Customer Reviews

Swords and Sorcery 9 Movie Pack

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

ST. CLAIR DVD multi-packs are reasonably priced, and offer fine quality video/audio transfers of unrestored public domain material. Discs are single-side recorded, plastic storage cases fairly sturdy, liner notes appear on box's back cover.

No matter how you spell it, the SWORDS AND SORCERY 9 Movie Pack from ST. CLAIR will magically cut right through the dullest day, keeping you entertained for many hours.
Highlights of this collection include:

THE MAGIC SWORD-- One of director and 'B' pic specialist Bert I. Gordon's better efforts. Stars Basil Rathbone (best known as Sherlock Holmes). This is a retelling of the St. George and the Dragon tale.

GOLIATH AND THE DRAGON-- Not the Biblical Goliath, but a man with the nickname who upon returning to his home country must fight giant bats, three-headed dogs and a dragon (of course). Co-stars Broderick Crawford ("Highway Patrol"), who chews up scenery (and everything but swords) as Goliath's evil nemesis, King Eurystheus.

SWORD OF LANCELOT-- Hungarian-born Cornel Wilde portrays Frenchman Sir Lancelot du Lac in this lavish Technicolor story of the tragic triangle of Guinevere/Arthur/Lancelot.

PANDA AND THE MAGIC SERPENT-- This late-50's Japanese cartoon is the first-ever full-length anime feature. It's the story of a panda, a dragon god and an evil serpent.

The balance of the set are European-made Hercules and Ulysses sagas, some better than others.

HISTORY AT THE MOVIES, also from ST. CLAIR, is a similar collection. The sweep is primarily Roman, Medieval and Renaissance, and the stories are of real people. Features Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Vivien Leigh, Stewart Granger and more.

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Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.

(2.8) The Blade Master (Italy-1984) - Miles O'Keeffe/Lisa Foster/David Brandon
(4.7) The Magic Sword (1962) - Basil Rathbone/Estelle Winwood/Gary Lockwood
(4.7) Goliath and the Dragon (Italy/France-1960) - Broderick Crawford/Mark Forest

Bonus: Chandu the Magician (radio program)


DISC TWO--
(1.9) Hercules Against the Moon Men (France/Italy-1964) - Sergio Ciani/Jany Clair
(5.5) Sword of Lancelot ("Lancelot and Guinevere") (UK-1963) - Cornel Wilde/Jean Wallace/Brian Aherne
(4.8) Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules (Italy-1962) - Reg Lewis/Margaret Lee

BONUS: Movie Trailers--
Hercules Against the Moon Men
Goliath and the Vampires
Goliath and the Dragon
The Witch's Curse


DISC THREE--
(4.6) The Witch's Curse (Italy-1962) - Kirk Morris/Hélène Chanel/Charles Fawcett
(4.7) Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules (Italy/France-1961) - Georges Marchal/Mike Lane
(6.8) Panda and the Magic Serpent (Japan-1958) - Marvin Miller (narrator)

BONUS: Poster Gallery

Swords and Sorcery is a collection of 9 movies that have only one thing in common: they are all public domain and as such it is possible for them to be presented in highly affordable collections. I paid $9.98 for my set and that comes down to a little over one dollar per movie. Some of these movies are available for $5 and up for just one movie. The overall picture quality of these movies is good. The way that movie tickets cost nowadays, you really cannot complain about this collection.

Anyways, here's how I rate the movies in this collection:


Great:


The Blade Master
The Magic Sword
Sword of Lancelot


Good:


Fire Monster vs. The Son of Hercules
Goliath and the Dragon
Hercules Against the Moon Men
Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules
The Witch's Curse




Bad:

Panda and the Magic Serpent