The Magic Sword is a 1962 fantasy film directed by Bert I. Gordon. The story follows a young man named George who sets out on a perilous journey to rescue a princess named Helene from an evil sorcerer named Lodac. In order to accomplish this task, George wields a magic sword given to him by a wizard named Lodac. Throughout his journey, George faces many challenges, including battling a giant, a ferocious dragon, and an army of skeletons. The film features a mix of adventure, romance, and fantasy elements, making it an entertaining watch for fans of the genre.

So Bad, it’s Good: Movie Review – The Magic Sword

A new year, and a new string of bad medieval movies to review! As I made my way through Amazon Prime and Netflix, searching for swords, chivalry and valour, I came across this curious oldie: The Magic Sword (1962). I’d first started watching another, much newer, medieval film but it was so terrible I had to shut it off after twenty minutes. The Magic Sword looked like it was going in that direction for the first ten minutes, but then, it became so laughably bad, that it was good. I settled in and actually enjoyed the film, for all its cheesiness and camp.

The movie is utterly bizarre. Think I Dream of Jeannie, meets Star Trek (Shatner Trek), meets, Disney. It opens with a two-headed servant and a monkey dressed in clothes; which pretty much sets the tone of this movie. Just persevere through it, it gets worse (read: better).

The Magic Sword stars Basil Rathbone (The Adventures of Robin Hood 1938, Tower of London 1939), as Lodac, the evil sorcerer who is bent on feeding damsels in distress to his hungry *mechanical* two-headed dragon. Enter George, played by Gary Lockwood (Perry Mason, They Came to Rob Las Vegas), our hero; a twenty year old prince, who is madly in love with beautiful princess Helene. He has been fostered by an elderly sorceress, Sybil, played by Estelle Linwood (Batman 1966/67, Camelot 1967) after his royal parents died of a plague when he was a baby. Princess Helene, played by Ann Helm (Nightmare in Wax 1969, The Manhunter 1974) is kidnapped by Lodac, in retaliation for his sister’s death at the hands of Helene’s father. He intends to feed Helene to the dragon in seven days. George, of course, wants to rescue his love, but Sybil is afraid he’s too young to fight a dragon. She shows him a magic sword, armour and a horse that can out run anything but says he will only get these items when he turns twenty one.

George tricks Sybil and takes the magical items along with six magical knights, all representing different countries, all with saint’s names: Sir Dennis of France, Sir Patrick of Ireland, Sir Anthony of Italy, Sir Ulrich of Germany, Sir Pedro of Spain, Sir James of Scotland. George, obviously with his red and white shield represents St. George of England. There are some pretty tragic accents happening in this bunch; they all apparently went to the Dick Van Dyke school of accents. George, meanwhile, sports a typical 1950s sounding American accent, but I’m relieved he wasn’t forced to attempt a bad British one. Accompanying them, is arrogant knight Sir Branton, who has also pledged to save Helene in exchange for her hand in marriage. The troupe have to defeat Lodac’s seven curses to rescue the princess. Unsurprisingly, the knights are throw-away characters as they get knocked off so that it’s just George and Sir Branton off to fight Lodac and his pet dragon.

The movie’s special effects are god-awful, but it was 1962, so I took that into account. The costumes are right out of a Halloween store or Disney theme park. The two-headed mechanical dragon looks like it could fight Motha, and I’ve seen better acting at a high school play.

The Magic Sword’s hunky hero George (Gary Lockwood) and damsel in distress, Princess Helene (Ann Helm)

So after saying all that, why did I like this movie, and why am I recommending you watch it? For one, it’s funny. There are bits of humour thrown in around Sybil’s character as a bumbling sorceress. George is so over the top as a hero, it’s comical. Lodac looks like a cross between Mrs. Roper from Three’s Company and Sinbad the sailor, in his muumuu and turban that it kind of makes anything supposedly scary and evil coming out of his mouth even funnier.

There are medieval movies that are terrible because they try to be authentic and completely fail. This movie is a fantasy and has fun poking fun at itself. Nothing in it is to be taken seriously; the acting is bad, the props are bad, and the costumes are bad, but it’s what gives it a certain charm. It’s got a definite B movie quality to it. The movie certainly wasn’t trying to win awards, but I liked that it wasn’t meant to be anything other than a corny medieval movie.

Also, it’s short. I don’t think I could sit through two hours of this, but at an hour and twenty minutes, it wasn’t too painful. The special effects and dragon are worth the watch for their awfulness. If you’re up for a good laugh, and in the mood for something medieval that doesn’t take itself seriously, try this movie out.

~Sandra Alvarez

The Magic Sword (1962)

The 15 Dec 1960 DV announced producer Bert I. Gordon’s upcoming project, provisionally titled St. George and the 7 Curses, to be distributed by United Artists Corporation (UA). The screenplay was adapted from a story by Gordon, “based partially on English legend.” Filming was expected to conclude in twenty-five days. Principal photography began 11 Jan 1961 at Goldwyn Studios in West Hollywood, CA, according to 13 Jan 1961 DV production charts. The 18 Jan 1961 DV noted that lead actress Anne Helm wore a “flesh-colored suit” for her supposed nude swimming scene.
On 24 Mar 1961, DV reported that composer Richard Markowitz was in the process of scoring the film. Two months later, the 22 May 1961 DV announced the official title as The Magic Sword. As stated in the 18 Jul 1961 DV, Gordon finished “several months” of special effects photography the previous day, at an estimated cost of $220,000.
The 8 Dec 1961 DV reported that UA delivered press kits to exhibitors five months prior to the film’s scheduled Easter 1962 release. Fred Goldberg, executive director of publicity for the company, briefed journalists on the advertising campaign, which labeled the picture as a fairy tale for younger children, and as an adventure story for older children.
The Magic Sword opened 11 Apr 1962 in Los Angeles, CA. Reviews were generally positive, particularly regarding special effects. The 9 Aug 1962 DV noted that it received a certificate of merit from the Southern .

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The 15 Dec 1960 DV announced producer Bert I. Gordon’s upcoming project, provisionally titled St. George and the 7 Curses, to be distributed by United Artists Corporation (UA). The screenplay was adapted from a story by Gordon, “based partially on English legend.” Filming was expected to conclude in twenty-five days. Principal photography began 11 Jan 1961 at Goldwyn Studios in West Hollywood, CA, according to 13 Jan 1961 DV production charts. The 18 Jan 1961 DV noted that lead actress Anne Helm wore a “flesh-colored suit” for her supposed nude swimming scene.
On 24 Mar 1961, DV reported that composer Richard Markowitz was in the process of scoring the film. Two months later, the 22 May 1961 DV announced the official title as The Magic Sword. As stated in the 18 Jul 1961 DV, Gordon finished “several months” of special effects photography the previous day, at an estimated cost of $220,000.
The 8 Dec 1961 DV reported that UA delivered press kits to exhibitors five months prior to the film’s scheduled Easter 1962 release. Fred Goldberg, executive director of publicity for the company, briefed journalists on the advertising campaign, which labeled the picture as a fairy tale for younger children, and as an adventure story for older children.
The Magic Sword opened 11 Apr 1962 in Los Angeles, CA. Reviews were generally positive, particularly regarding special effects. The 9 Aug 1962 DV noted that it received a certificate of merit from the Southern California Motion Picture Council. The film was double-billed in several locations with the Italian production, Mighty Ursus (1962).

MAGIC SWORD, THE (1962/Kino) - DVD

Costume adventure with young man facing odds of an evil wizard (Basil Rathbone). Dragons and witches. Shocking scene with an ugly witch portrayed by the infamous Vampira (PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE)! And that's one cool dragon. One of director Bert I. Gordon's very best! Extras!

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MAGIC SWORD, THE (1962/Alpha) - DVD

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MAGIC SWORD, THE (1962/Rhino) - VHS

The film features a mix of adventure, romance, and fantasy elements, making it an entertaining watch for fans of the genre. The visual effects, though considered dated by today's standards, were groundbreaking for its time and helped create a sense of wonder and awe for audiences. The Magic Sword also boasts a talented cast, including Gary Lockwood as George and Basil Rathbone as Lodac.

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Lockwood brings a sense of determination and charm to the role of George, while Rathbone delivers a captivating performance as the sinister sorcerer. The chemistry between the two actors is evident onscreen, adding depth to their characters' interactions. One of the film's standout sequences is the climactic battle between George and Lodac. The fight scene is filled with excitement and tension, as the two adversaries use their wits, skill, and the power of the magic sword to gain the upper hand. The finale does not disappoint, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Overall, The Magic Sword is a classic fantasy film that has stood the test of time. Its charming characters, thrilling storyline, and impressive visual effects continue to captivate audiences and make it a memorable viewing experience. Whether you're a fan of fantasy or simply enjoy a good adventure, this film is worth checking out..

Reviews for "The Magic Sword from 1962: Inspiration for Modern Fantasy Writers"

1. John Doe - 1 star - I found "Magic Sword 1962" to be extremely dull and uninspiring. The storyline was predictable and cliché, offering nothing new to the fantasy genre. The acting was mediocre at best, with wooden performances that failed to engage me as a viewer. The special effects were laughably outdated and failed to create a sense of awe or wonder. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this lackluster film.

2. Jane Smith - 2 stars - "Magic Sword 1962" had potential with its premise, but it failed to deliver on every front. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it difficult to empathize or care about their journey. The dialogue was clunky and felt forced, further detracting from any emotional investment in the story. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, and the action sequences were underwhelming. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and wouldn't recommend it.

3. Mark Johnson - 1 star - "Magic Sword 1962" was a complete waste of time. The plot was convoluted and confusing, jumping from one random event to another without any clear direction. The film also suffered from terrible production values, with cheap-looking sets and poorly executed visual effects. The performances were wooden and lacked any sense of authenticity, making it difficult to engage with the characters. Overall, this film was a disappointment and one that I would advise others to avoid.

4. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - Having heard some positive reviews about "Magic Sword 1962," I was hopeful that it would live up to its reputation. However, I found the film to be lackluster and forgettable. The storyline was predictable and lacked any real complexity or depth. The pacing was sluggish, with long stretches of boredom between moments of mild action. The performances were average at best, failing to bring any real charisma to the characters. Overall, "Magic Sword 1962" failed to captivate me and left me wanting more from a fantasy film.

The Magic Sword from 1962: Myth or Reality?