Binding: DVD
EAN: 0096009018993
Format: Color, NTSC
Label: Platinum Disc Corportation
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc Corportation
Publisher: Platinum Disc Corportation
Release Date: October 10, 2001
Sales Rank: 194827
Studio: Platinum Disc Corportation
Theatrical Release Date: 1962-04
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Hey, there's a chimp in here!
Two and a half stars.
Sometimes, one's fondness for a pet can be taken to extremes. Case in point, the wicked sorcerer Lodac who, to feed his dragon, makes a habit of kidnapping princesses. If they aren't ransomed within seven days' time, it's chow time for the dragon. THE MAGIC SWORD checks off on many of the traditional fairy tale tropes. When fair Princess Helene is taken by Lodac, the king vows that whosoever rescues her shall have her hand in marriage and half the kingdom, as well.
Of a royal lineage but raised by a witch, a doughty young man named George undertakes this challenge. But he doesn't do it bare-handed. Taking with him his mother's gifts intended for his 21st birthday, he begins his quest armed with an unpierceable mail armor, an enchanted sword which can open and shut any door, and a fabulously swift stallion. But, even with these remarkable gifts, and accompanied by seven knights (one of whom is a traitorous blight), George must brave the seven deadly curses to reach the evil sorcerer's castle.
If I'd seen this flick when I was a kid, maybe, just maybe, nostalgia might've caused me to think better of it. But I saw this about half an hour ago, and, truth is, I'm not so impressed. Coming out in 1962, THE MAGIC SWORD nowadays might do as Saturday morning fare for the pre-teens, although, with the current advanced state of special effects, even they might pooh-pooh this one. I'm thinking, only kids who still enjoy claymation and other ungainly ... Read More
Rating: - Not bad, but not the best of the genre of that time
The Magic Sword is pretty much a standard medieval fantasy story that has all the ingredients necessary for such a movie. A young hero with humble beginnings, a princess searching for love, an evil sorcerer (with a dragon that has a sweet tooth for princesses), monsters, knights, kings and all that lot. The story is as solid as any fairy tale, but the execution is a bit on the lacking side. In other words recite the movie to your kids at bedtime and it all seems great, but this production doesn't live up to what your child's imagination would have made of it.
For one the action and adventure of the movie are tapered down to accomodate the stage sets and whatnot. There really is no true action in this film. No Errol Flynn style swordplay. No Ray Harryhausen style monsters. Just lots of quick camera shots that don't really show much action. It would have been nice that since they are following the standard Hollywood formula for a medieval fantasy film to at least throw in the things that make such films fun to watch.
Another detail that bugs me were the six valiant knights that were reanimated to help out our hero. They talk the talk and are gallant and all that, but to be honest they didn't do much at all to help our hero. No heroic fighting. They just died incrementally like so many red shirted extras in a classic Star Trek episode. And don't even get me started about the surprise at the end that doesn't even try to explain itself.
The acting is the solid ... Read More
Rating:  - One of the worst movies ever made!
This is by far one of the worst movies I have ever seen. As a movie buff and fan of classic action/sdventure/fantasy films I was extremely let down by this film. Having enjoyedwatching Basil Rathbone in such films as "The Mark of Zorrow" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" I was hoping for much more. This film plays as nothing more than a poorly made Saturday morning childrens show. The special effects are ridiculous and so poorly done it's obvious that this film doesn't even rate as a B-movie. If you are over the age of 5 and love classic movies such as the two mentioned above and "The Knights of the Round Table", "Ivanhoe", "The Crimson Pirate" etc. please don't waste your money on this film. You will find yourself turning it off after the first 10 minutes wondering why you were foolish enough to throw away money on something so poorly made. It's not even one of those films that's so bad it's entertaining. It's just plain bad.
Rating:  - A childhood favorite of mine!
I first saw this movie as a child in B&W on Saturday afternoon matinee on channel 9 (WGN - Chicago). This was my first medieval movie I had ever seen and due to it I am still a science fiction & fantasy fan. About twenty years later I saw a color version on television. And here I am fifteen years later buying it as a keepsake/memory. This MGM version blew the previous two veiwings away. The picture, color and sound quality was superb. I am extremely happy with my purchase of this item.
Rating: - Enjoyable Medieval Quest Film
Evil sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) takes his revenge on the King by abducting Princess Helene (Anne Helm) to feed her to a dragon in a week. Ambitious courtier Sir Branton (Liam Sullivan) proposes to go alone to rescue her. The obscure, but noble, protagonist, Sir George (Gary Lockwood), uses the gifts of his good-witch foster mother, Sibyl (Estelle Winwood), to re-animate six knights to go after the Princess, his vision-love. Lodac guards his castle with seven curses, including the double-headed dragon. The movie plays out straightforwardly to the expected conclusion using the technology of the early 1960's. It's all good fun.
The first time I saw the movie was from a $1 bargain bin version from "Treasure Box Collection," a good value, especially since it was bundled with a second film, "King Arthur: The Young Warlord". I enjoyed their "The Magic Sword" but wanted it with a better quality picture. The MGM version has an excellent picture and sound.
The MGM version has an additional four-minute scene about 30 minutes into the film, in which a harassed Princess Helene breaks free of her prison cell and meets Little People kept in cages for eating. Lodac returns her to her cell. The Little People show up later to release George from his bindings in the dungeon and are otherwise not explained.
The one and only annoyance of the MGM version compared to the "Treasure Box Collection" version is that MGM's has a different aspect ratio and sizing. The MGM ... Read More
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