lloyd) and outwardly reform – but, when the opportunity arises, proceeds to reveal their plan of attack to Allenby!

Other twists and quirks to the Robin Hood formula (the sharp script was written by Waldo Salt, later an Oscar winner for MIDNIGHT COWBOY [1969]!) are the fact that Lancaster’s wife has left him for Allenby - their spirited son has remained with Lancaster, whom he idolizes, but is eventually captured and thought good manners against his will; when Lancaster imprisons Mayo in exchange for his son’s freedom, he keeps her chained by the neck to a tree!; for no apparent reason other than that he's able to, one of Lancaster’s men uses his feet to write ransom notes, etc.; Lancaster is sent to the gallows but, here, he gives himself up rather than being captured and actually fakes his own death!; and the climactic struggle inside the castle, which the gang penetrate incognito (this time dressed-up as a band of strolling players). The obligatory swordfight between Lancaster and Douglas, then, is given a novel touch by being partly set in the dark – the only evident nod to the noir style director Tourneur is best-known for!

The film itself received a couple of Oscar nominations for Ernest Haller’s gorgeous cinematography and Max Steiner’s marvelous score (it too bears a striking resemblance to Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s unforgettable work on THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD – as do the castle interiors – but this takes nothing away from the quality of THE FLAME AND THE ARROW itself!). Also worth noting in the cast is Nick Cravat as Lancaster’s mute sidekick: in the star’s days as an acrobat, he had been his partner and would often work with him in films – basically reprising his role here in Lancaster’s next swashbuckler, the seafaring THE CRIMSON PIRATE (1952; incidentally, also surprisingly but vigorously helmed by an expert in film noir, Robert Siodmak). Speaking of the latter, a couple of years back I re-acquainted myself with it via a rental of Warner’s bare-bones DVD edition – but its predecessor/companion piece is, mysteriously, still M.I.A. on disc...

Dardo (Burt Lancaster) The Arrow , a Robin Hood-like outlaw in Medieval Italy under power of Federico I Redbeard leads his gang of mountain freedom fighters versus a mercenary warlord , Count 'The Hawk' Ulrich (Frank Allenby who provides personable villainy) who has seduced his spouse Francesca (as Lynne Baggett) and abducted his child . Dardo , his pal Piccolo (Nick Cravat) and his loyal followers and local rebels use a Roman ruin as their headquarter , and all of them fight against their tyrannical overlord carrying out an astute insurgency . Later on , Dardo kidnaps Hawk's niece and then it happens the usual romantic interludes with lovely hostage Anne (Viginia Mayo) and subsequently to battle the Hessian conquerors .

This is a joyous adventure movie with spectacular acrobatics , action-filled , including thrills , fights , duels , marvelous outdoors , a cast of thousands as well as Lancaster and Cravat performing their own stunts adding interest to the ordinary swashbuckling . Deemed by many to be one of the best adventure movie laced with comedy and enthusiastically paced . Burt Lancaster was a great actor as well as big on athletic prowess and highly enjoyable to watch on-screen . Here Burt spectacularly runs , rides , shoots arrows , bounds and leaps . This top-notch adventure established the handsome Burt as the natural successor to Douglas Fraibanks Sr , Douglas Fairbanks Jr and Errol Flynn in Warner Brothers' swashbucklers . It also strengthened his credentials as a leading man and not just another swashbuckling hero , from then on he started to get much wider range of characters . Lancaster teamed with his ex-circus colleague Nick Cravat , long-time acrobatic partner appeared with Burt in nine films . Cravat according to reports was as strong as a bull , he may have been short on stature but he was a real acrobat . In this film and The Crimson pirate (1952), Nick played characters that were mute and this was because he spoke with a very thick Brooklyn accent that he could not shake , and it would have been wildly out of place in such period costume dramas . Before his Hollywood acting carrier Nick Cravat also worked in the circus with Burt in a Rolla-Bolla duo act known as the Saxons . He partnered with Lancaster in a perch-pole balancing act where Nick , as bottom man , balanced Burt forehead atop a ten foot perch-pole . Support cast is pretty good , such as : Frank Allenby , Aline MacMahon , Lynn Baggett , Norman Lloyd as Apollo The Troubador , Victor Kilian as Apothecary and the British Robert Douglas , once a national fencing champion . And uncredited Richard Farnsworth as an outlaw . ¨The flame and the arrow¨ (1950) was 11th biggest grossing movie in the world for the year , recouping several times its original cost to the surprise of the studio . It displays a colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Ernest Haller . And a thrilling and evocative musical score by the classic composer Max Steiner .

This derring-do film was professionally directed by the underrated filmmaker Jacques Tourneur , though the present-day he is better considered . Jacques directed all kinds of genres , such as : Western : ¨Great day in the morning¨, ¨Stranger on horseback¨, ¨Canyon passage¨, ¨Wichita¨ ; Terror : ¨Curse of demon¨, ¨I Walked with a Zombie¨, ¨Leopard man¨ , ¨Cat people¨, ¨Comedy of terrors¨ ; Film Noir :¨Out the past¨, ¨Berlin express¨, ¨Experiment perilous¨ , ¨Nightfall¨ and Adventure : ¨The giant of Marathon¨ , ¨Tombuctú¨, ¨Martin the gaucho¨ , ¨Anne of the Indians¨ and ¨The flame and the arrow¨.

THE FLAME AND THE ARROW is one (1) of those films that every ten (10) years we see and are pleasantly surprised how well it holds up. It is also amazing how it appears and disappears. In the 60's it was on quite frequently, the 70's not so. American Movie Classics (AMC) showed it often in the 80's and it came out on VHS. Now it is been buried again so a new generation of viewers are going to have to wait till it comes out on DVD. I have just watched my 80's VHS recently so this is based upon it.

It is what other commentators called it ROBIN HOOD JR. That does not mean it is small or poorly made film. Instead you see the full power of a major studio Warner Brothers (WB) behind it. The props and sets many coming from larger films (Adventures of Robin Hood, Elizabeth and Essex, The Adventures of Don Juan) are quite evident and effectively integrated into the story line. Burt Lancaster's supporting cast consists of the current studio stock company, all professionals. Who knew what to deliver and did so. It had the full Three (3) Strip Technicolor process in all it's glory and finally Max Steiner's score. Romantic and rich and appropriate for such a concept. This is a super 'B' film and there is no disgrace in that. We have seen plenty of 'A' films today that are not half as well done.

It is though Burt Lancaster that is the central focus of the film. His first 'independent' production he knew if he did not carry it well it would have failed. Every time he is on the screen he is the focus of attention and fortunately he is on very often. Whether exchanging insults, engaging in acrobatics or romance he is hitting the target every time. He is ably supported by Virginia Mayo as his leading lady. A underrated actress with a attractive and strong physical presence. Lets be frank, does anyone believe that DARDO would fall for some skinny twit like Audrey Hepburn (or today Angelina Jolie) no way. We did not believe that when Sean Connery did in ROBIN AND MARIAN!

So if you can check this selection out. Your library may have a copy (mine does) on VHS. We are sure it will be out sometime on DVD. Lancaster later made another period film THE CRIMSON PIRATE. Not quite as good but still fun, but it seemed to lack the backing. polish and push that WB gave THE FLAME AND THE ARROW.

ADDENDUM; NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD.

One of the more enjoyable swinging-from-the-chandelier-with-a- -sword adventures made a la Erroll Flynn. A lively pace, loads of action, a witty-if-fluffy script, an enchanting score, good performances, and above all an incredible number of acrobatic stunts make this utterly enjoyable. Lancaster had been a circus acrobat before he got into films, and managed to work every stunt he could do into the script. He even balances and poses on the top of a 20-foot pole, for real. I'm still amazed that a guy that big could be so good.

(This film also had an ongoing effect on Hollywood: At the time Lancaster's career was fading, he was typecast as a big dumb lug in the kind of Film Noir that was rapidly going out of fashion. He realized that he had to do something, and rather than rely on the studios he bought this script and produced it himself. And gave himself a whole new career, an example not lost on other actors. This was one of the films that marked the beginning of the end of the paternalistic studio system, one that showed actors that they could control their own careers. For good or ill.)

This is a film to watch without major pretensions and being aware that it's an unrealistic costume adventure with a lot of comedy in it. It is an all Burt Lancater vehicle of his early days when Errol Flynn was aging and the top movies swashbuckler throne was empty (Tyrone Power was looking for more serious roles). Lancaster repeated the experience two years later and very successfully too with "The Crinsom Pirate" and then he turned to westerns and more compromising roles which he did very well indeed too.

In "The Flame and the Arrow" Lancaster is side kicked by his friend and previous days circus mate Nick Cravat and both deliver their acrobatic skills while fighting tyranny in the person of mean Hessian ruler "The Hawk" played by Frank Allenby. Robert Douglas is there too in another of his accurate villain performances. The feminine presence was brought by Virginia Mayo a regular damsel in distress in costume adventures in the 50's.

I remember I enjoyed this film very much when I first saw it as a kid and so did all my friends. Perhaps today it would not be very interesting for youngsters, but in my opinion it hasn't lost its undeniable charm and I'm sure those of us who saw it back in the early 50's can remember the theatre in which we saw it some fifty years ago.