Le maître de Don Juan

Crossed Swords was an independent 1953 Italian production undertaken by Errol Flynn right after the termination of his contract with Warner Brothers. Released by United Artists the following year, the costume adventure received poor reviews and distribution in the United States, and has since become the most difficult of all Flynn's adventure films to find. There has been a print in circulation for some years but, looking almost like a fifth generation video tape, it is quite hard to view.

Recently, however, a new pristine copy of the film has surfaced. While it only runs 78 minutes (as opposed to the originally listed 86 minute running time) it is quite sharp with lovely color photography. Curiously, while Flynn's voice can be heard on the English version soundtrack, co-star Gina Lollobrigida is dubbed, even though lip readers can clearly see that the actress was speaking English.

As for the film itself, it is a light-hearted attempt to rekindle the spirit of Flynn's Adventures of Don Juan from five years before. Once again Errol is a dashing adventurer/lothario making love to costumed ladies, this time in a 16th Century Italian boudoir, always ready to make a hasty window exit should their husbands return home. Alas, the film, by comparison, largely serves to remind one of just how clever and exciting the previous film had been.

Crossed Swords' screenplay is quite feeble and Milton Krim's direction often inept, frequently failing to realize scene potential. At one point the film features Flynn and co-star Cesare Danova both duelling opponents side by side, but with Danova in the foreground closest to the camera, largely blocking out the film's star! The film also seems at times crudely edited, though this may, in fairness, be more of a comment on the new truncated version than of the original production. I suspect it's a bit of both.

On the positive side, Crossed Swords is beautifully photographed by legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff. Flynn leaps about and beams throughout the production. The actor seems to be having a good time, a marked contrast to the often grim presence that he had become in most of his post-Don Juan films. A fight sequence breaking out in a tavern is quite energetic, leading the actors to a moment of marvelous potential in which they duel on top of large wine casks. One wishes the director had made more of this moment than he did. The final duel, though, is well choreographed and surprisingly vigorous. Flynn, though doubled a bit, does most of the fencing. He has the "eye of the tiger" in some closeups in this highlight of the production and puts on a good show.

In summary, Crossed Swords is a film for Flynn fans, many of whom will enjoy watching their favorite deliver an impressive athletic demonstration for the last time in his career. As a movie, though, this often lame production only serves to remind one of what a high-water mark of excellence Adventures of Don Juan had been a few years before.

Ever wonder what would happen if Gina Lollobrigida were dubbed in one of her movies? You'll have to rent Crossed Swords to see her mouth moving in a slightly different pattern than the words coming out of her mouth. Whoever dubbed her obviously had no trouble with the English language, and the result is quite jarring to hear her speaking without any trace of an accent.

You might want to turn this one off when you first start it, but if you like Errol Flynn's adventure movies of the past, give it a second chance. Yes, the production values are terrible, the supporting cast isn't great, and the script is silly, but it's supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek semi-spoof of his earlier movies. Errol stars as a womanizing Don Juan type who refuses to settle down and is just as quick to seduce a married woman as a single one. When a law is passed in the kingdom that all men over the age of twenty must be forced to marry, Errol has to skip town. The trouble is, he gets distracted by Gina, and she tries to get him to return.

Crossed Swords is silly, but it's supposed to be. Errol's charming smirk is practically directed at the camera the entire time. He doesn't even try to make it look like he did his own stunts, because it's funnier that way. From the back, he swings from a rope and does a forward roll onto a table while brandishing a sword. The close-up cuts to his face, refreshed and smiling. While dueling, he notices a jug of wine and holds up a hand to his opponent: "Wait!" he commands before taking a drink. If you want something silly, you can't get much sillier than this. He's still classy, folks, just with a few miles on him. And since he knows it, he's not taking himself too seriously.

Nobleman Rainiero, Sidonia's duke son, comes back home with his friend Renzo (Errol Flynn). Soon after arrival, Renzo will get in a big trouble and he will be forced to choose between going to church for marriage or going to prison.

Towards his last days as a swashbuckler, Errol Flynn still has the charm, the athleticism, though a little world weary, and prone to poke fun at his infamous reputation as a womaniser. This film starts with a narration saying how peaceful it is - then there's a scream, our man Errol leaps out of the window and another husband is upset. If you are expecting endless sword fights, and derring-do, then you'll be a little disappointed. The focus is on comedy, and Renzo's attempts to stay the window jumping bachelor, but there's some swordplay - there's a good sequence on top of a row of barrels, and the sword fight finale between Flynn and the villain is energetic. Not the best Flynn film, Crossed swords is a well-mounted production, has great costumes, eye catching locations, Gina Lollobrigida (sigh), and the legendary Errol Flynn. A pleasant watch.

Was it really that long before this that Errol Flynn was young, good-looking and healthy? Think of him and you conjure up a dashing, athletic Robin Hood or Captain Blood. Fast forward 15 years and the dissolute Flynn appears soft and dissipated from living in the fast lane. Here he not only stars in but wastes his money on a crummy period piece with a laughable plot.

"Crossed Swords" is a flop movie masquerading as a swashbuckling action picture but contains precious little action. It opens as he jumps out a damsel's bedroom window just ahead of her husband, which is just the way he might like to be remembered. The film then bogs down for the next 80 minutes or so, as he slogs through some poor acting and a very poor music score. There is nothing to recommend it except for the color. I saw it on a 16 mm print which was in remarkable condition, better than Flynn himself, I imagine.

Finally got to see this one and really liked it. All I'd ever heard about it was that it was just 'ok' but nothing that special; well if you like Errol in a swashbuckling mode you've got to have this one, take my word! It's very reminiscent of his DON JUAN film and all the better for it. He's slightly jaded and world-weary and is able to laugh at the world's follies (and his own). And you can talk all you want to about his failing looks/health due to alcohol/drug/tobacco/whatever use (He was only five years from death while filming this)- the son of a gun moves in this thing. Swinging his sword, running, jumping in and out of windows. Plus the darned thing is filmed in Italy- real palaces and castles. The print I own is not that great but it's way better than nothing. A cinematic masterpiece? No. Errol doing what Errol does best? Yes Yes YES