The Black Arrow (Columbia Pictures) (1948)

(Review) Black Arrow’ Actionful Swashbuckling Romance Columbia’s “The Black Arrow,” a picture that kindles Robert Louis Stevenson’s fiery tale of adventure and romance into blazing action, came to the ee Theatre yesterday. Punctuated with suspenseful duels to the death, daring deeds of derring-do and exciting narrow escapes which had the folks fairly riveted to their seats, the . film rates high in this reviewer’s ‘list of the, season’s most entertaining hits. Once more dashing Louis * Hayward dons the swashbuck‘ler’s mantle to avenge grievous wrongs and win the lady of his heart as a bold warrior of 15th Century England, in the period following the War of Roses. Lovely Janet Blair co-stars and portrays the loveliest damsel in distress of this or any other era in history. Featured roles are taken by George Macready, who is rapidly assuming Eric Von _ Stroheim’s reputation as “the man you most like to hate,” and that excellent character actor, Edgar Buchanan, portraying a loyal follower of a man outlawed for a crime he didn’t commit. The Edward Small production gets its title from a series of mysterious notes sped on their way with black arrows. These messages hint that Sir Daniel Brackley (Macready) foully murdered his brother, father of Sir Richard Shelton (Hayward) and then put the onus for the crime on innocent Sir John Sedley (Paul Cavanagh). At first the young knight is loathe to believe the accusations, but when they are backed up by the warm lips of Sedley’s daughter Joanna (Janet Blair), Shelton decides to investigate. As he gets close to the truth, Brackley orders him imprisoned. Richard escapes and joins the outlawed Sedley and his band. But then Sedley is captured and Brackley plans to force Joanna into marriage with him as the price for saving her father’s life. Shelton denounces his uncle before the king’s representative and demands a trial by combat. The battle between the two men, using medieval weapons (steel-tipped lances, broadswords, mace and battle-axe), brings the actionful story to its thrilling climax with Shelton vanquishing Brackley and winning the hand of Joanna. “The Black Arrow” screenplay was written by Richard Schayer, David P. Sheppard and Thomas Seller. Gordon Douglas directed for producer Grant Whytock. : : Black Arrow Mat 1-G; Prod. Still No. 83 ROMANCE in the golden age of chivalry! Louis Hayward and Janet Blair have the starring roles in Columbia’s “The Black Arrow” Howat ster ase Theatre. Black Arrow Mat 1-F; Prod. Still No. 11 ADVENTURE fills the night as Louis Hayward and Janet Blair make good their escape in Columbia’s “The Black Arrow,’ now on view at the Theatre. Knights Ril Again In Fiery Thriller The world’s great novels still continue to be one of the movies’ best story sources. Now it’s Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The Black Arrow” that has been brought to the screen in all the glory of its fabulous adventure, with the added visual excitement which is Hollywood’s own contribution. The Columbia swashbuckler, starring Louis Hayward and Janet Blair as a new romantic team, opened to an enthusiastic audience yesterday Ati theo). oy Theatre. Featured roles in the Edward Small production are portrayed by George Macready (yes, he’s a “heavy” again and a particularly despicable one, too!) and Edgar Buchanan, portraying a grim fighter for justice in England of the 15th Century. Also in key assignments are Rhys Williams, Walter Kingsford, Lowell Gilmore, Halliwell Hobbes, Paul Cavanagh and Ray Teal. Briefly, the action packed screenplay for “The Black Arrow,” written by Richard Schayer, David P. Sheppard and Thomas Seller, follows the exploits of a young knight after his return home from the War of Roses. Though the hostilities have stopped, the country is divided by political intrigue. He finds that his father has been murdered, and the lovely daughter of the slayer about to be forced into marriage with his uncle. Finally, after an investigation that involves him in countless scrapes with his kin’s wily henchmen, he discovers the real killer, his uncle, and challenges him to a trial by combat. This sequence, which is the climax of the film, is performed with all the pageantry of medieval times and easily ranks as one of the mast thrilling and suspenseful duels ever seen in a cape-and-sword drama as the two foes clash with steel-tipped lances, broadswords, battle-axes and maces. Direction of “The Black Arrow” was in the capable hands of Gordon Douglas. Grant Whytock was the producer. (General Advance) World-Famed Novel Comes to Screen In All Its Glory That bold adventurer, Louis Hayward, with a flashing sword for his enemies and a kiss for his lady love, is back on the screen again in a new, rousing thriller. He stars with Janet Blair in Columbia’s colorful swashbuckler, “The Black Ar ” row,” which will open on ..... EY Pie aves, Nene Theatre. The setting of this yarn, based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s world-famous novel, takes Liayward a little further back in history than his Monte Cristo exploits—to 15th Century England after the War of Roses. In the role of a young nobleman, he returns from the wars to learn that his father was slain by a political foe. His uncle (George Macready) is in charge of the castle and has taken over the guardianship of the murderer’s daughter (Miss Blair). Although he accepts the explanation of his father’s death at first, Hayward grows suspicious after questioning the witnesses to the foul deed. Added food for thought are numerous black arrows, speeded by unknown hands, with notes attached which accuse Macready of the crime. When lovely Janet, too, protests her father’s innocence, Hayward realizes that Macready is the villain and he denounces him. The code of chivalry existing in medieval times forces the villain to accept a trial by combat, and the film reaches its climax with the two men mounted on galloping steeds, battling to the finish with all the fabulous weapons of those days. Edgar Buchanan is importantly featured in the Edward Small production, and the cast also includes Rhys Williams, Walter Kingsford, Lowell Gilmore, Halliwell Hobbes and Paul Cavanagh. The screenplay for “The Black Arrow” was writtten by Richard Schayer, David P. Sheppard and Thomas Seller. Gordon Douglas directed for producer Grant Whytock. Black Arrow Mat 2-D; Prod. Still No. 13 AVENGING ACTION leaping recklessly from the swashbuckling pages of Robert Louis Stevenson’s great adventure novel! Louis Hayward is starred in Columbia’s “The Black Arrow” at the Theatre. (General Advance) Stevenson's ‘Black Arrow’ Stars Hayward and Blair Columbia’s “The Black Arrow,” a swashbuckling adventure yarn based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s celebrated novel of romance and intrigue, will open at the Theatre on Starring roles are played by Louis Hayward and Janet Blair with George Macready and Edgar Buchanan assigned to the top featured parts. Other important castings are Rhys Williams, Walter Kingsford, Lowell Gilmore, Halliwell Hobbes, Paul Cavanagh and Ray Teal. “The Black Arrow” marks the fifth picturization of a Stevenson classic, although this is his first work that gives moviegoers a fictionalized historical glimpse of the fierce political rivalry which followed England’s War of Roses in the 15th FEELS I SSSI TIS SIS IIS TID ISIS IES ESTES EIST TA | CAST and STAFF ig EY BY Richard Shelton 5 Louis Hayward Joanna Sedley ... Janet Blair Sir Daniel Brackley 5 George Macready 3| Lawless ....Edgar Buchanan E{ Bennet Hatch 5 Rhys Williams Ei Sir Oliver Oates Walter Kingsford 3 Duke of Gloucester 5 Lowell Gilmore Bishop of Tilsbury Ie Halliwell Hobbes ie Sir John Sedley ie Paul Cavanagh hs Nick Appleyard ...Ray Teal i Sir Harry Shelton is Russell Hicks Ke Sir William Catesby Ke Leslie Denison Dame Carter .. Betty Fairfax ike Jailer ....... William Bevan Ike : Screenplay by Richard Schayer, David P. Sheppard, Thomas is CY Seller; Directed by Gordon Douglas; Assistant Director, Carl ie By Hiecke; Director of Photography, Charles Lawton, Jr., A.S.C. ie 5 Art Directors, Stephen Goosson and A. Leslie Thomas; Film Ike By Editor, Jerome Thoms; Set Decorations, Wilbur Menefee and ie 5 James Crowe; Gowns by Jean Louis; Make-up for Louis Hayi 5 ward, Don Cash; Music by Paul Sawtell; Sound Engineer, Lami bert Day; Produced by Grant Whytock. An Edward Small Pro : duction. A Columbia Picture. : [> | BY STORY is| : (Not for Publication) 4 Returning from England’s War of the Roses, Sir Richard 5 Shelton (Louis Hayward) learns from his uncle, Sir Daniel [> | the outlaw chieftain. BY Sir John explains to Richard that Sir Daniel killed his father 5 and put the blame on him in order to confiscate his lands. The By two friends plan to free Joanna, but both are siezed. Richard 5 accuses his uncle publicly of his father’s death, and demands a Brackley (George Macready) that the former’s father was cow5 ardly slain by political foe Sir John Sedley (Paul Cavanagh). Ki Sir Daniel also tells him that the murderer’s daughter, Lady Joanna (Janet Blair), has been made a ward of the crown and given into Sir Daniel’s guardianship. Deadly black arrows, carrying warning messages, cause Rich8) ard to doubt the story of his father’s death. Joanna convinces By him of Sir John’s innocence and confesses that he is hiding out 5| in the nearby forest with.a band of faithful followers. Richard FY and Joanna try to escape together, but she is recaptured and he gets away badly wounded. One of Sir John’s aids, Lawless 5 (Edgar Buchanan), finds the injured knight and takes him to MAMAMOAMAMAMAMAMAMIAMAMOAMOAMALIAMAMALIO trial by combat. In the hotly contested battle, Richard slays Sir S 5 Daniel and wins the hand of the lovely Joanna. KS 5 (Running Time: 76 Minutes) Ke BA TARA AN AnAnOAnAnAnAMAnOnAnAnAnAnATATAnAnAnAmAnAmAmAL : Century. Other novels brought to the screen by this famous author include “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “Ebb Tide,” “Treasure Island” and “Kidnapped.” The screenplay for “The Black Arrow,” written by Richard Schayer, David P. Sheppard and Thomas Seller, concerns the adventures of a young nobleman, Sir Richard Shelton (Hayward) who returns from the War of Roses to discover that his father was murdered by neighbor Sir John Sedley (Cavanagh). Richard also learns from his uncle, Sir Daniel Brackley (Macready), that Sedley was executed and that his daughter Joanna (Janet Blair) has been made a ward of the crown and given to his, Sir Daniel’s, guardianship. At first, Richard resents Joanna’s presence in the castle, but when she tells him that Sir John is alive and waiting for a chance to denounce the real murderer, Daniel, and certain mysterious messages tied to deadly black arrows, seem to bear out her belief that her father is innocent, Richard accepts her explanation and joins the outlawed Sir John and his followers. Although Daniel gains the upper hand when he captures his nephew, Sir John and a boon companion (Edgar Buchanan), Richard saves the situation by publicly accusing his uncle of the murder and demands a trial by combat. This battle, the film’s climactic scene, is said to be one of the most thrilling yet presented on the screen with such weapons as_ steel-tipped lances, broadswords, battleaxes and a mace (a spiked club) all being used during the fight. Gordon Douglas (who recently megged Eddie Cantor’s “If You Knew Susie’’) directed for producer Grant Whytock. It is an Edward Small production. Veteran Scripter Columbia’s “The Black Arrow,” a swashbuckling adventure yarn starring Louis Hayward and Janet Blair and currently showing at the ........ Theatre, is the fifth novel by the celebrated Robert Louis Stevenson to reach the screen. The other works include ‘‘Treasure Island,” “Ebb Tide,” “Kidnapped” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Page 13