The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Albert Pyun

Writers:

Tom Karnowski (screenplay) &
John V. Stuckmeyer (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Adventure

Tagline:

The greatest duel ever fought between deathless courage and endless evil!

Plot:

A mercenary with a three-bladed sword rediscovers his royal heritage dangerous future when he is recruited...

Plot Keywords:

Princess | Sorcerer | Tongue Ripping | Mythology | Blood

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Lee Horsley	...	Talon
Kathleen Beller	...	Alana
Simon MacCorkindale	...	Mikah (as Simon Mac Corkindale)
George Maharis	...	Machelli
Richard Lynch	...	Cromwell
Richard Moll	...	Xusia
Anthony De Longis	...	Rodrigo
Robert Tessier	...	Verdugo
Nina Van Pallandt	...	Malia
Anna Bjorn	...	Elizabeth
Jeff Corey	...	Craccus
Joseph Ruskin	...	Malcolm
Joe Regalbuto	...	Darius
Russ Marin	...	Mogullen
Earl Maynard	...	Morgan

Runtime:

100 min | USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:AA | Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Sorcerer Productions

Trivia:

Richard Moll only played the sorcerer in the opening scene, because he had a bad reaction to the contact lenses and was sent to the hospital. Xusia's other scenes at the end of the movie were done by a stand-in and later dubbed by Moll.

Quotes:

Titus Cromwell: I will allow you to live as long as you serve me. Betray me, and I will joyfully send you back to rot in hell.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#33.13)" (2005)

A joy to watch again and again

"I have a debt to pay" ... for 15 years of viewing pleasure. This film is an absolute joy, untarnished by repeated viewings, sadly overshadowed by Schwarzeneger's vastly inferior Conan movies, and unreasonably critically trashed alongside truly terrible contemporary low budget thud and blunder efforts. The script creaks more than the plot, but reigned in from the curse of camp by director Albert Pyun the actors deliver their lines with a straight face and leave the the audience to find the comedy themselves. Almost a dictionary definition of "ahead of its time", the film is a blueprint for the success of Sam Raimi's Hercules and Xena, right down to the use of Australian bit players. Effects like the demon sorceror's tomb might be managed better technically today, but no more atmospherically, and the closing sword battle is a triumph. The performances are eccentric and electric, and you could not wish for a more motley crew of cut-throats and sidekicks. Richard Lynch eats the scenery with unalloyed zeal, and quite simply more of Lee Horsley as Talon would have made the movie world a better place.