Hats of to Walt Disney (and to James Robertson Justice) for managing to turn the rather unpleasant English King Henry VIII into an engaging, cheeky character who likes nothing better than to spat with his younger sister Mary (Glynis Johns) who is determined to live her own life, despite her brother's dynastic ambitions for her. She alights on the newly appointed captain of the King's Guard "Brandon" (Richard Todd), a character with ambitions to sail the world seeking plunder and glory, but her kingly sibling has decided to wed (sell, basically) her to the aging French King Louis XII (a fun scene with Jean Mercure). After a few escapades, she is forced to acquiesce - otherwise her beau will face the axe - but she does manage to exacts a few useful pre-conditions that will allow her to choose her next husband herself! Quite an achievement for a Princess in 16th Century Europe. It's got the odd bit of swash and buckle, but mostly it is a sort of pantomime-does-history romantic romp with a cast having fun, a remarkably dashing Michael Gough as her would-be suitor Buckingham, and some fine looking sets and costumes. True, the facts are treated with a certain degree of "latitude" but I really quite enjoyed it... It's the sort of family drama that this studio did well.
Review of The Sword and the Rose
