From:            Chris Camfield <ccamfield@...>
> Brett, in my opinion you left out one crucial ingredient: fencing.  I
> wouldn't consider westerns to be swashbucklers, although either a Western
> or a swashbuckler might have a big barroom brawl.

So sword fights are essential for a swashbuckler? So, does that mean that
Star Wars fits?

> The samurai films I've seen (all directed by Akira Kurosawa) have all been
> rather grim.  Most swashbucklers I know have a light touch to them.

Try Yojimbo, and Sanjiro (the sequel to Yojombo). These are both more light
and humorous. Also Hidden Fortress has some good lightness.

---
Brett Slocum  --  slocum@...  --  ICQ #13032903
Home page: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
"Ah'm yer pa, Luke." -- if James Earl Ray was the voice of Darth Vader

Brett, in my opinion you left out one crucial ingredient: fencing.  I
wouldn't consider westerns to be swashbucklers, although either a Western
or a swashbuckler might have a big barroom brawl.

The samurai films I've seen (all directed by Akira Kurosawa) have all been
rather grim.  Most swashbucklers I know have a light touch to them.

	 Chris
--
Chris Camfield - ccamfield@...

----------
>

>pirates, musketeers, , , , Zorro,

That's closer to what I would call a swahbuckler, I would reluctantly add
Robin Hood.

M. Cummins

Hey, thanks for the info.  I'd been looking for it.  I read about it
last fall, but then it kind of disappeared.  It sound promising.  Hopefully,
it will be successful.
We'll have to have a discussion of it on the list.

Jesse F. Knight

So, one USENET this week, someone asked for a definition of Space Opera,
and I gave my version. Then I started thinking about the topic of this list. So,
what is the definition of Swashbuckling?

To me, the swashbucker movie has these elements: a flashy, charismatic
hero beats all odds and gets the girl. There are fights, adventure, daring
rescues, pretty women, and more fights. Some examples: anything with
Errol Flynn in it (well, practically), pirates, musketeers, Robin Hood, Thief of
Bagdad, many westerns, many Samurai movies, Zorro, and maybe Star
Wars.

What are your thoughts?

---
Brett Slocum  --  slocum@...  --  ICQ #13032903
Home page: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
"Ah'm yer pa, Luke." -- if James Earl Ray was the voice of Darth Vader

From www.bruce-campbell.com, the website of Bruce Campbell (who played Ash
in the Evil Dead movies, and more recently Autolycus the king of thieves in
Hercules and Xena)

"JACK OF ALL TRADES
PREMIERS WEEK OF JANUARY 17, 2000

Jack of All Trades is a new half-hour series from the people who brought
you Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. The show
centers on my character, Jack Stiles, an American spy, adventurer, and
rogue dispatched to an island in the East Indies by President Jefferson to
thwart Napoleon's advances in the region. Jack isn't at all happy about the
remote assignment, especially since he's supposed to serve as personal
attaché to a wealthy British widow and secret agent for the Crown named
Emilia Rothschild (Angela Dotchin). Disguised as the Daring Dragoon, Jack
teams with Emilia on numerous covert missions to stop Napoleon's
imperialism in the East Indies. The two "partners" are worlds apart. Emilia
is smart, refined and idealistic. Jack is cocky, cunning and quick with a
sword."

I honestly don't know how this will turn out.  Originally he was going to
be a British agent, and the series was set in the 1600s instead of early
1800s.  However, we shall see...

	 Chris

P.S. I've been meaning to write a review of the 1940 version of The Mark of
Zorro with Tyrone Powers.  I felt the ending was a bit weak (particularly
the ending wrap-up, or lack thereof) but overall - not surprisingly -
definitely a better film than the 1998 version.  It was intersting to note
all the things that the more recent version copied and changed, like the
dancing scene.  Powers played the fop *much* better.

--
               Chris Camfield - ccamfield@...
                  Big Rude Jake Fan Club President
                        www.bigrudejake.com

             "And the Geronimo Kid was the new St. George
                With a Gibson guitar for a rapier sword
            Drove a Cutlass Supreme to the rock-a-way shore
            Slew a hep-cat dragon, jammin' on the beach..."
                      (BRJ, Gotham City Serenade)

On 19 Dec 99, at 23:08, Chris Camfield wrote:
> P.S. I should say thanks to Brett for posting his movie reviews.  I agree
> that both are good films worth watching.  Wasn't there a made-for-TV
> Pimpernel movie on A&E earlier this year?  Was it any good?

Thank you.

There have been three Pimpernel movies made:
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel and Madame Guillotine
The Scarlet Pimpernel and the Kidnapped King

I haven't seen them, but they looked very good. They feature Richard E. Grant as
Sir Percy Blakeney, Elizabeth McGovern as Marguerite, and Martin Shaw as
Chauvelin.
---
Brett Slocum <slocum@...> -- ICQ# 13032903
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/

I'm reading Dumas' _Twenty Years After_ (online...) and, well I had no idea
that the relationship between the monarchy and people of France was so
strained in the 17th century.  Am I right to presume that at least the
outline of the events in TYA is accurate?

I just read the chapter "How D’Artagnan and Porthos earned by selling
Straw, the one Two Hundred and Nineteen, and the other Two Hundred and
Fifteen Louis d’or" and loved it.  A wonderfuly comic little episode to
insert after the dramatic escapes through Paris...

	 Chris

P.S. I should say thanks to Brett for posting his movie reviews.  I agree
that both are good films worth watching.  Wasn't there a made-for-TV
Pimpernel movie on A&E earlier this year?  Was it any good?

--
               Chris Camfield - ccamfield@...
                  Big Rude Jake Fan Club President
                        www.bigrudejake.com

             "And the Geronimo Kid was the new St. George
                With a Gibson guitar for a rapier sword
            Drove a Cutlass Supreme to the rock-a-way shore
            Slew a hep-cat dragon, jammin' on the beach..."
                      (BRJ, Gotham City Serenade)

>
> I rented both films a few weeks ago and was disappointed in the Fairbanks
> film. It is dull in parts, as an earlier poster mentioned. I wasn't
> enormously fond of Tyrone Powers either, but it was considerably better
> than Fairbanks. It had a lot more energy and was more dynamic.
>

I'd have to agree that Powers "Mark" is better but in all my life onscreen
or in reality I have never seen a man who hinted at having half as much
energy as Mr. Fairbanks. The chase sequence or the final scene when he
comes up against the villan being moderate examples. I will say his Zorro
is a little sloppy because of low budget, and general rushed production but
Don Q is a rather different matter.


M. Cummins

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)
Revolutionary France is the setting for this game of cat-and-mouse between The
Scarlet Pimpernel, a British noble who helps the French nobility escape, and
Chauvelin, the head of Robespierre's state police. Leslie Howard makes a
wonderful simpering fop. I enjoyed the disguises he wore getting nobles out of
Reign of Terror Paris. Accents aside, a fine show. Interestingly, the role of
Chauvelin is played by the same actor (Raymond Massey) as Black Michael in
Prisoner of Zenda. A fine, scheming bad guy. Highly Recommended.
The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
This is a fine movie for the lover of derring-do. An English gentleman on a
fishing trip in late 19th century Europe is a exact double of the soon-to-be
king of a fictitious country. What follows is a wonderful adventure with lots of
honor, love, sword fights, rescues, etc. Ronald Colman is great as the gentleman
and the king. The scenes with them both are excellently executed for a film from
the 30s. Douglas Fairbanks has a nice part as the rogue, Hentzau. Raymond Massey
plays Black Michael, the scheming brother to the king. Recommended.
---
Brett Slocum <slocum@...> -- ICQ# 13032903
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/

On Thu, 9 Dec 1999, Chris Camfield wrote:

> I got a videotape catalog in the mail the other day which listed both the
> Fairbanks and Power _Zorro_ films.  I think I saw the Tyrone Power film a
> long time ago, but it was so long ago that I don't remember it.
>
> How good are these films?  Does one have to be a silent film fan to really
> appreciate Fairbanks' film?  And if I only ordered one - they're pretty
> expensive - which should I get?

I rented both films a few weeks ago and was disappointed in the Fairbanks
film. It is dull in parts, as an earlier poster mentioned. I wasn't
enormously fond of Tyrone Powers either, but it was considerably better
than Fairbanks. It had a lot more energy and was more dynamic.

Michael Bowman

Heck Yes!

On Friday, December 10, 1999 11:21, Slocum, Brett [SMTP:bslocum@...] wrote:
> From: "Slocum, Brett" <bslocum@...>
>
> Would anyone be interested in some short reviews of swashbuckling movies? I've
>
> written a number of these for a roleplaying APAzine I contribute to.
> ---
> Brett Slocum <slocum@...> -- ICQ# 13032903
> http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
>
> > Community email addresses:
>   Post message: swashbuckling@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    swashbuckling-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  swashbuckling-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   swashbuckling-owner@onelist.com

While we are at it, I'd like to mention I have a pirate reenactor list
on egroups.  And this morning I created a list devoted to pirate
gaming.  If anyone is interested, the pirate gaming list can be
subscribed to by sending a blank email to:
pirategames-subscribe@egroups.com

John

"Jesse F. Knight" wrote:
>
> From: "Jesse F. Knight" <jknight@...>
>
> Just thought I would mention to the list that we have a Rafael Sabatini list
> on onelist as well.  And I will mention the swashbuckling list over there as
> well.

Just thought I would mention to the list that we have a Rafael Sabatini list
on onelist as well.  And I will mention the swashbuckling list over there as
well.

Jesse F. Knight

> From: "Slocum, Brett" <bslocum@...>
>
> Would anyone be interested in some short reviews of swashbuckling movies?
I've
> written a number of these for a roleplaying APAzine I contribute to.

     I for one would be happy to see your reviews!!

Jesse F. Knight

Re: Zorro,

The Mark of Zorro with Fairbanks, isn't great, it has some very magical
moments but it is rather dull for the most part, especially if one is a
casual viewer.
Don Q, Son of Zorro, is by far more lavish and a better movie. Great stuff.
If you want to start on a silent Swashbuckler, this is a good start but if
you're still unsure try Powers again, it least it won't spoil the plot of
Don Q.

BTW Fairbanks invented the trademark Z mark and the foppish "have you seen
this one".

Re: The Three Musketeers

The 1974 version, is suprisingly good, yes and very good fun but, Douglas
Fairbanks' 1921 version is in a word, superb, it's draggy for the first
15mins or so and then it takes off and it is brilliant. Lavish sets, greats
actors, follows the book well and has a smashing turn from Fairabnks as D'
Artagnan, it's full of humor, stunts, action and as every swashbuckler
should be, good will.
The Iron Mask, the 1928, sequel is even better especially when seen in the
1952 narrated version or, the restored version with some sound sequences.
I'd recommed the '52 because of the fine score and great narration by
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. It includes bits left out from the original, notably
the murder of Constance. It's got all the usual ingridients but it is also
rather sad, it's the saddest swashbuckler ever filmed though with a great,
great, sad ending.
D'Artagnan's Daughter from 1994 with Sophie Marceau, has some modern
touches but is great fun and also rather funny.

My fingers ache, I simply can't right about the other Musketeers films but
I'm sure there are those who can.

The Swashbucklers List ABU,

Michael Cummins

I just checked out Jessica Salmonson's essay on Weyman.  It is very nicely
done, indeed.  Here is the link.  Maybe we should put it in the links
section of the list.

http://www.violetbooks.com/weyman.html

By the way, www.violetbooks.com has several nice areas for those interested
in swashbucklers, a section on bookjacket art and a number of swashbuckling
books for sales.

Jesse F. Knight

On 10 Dec 99, at 11:36, John Macek wrote:
> Jesse F. Knight wrote:
> >     Weyman is one of the largely overlooked swashbuckling writers from the
> > 1890s and turn of the century.  I can look on my bookshelf and come up with
> > some more titles if you like.  If I remember correctly, Jessica Salmonson
> > recently did a bio/article on him on her website.  I'll check it out and
> > report back.
>
> I've never even heard of him until now.  I wonder if his works can be
> found on the net at, what is that site.... Project Gutenburg?

Project Gutenburg is at http://promo.net/pg/.

Indeed, five of Weyman's books are available on this site: Under the Red Robe, A
Gentleman of France, Memoirs of a Minister of France, The House of the Wolf, and
The Fowl in the Pot (short story).

Search for 'Weyman' in the author search.
---
Brett Slocum <slocum@...> -- ICQ# 13032903
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/

Jesse F. Knight wrote:

>     Weyman is one of the largely overlooked swashbuckling writers from the
> 1890s and turn of the century.  I can look on my bookshelf and come up with
> some more titles if you like.  If I remember correctly, Jessica Salmonson
> recently did a bio/article on him on her website.  I'll check it out and
> report back.
>
>     Interestingly enough, one of the greatest swashbucklers of all
> time--Rafael Sabatini--named two writers specifically who he admired
> tremendously.  One of them was--you guessed it--Stanley Weymen.

I've never even heard of him until now.  I wonder if his works can be
found on the net at, what is that site.... Project Gutenburg?

John

Would anyone be interested in some short reviews of swashbuckling movies? I've
written a number of these for a roleplaying APAzine I contribute to.
---
Brett Slocum <slocum@...> -- ICQ# 13032903
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/

On 10 Dec 99, at 7:57, Andrew Campbell wrote:
> I hate to admit it, but I've only seen the Disney one.  I found that fun, as
> long as I didn't look for realism.

Go and rent The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers from 1973-4. They are
really great movies.

Michael York makes a wonderful D'Artagnan, Oliver Reed is a marvelously brooding
and cynical Athos, we find that Raquel Welch has a knack for physical comedy,
Charleton Heston is excellent as the Cardinal, and Faye Dunaway is a deliciously
evil Milady deWinter.
The sword fights are exciting and fun, the slapstick well-timed, and the
costumes are impeccable.

The first movie is much fun and excitement, while the second takes a darker
tone. They were filmed simultaneously.
---
Brett Slocum <slocum@...> -- ICQ# 13032903
http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/

> I just recently finished reading _Under the Red Robe_ and _Memoirs of a
> Minister of France_, by Weyland.  Both were really excellent.  _Under the
> Red Robe_ is an adventure story.  I wouldn't exactly call _Memoirs_
> "swashbuckling", but I'm sure it would be of interest to those who enjoy
> the period.  It's a series of stories related by the French king Henry at
> the turn of the 17th century.  Generally speaking, very funny.


     Weyman is one of the largely overlooked swashbuckling writers from the
1890s and turn of the century.  I can look on my bookshelf and come up with
some more titles if you like.  If I remember correctly, Jessica Salmonson
recently did a bio/article on him on her website.  I'll check it out and
report back.

     Interestingly enough, one of the greatest swashbucklers of all
time--Rafael Sabatini--named two writers specifically who he admired
tremendously.  One of them was--you guessed it--Stanley Weymen.

Jesse F. Knight

I hate to admit it, but I've only seen the Disney one.  I found that fun, as
long as I didn't look for realism.

--A.

On Friday, December 10, 1999 00:57, Brett Slocum [SMTP:slocum@...]
wrote:
> From: "Brett Slocum" <slocum@...>
>
> OK, here's a question for the assembled masses:
>
> Which is your favorite rendition of the Three Musketeers?
>
> For me, the 1974 Michael York version is the one I hold all others up to.
> Most of the others are fun, but just not quite up to this one. And don't
> bother
> with the horrid sequel Return of the Musketeers by the same cast. It's a very
>
> flat version of 25 Years Later. I got really excited about this when I saw it
>
> was on cable and I taped it. I had some friends over to watch it, and I
turned
>
> it off after 15 minutes and then taped over it. Yuck.
>
> The best 'sequel' to the Three Musketeers goes to The Man in the Iron Mask.
> Well-done on many levels, even with Leonardo diCaprio as the king.
>
> I enjoyed (don't kick me) the Disney Three Musketeers, as long as I didn't
try
>
> to compare it to any other TM version. It didn't follow the story line, but
it
> was
> still fun.
>
> The Gene Kelly version has one of the best Milady deWinter's (Lana Turner),
> but was otherwise just OK.
>
> ---
> Brett Slocum  --  slocum@...  --  ICQ #13032903
> Home page: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
> "Ah'm yer pa, Luke." -- if James Earl Ray was the voice of Darth Vader
>
> > Community email addresses:
>   Post message: swashbuckling@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    swashbuckling-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  swashbuckling-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   swashbuckling-owner@onelist.com

Message: 1
>   Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 19:35:15 -0500
>   From: Chris Camfield <ccamfield@...>
>Subject: Early Zorro films
>
>Hi all,
>
>I guess this is the first message to the list, so welcome, everyone!
>
>I got a videotape catalog in the mail the other day which listed both the
>Fairbanks and Power _Zorro_ films.  I think I saw the Tyrone Power film a
>long time ago, but it was so long ago that I don't remember it.
>
>How good are these films?  Does one have to be a silent film fan to really
>appreciate Fairbanks' film?  And if I only ordered one - they're pretty
>expensive - which should I get?
>
> Chris


Greetings all,

I would recommend the Tyrone Power version if you are going to get only one, but
both are good.  Douglas Fairbanks was amazing--probably the first true
action/swashbuckling movie of note (I also recommend The Black Pirate)--but the
Power version is probably the best rendition of the original MacCauley (sp?)
story--and Basil Rathbone makes a splendid swashbuckling villain (see also
Captain Blood and Adventures of Robin Hood).  While the recent Mask of Zorro was
great fun (and Catherine Zeta-Jones was an inspiring heroine <g>), it bears
little resemblance to the Zorro story (and doesn't really pretend to).

My two pence,
Cheers,

Paul G. Williams
"He was born with a gift of laughter
and a sense that the world was mad."
Scaramouche--Rafael Sabatini

P.S.  I apologize for the long-winded legal mumbo-jumbo below.
I have no control over its inclusion---it's firm policy for all outgoing
e-mails.


This message originates from the law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. 
This e-mail message and all attachments may contain legally privileged and
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From:            Chris Camfield <ccamfield@...>
> The latest _Mark of Zorro_, on the other hand, I have watched several
> times.  Go figure!

Oh, yes. I really liked the idea that when the time for a Zorro comes, one will
be there. And I'm in lust with Catherine Zeta-Jones. You'd never know she
wasn't Hispanic, but Welsh.

---
Brett Slocum  --  slocum@...  --  ICQ #13032903
Home page: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
"Ah'm yer pa, Luke." -- if James Earl Ray was the voice of Darth Vader

Tricky question.  I guess I've seen the Disney version, the 1974 Michael
York version, and the 40s version with Kelly and Turner.

By and large I prefer the 70s movies, but if I remember correctly, it
glosses over or drops the scene in which D'Artagnan discovers Athos drunk
(ahem) as a lord in the wine cellar, after having to abandon him on the way
to England.  I very much enjoyed that in the earlier movie.

The less said about Tim Curry as Cardinel Richelieu, the better.  Vincent
Price was great.

I have to admit that I couldn't get myself to finish watching The Man in
the Iron Mask.  It isn't that I have an intense hatred of diCaprio the way
some people do, but it just didn't thrill me.

The latest _Mark of Zorro_, on the other hand, I have watched several
times.  Go figure!

I just recently finished reading _Under the Red Robe_ and _Memoirs of a
Minister of France_, by Weyland.  Both were really excellent.  _Under the
Red Robe_ is an adventure story.  I wouldn't exactly call _Memoirs_
"swashbuckling", but I'm sure it would be of interest to those who enjoy
the period.  It's a series of stories related by the French king Henry at
the turn of the 17th century.  Generally speaking, very funny.

	 Chris

P.S. It seems to me that the footer being tacked onto the mailing list here
is AWFULLY long.  Can we all survive without the list of email addresses?
I presume there's no way to get rid of the ads.

OK, here's a question for the assembled masses:

Which is your favorite rendition of the Three Musketeers?

For me, the 1974 Michael York version is the one I hold all others up to.
Most of the others are fun, but just not quite up to this one. And don't bother
with the horrid sequel Return of the Musketeers by the same cast. It's a very
flat version of 25 Years Later. I got really excited about this when I saw it
was on cable and I taped it. I had some friends over to watch it, and I turned
it off after 15 minutes and then taped over it. Yuck.

The best 'sequel' to the Three Musketeers goes to The Man in the Iron Mask.
Well-done on many levels, even with Leonardo diCaprio as the king.

I enjoyed (don't kick me) the Disney Three Musketeers, as long as I didn't try
to compare it to any other TM version. It didn't follow the story line, but it
was
still fun.

The Gene Kelly version has one of the best Milady deWinter's (Lana Turner),
but was otherwise just OK.

---
Brett Slocum  --  slocum@...  --  ICQ #13032903
Home page: http://www.skypoint.com/~slocum/
"Ah'm yer pa, Luke." -- if James Earl Ray was the voice of Darth Vader

I don't have a clue, either.  BUT I have passed on your request to a friend
who is knowledgeable about silent films AND about swashbucklers.  Let's see
if we can entice him to the list!

Jesse F. Knight

Don't have a clue, but I'd like to know.  I don't plan to respond thusly to
everything I *don't* know, but I didn't want you to think you were out here
alone, Chris. :-)

--A.

On Thursday, December 09, 1999 19:35, Chris Camfield [SMTP:ccamfield@...]
wrote:
> From: Chris Camfield <ccamfield@...>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I guess this is the first message to the list, so welcome, everyone!
>
> I got a videotape catalog in the mail the other day which listed both the
> Fairbanks and Power _Zorro_ films.  I think I saw the Tyrone Power film a
> long time ago, but it was so long ago that I don't remember it.
>
> How good are these films?  Does one have to be a silent film fan to really
> appreciate Fairbanks' film?  And if I only ordered one - they're pretty
> expensive - which should I get?
>
>  Chris
>
> > Community email addresses:
>   Post message: swashbuckling@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    swashbuckling-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  swashbuckling-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   swashbuckling-owner@onelist.com

Hi all,

I guess this is the first message to the list, so welcome, everyone!

I got a videotape catalog in the mail the other day which listed both the
Fairbanks and Power _Zorro_ films.  I think I saw the Tyrone Power film a
long time ago, but it was so long ago that I don't remember it.

How good are these films?  Does one have to be a silent film fan to really
appreciate Fairbanks' film?  And if I only ordered one - they're pretty
expensive - which should I get?

	 Chris