Derek Winnert

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This article was written on 09 Mar 2023, and is filled under Reviews.

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The Magic Sword *** (1962, Basil Rathbone, Estelle Winwood, Gary Lockwood, Anne Helm) – Classic Movie Review 12,445

Producer/ director Bert I Gordon’s enjoyable enough 1962 American adventure fantasy film The Magic Sword is loosely based on the medieval legend of Saint George and the Dragon, and stars Basil Rathbone, Estelle Winwood, Gary Lockwood, and Anne Helm.

The Magic Sword is a fairly magical sword and sorcery action adventure about Sir George (Gary Lockwood), the kind-hearted foster son of Sybil, an elderly, rather ineffectual sorceress, setting out on a quest to save a pretty princess called Helene (Anne Helm) from the wicked wizard Lodac (Basil Rathbone).

Sir George has fallen in love with Princess Helene, who is kidnapped by the wizard Lodac, who tells her father he will feed her to his pet dragon in seven days to avenge his sister’s death. George wants to free his beloved, but Sybil believes he is too young at 20.

There is not too much story for even this short running time of 80 minutes, though Basil Rathbone makes an excellent villain, Gary Lockwood makes a good hero, Estelle Winwood makes an entertaining sorceress, there is a good cast to support them, and there are plenty of high spirits, monsters and special effects (by Milt Rice).

It is also known as St George and the 7 Curses, St George and the Dragon, and The Seven Curses of Lodac.

It is written by Bernard Schoenfeld, from a story by Bert I Gordon.

The film was shot on the 20th Century Fox backlot and at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios.

Celebrated English actress Estelle Winwood (born Estelle Ruth Goodwin, 24 January 1883 – 20 June 1984) made 101.

Bert I Gordon made 100. He died in Los Angeles on 8 March 2023.

American film-maker and visual effects artist Bert Ira Gordon (September 24, 1922 – March 8, 2023) is best known for writing and directing such sci-fi and horror B-movies as King Dinosaur (1955), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Earth vs the Spider (1958), Village of the Giants (1965), and Empire of the Ants (1977).

The cast are Basil Rathbone as Lodac, Estelle Winwood as Sybil, Gary Lockwood as Sir George, Anne Helm as Princess Helene, Liam Sullivan as Sir Branton, Maila Nurmi as The Hag / Sorceress, Angelo Rossitto as 2nd Dwarf, Danielle De Metz as Mignonette, Merritt Stone as The King, Jacques Gallo as Sir Dennis of France, David Cross as Sir Pedro of Spain, John Mauldin as Sir Patrick of Ireland, Taldo Kenyon as Sir Anthony of Italy, Angus Duncan as Sir James of Scotland, Leroy Johnson (voice by Paul Frees) as Sir Ulrich of Germany, Marlene Callahan as Princess Grace, Nick Bon Tempi as Left Siamese Twin, Paul Bon Tempi as Right Siamese Twin, Ann Graves as Princess Laura, Lorrie Richards as Anne, Jack Kosslyn as The Ogre, and Ted Finn as 1st Dwarf.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,445

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