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The Sword and the Rose

The Sword and the Rose

  • Status: Released
  • 23-07-1953
  • Runtime: 92 min
  • Score: 6.3
  • Vote count: 22

Tells the story of Mary Tudor and her troubled path to true love. Henry VIII, for political reasons, determines to wed her to the King of France. She tries to flee to America with her love but is captured when she is "un-hatted" on board ship. In return for her consent to the marriage with France, Henry agrees to let her choose her second husband. When King Louis of France dies, Mary is kidnaped by the Duke of Buckingham. He tries to force her to marry him but she is rescued by her love in an exciting battle on the beach.

Richard Todd

Charles Brandon

Glynis Johns

Princess Mary Tudor

James Robertson Justice

King Henry VIII

Michael Gough

Duke of Buckingham

Peter Copley

Sir Edwin Caskoden

Rosalie Crutchley

Queen Katherine

D.A. Clarke-Smith

Cardinal Wolsey

Jane Barrett

Lady Margaret

Ernest Jay

Lord Chamberlain

John Vere

Lawyer Clerk

Philip Lennard

Chaplain

Bryan Coleman

Earl of Surrey

Phillip Glasier

Royal Falconer

Jean Mercure

King Louis XII

Gérard Oury

Dauphin of France

Fernand Fabre

Ambassador of France

Robert Le Béal

Royal Physician

Gaston Richer

Grand Chancellor

Helen Goss

Princess Claude

Patrick Cargill

French Diplomat

Anthony Sharp

French Diplomat

Caven Watson

Captain Bradhurst

Richard Molinas

Father Pierre

Hal Osmond

Costermonger

Norman Pierce

Innkeeper

Douglas Bradley-Smith

Squire

Ewen Solon

Guardsman

Rupert Evans

Bargeman

Paddy Ryan

Bargeman

Thomas Heathcote

Wrestling Second

Arthur Brander

First Mate

Russell Waters

Sailor

John Serret

French Squire

Bob Simmons

French Champion

CinemaSerf

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.