Customer Reviews

Tyrone Power Collection (Blood and Sand / Son of Fury / The Black Rose / Prince of Foxes / The Captain from Castile)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While calling this a 'Swashbuckler' collection is misleading (these aren't the swordfighting, acrobatic adventures synonymous with Fairbanks, Flynn, Lancaster, or even Power, in "The Mark of Zorro"), these are vastly entertaining films, and Tyrone Power is always a joy of watch!

The oldest of the films, "Blood and Sand", is the strangest entry of the collection; while the other films are historical epics, this technicolor morality tale, told in a bullfight saga, was released in pre-WWII 1941. A remake of Rudolph Valentino's 1922 silent classic, Power is the fearless matador loved by sweet Linda Darnell, but corrupted by sophisticated vixen Rita Hayworth (being groomed for stardom at the time). The fun of this film isn't so much the drama, however, as the beauty of Power and Hayworth, and a fabulous supporting cast, including Anthony Quinn, Laird Cregar, and John Carradine; watch for future 'Superman' George Reeves in a small role!

"Son of Fury" (1942) is best-known as the film that helped launch Gene Tierney's career, and the sad swansong of Frances Farmer's attempted comeback, but it is closer in spirit to "Anthony Adverse" than swashbuckler. Supposedly illegitimate Power is abused by sadistic uncle George Sanders, and flees to the South Seas to gain the wealth to contest his status, falling for island girl Tierney. Don't miss the climactic fistfight between Power and Sanders; it's nearly as spectacular as the Wayne/Scott brawl in "The Spoilers"!

The end of WWII brought a new 'consciousness' to historical epics, and Power's films would be among the best, marred only by some poorly-cast leading ladies. "Captain from Castile" (1947) offered the one exception, sultry Jean Peters; while the concept was similar to "Son of Fury" (hero goes overseas...Mexico, this time...seeking fortune and fame to clear name), the film benefits from breathtaking Technicolor Mexican locations (watch for the active volcanoes!), a first-rate cast, including Cesar Romero (fabulous as Cortez), and Alfred Newman's unforgettable score. "Prince of Foxes" (1949), first of two Power teamings with Orson Welles, is one of Hollywood's first 'intellectual' epics; In 16th certury Italy, a pretender (Power), gains the confidence of legendary Cesare Borgia (Welles), who uses Power's wiles to win cities in his plan to conquer and unite Italy. Unfortunately, conscience (in the form of miscast Wanda Hendrix), would get in the way! "The Black Rose" (1950), set in 13th century Britain, completes the collection; again, Power goes to foreign lands (this time, China) to win a fortune, and save his Saxon family's estate and honor, accompanied by loyal Jack Hawkins (who nearly steals the film). He enters the service of exotic General Bayan (Welles), and wins the heart of captive Cecile Aubry (easily the worst of Power's leading ladies), bringing China's wonders back to the West. Produced in England, on a smaller budget, the film lacks the 'sweep' of the other titles, and Power (at 36) is getting a bit old to be playing youths, but it is still entertaining!

For Tyrone Power's many fans (including me), finally seeing these titles on DVD is a cause to celebrate, and one hopes that more of his film work will soon be available!

With this 5-DVD set, 20th Century Fox is finally doing justice to its great star and huge box office winner for many years, Tyrone Power. Included: Blood and Sand, Son of Fury, The Black Rose, The Prince of Foxes, and The Captain from Castile.

Fox has really gone all the way with this one, with the inclusion of postcard-sized lobby cards and four exquisite features, including excellent commentary, isolated scores of Captain from Castile and Prince of Foxes that are INCREDIBLE, and many other elements. I do not feel that Fox took the cheap way out at all. Through Warner Brothers in the past has had more output than Fox, Warners recently has not given the attention to their DVD sets as Fox has on this Power set. I have been critical of Fox in the past for their DVD production, but I think they're trying to make up for it now. It's a beautifully compiled set.

Three of the films are in color: Blood and Sand, The Black Rose, and The Captain from Castile. The color in Blood and Sand is excellent; in fact, there is a commentary by Richard Crudo, Pres. of American Society of Cinematographers who speaks about this film. The split-screen technique shows the beauty of the restoration.

Son of Fury is in black and white - there is some light flickering contrast but I think the picture looks great, using a dual-layering process.

The first two reels of Captain From Castile has some color problems but after that it's fine - and the score is a treasure. Make sure to listen to the isolated score by Randy Newman that is offered. It's also an excellent film, with great performances.

Actually I don't entirely agree with the negative review of the Prince of Foxes quality - it's not perfect but the black and white is fine, and I thoroughly loved watching the film. Again, the score is sensational.

My least favorite film in the set is The Black Rose, which as one reviewer suggests, was added because The Black Swan and Zorro had already seen release. However, the color is probably the best of the set.

I hope Fox will continue with another Power series and include Lloyds of London, I'll Never Forget You, Suez, and other of this fine actor's films.

Finally Tyrone Power has his own box set collection, and we fans hope it is the first of many.

Unfortunately, Power's best swashbuckling/adventure films, The Mark of Zorro and The Black Swan, have already been released. Nevertheless, this set has three absolute gems - Blood and Sand, Captain from Castile, and Son of Fury, all top-notch films. The latter film introduced the gorgeous Gene Tierney to audiences.

I'm not crazy about the outside cover artwork (from Captain from Castile), which doesn't resemble Power, but the artwork on the remaining individual DVD covers is stunning, and there is some wonderful film restoration done. I'll never get over not seeing Prince of Foxes in color. If there was ever a movie that deserves to be colorized (in a good way, like The Mark of Zorro was - I am NOT referring to the old colorization that Ted Turner did) - it's Prince of Foxes, with its authentic Italian surroundings and interiors. I hope Fox will eventually do that.

Power gives wonderful performances in all of the films. I admit my least favorite movie here is The Black Rose, in no small measure because of Cecile Aubrey, but the movie is pretty to look at. For brilliant direction, performances and cinematography, the Oscar-winning Blood and Sand is fantastic and is my favorite film in the set. It also has my favorite performance of Power's - in, not surprisingly, the best role - of the five films.

The other thing this set has is fantastic FEATURES - all of them are great, and one of them is a Power family reunion of sorts, with Linda Christian, her two children, and Tyrone Power Jr. This is a real treasure. There is also "The Leading Ladies" which features some of his living costars - Patricia Neal, Jayne Meadows, Terry Moore, Colleen Gray. A third feature is a Movietone about his fabulous wedding to Linda Christian, where 10,000 people mobbed the outside of the church (as opposed to the 1,000 when Tom Cruise married in the same place in Italy). The last feature is "Behind the Scenes" with some wonderful still photographs, clips, and interviews with Oscar nominee James Cromwell, whose father directed the film, and comments from a film historian.

Ty fans will love this. It is SO GREAT to have Captain from Castile, Son of Fury, Blood and Sand, Prince of Foxes, and The Black Rose out on DVD. Here's hoping Power gets the second collection he deserves.

Errol Flynn was under contract to Warners, Stewart Granger to MGM, and their great films have been available on VHS and DVD for some time. But Tyrone Power was under constract to Fox, and Fox has been downright stingy about releasing Power's oevre to DVD - until now! For us Ty Power fans, this boxed set is a godsend, one for which we have been waiting for years. The set includes five of Power's best:

"Blood and Sand," from the novel by Ibanez, has Ty stepping into Rudloph Valentino's shoes, which he fills very nicely, as the talented and charming but doomed bullfighter, led on by the gorgeous and evil Rita Hayworth who flamencos up a storm. Anthony Quinn as his hot-blooded rival and Laird Cregar a most slimy and rotund villain.

"Son of Fury," from a novel by Edison Marshall, rarely shown, has Ty making love to fetching Gene Tierney and matching wits and fistcuffs with George Saunders, one of the screen's most rapacious villains - and NOBODY can eat a grape like George Saunders!

"The Black Rose" from the novel by Thomas Costain features Ty as Walter of Guerney, the illegitimate son of a Saxon noble who finds himself in the court of Kublai Khan in the 13th Century. Orson Welles steals the show as the Mongol general, Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. First rate production values, exquisitely photographed by the legendary Jack Cardiff.

"Prince of Foxes," from the novel by Samuel Shellabarger, has Ty as Andrea Orsini, Renaissance adventurer, swordsman, lover and assassin in the service of Cesare Borgia, played slyly by Orson Welles. The cast is aided by Everett Sloan and Felix Aylmer. Photographed against the backdrop of Tuscan palazzos, this film should have been filmed in color. The transfer could have been better. The sound crackles and fades from time to time. Technically, this is the only one of the five that did not receive the treatment it should have, but rousing and worth viewing all the same.

Rounding out the set, "Captain from Castille," also from a novel by Shellabarger, has Ty as Pedro de Vargas, the son of a Spanish nobleman whose family is persecuted by the Inquisition in the person of oily John Sutton, a most loathsome and cowardly villain. With Caesar Romero as a lusty and bearded Hernando Cortez, Thomas Gomez as the kindly priest, and Jean Peters as Ty's love interest. Running time is 140 minutes and there's nary a dull moment.

With baited breath I await Volume Two: "The Mark of Zorro," "Jesse James," "Lloyds of London,"King of the Khyber Rifles," and "The Pony Soldiers."

This is a great selection of historical dramas starring perhaps the most underrated leading man of his time, Tyrone Power (i.e. he was popular in his day, but seems to be much more obscure now). This is ideal as an introduction to Power's work, or to flesh out one's own classic film collection. If you already have The Razor's Edge, The Black Swan and Nightmare Alley, you owe it to yourself to add these Tyrone Power classics to the fold.

Growing up I saw old Tyrone Power movies on television. Even deciding to buy this collection I had not remembered how great he was on the screen. His co-stars are of equal standing and each of these films can stand alone on their merit. The filming & scenary! His talent lights up the screen in each. If you like classic Tyrone-you will never regret buying this collection-it is a must have.

Although Tyrone Power is probably a forgotten star to many, this collection of some of his most exciting adventure films reminds those who remember him, or those who are at least familiar with some of his work, what star power once meant during the "Golden Age of Hollywood". Each of the films are my personal favorites, and the DVDs in the collection contain some interesting extras such as interviews with Power's surviving family members and former co-stars, as well as audio commentaries film historians, film composers, and other film professionals. Each DVD also contains separate audio track of each film's original soundtrack. The "Blood and Sand" DVD transfer uses a recently restored print that brings to life the film's original "old fashioned" bold and vivid Technicolor. All in all, this collection is definitely worth owning whether you're a fan or just interested in a star whose name rarely heard anymore.

I was a huge Tyrone Power fan when I was a kid and with the release of quite a few of his movies on DVD (about time Fox) I've rediscovered him.
The movies on this pack are all wonderful starting with Blood and Sand (4 stars) it gets better the more I see it, Son of Fury (4 stars) A real surprise, Captain from Castille (4 stars) not quite as good as I remember but still very good, Prince of Foxes (4.5 stars) the best movie in the pack and The Black Rose (4 stars) the movie I remember the most and why people keep saying this is one of his weakest movies I've got no idea as I loved it when I was a kid and still like it now.
I honestly cannot understand how anyone could give this great collection 1 star.
I'd recommend it to anyone along with the Matinee Idol Collection which I'll comment on a little later on.

A very entertaining collection of films done by Tyrone Power. Three of them are in color, and two in black and white. Acting in all films by Tyrone Power is very good. Captain from Castile is a classic, with excellent casting, beautiful scenery, and memorable music. Pity Power's leading ladies in two of the films leave much to be desired. However, what's not to like about Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, Gene Tierney and a young and sensual Jean Peters. The two films in black and white--Son of Fury, and especially The Prince of Foxes--would have been spectacular in color. Overall, an excellent buy for anyone interested in building a collection of Tyrone Power's memorable films.

Back in the days of the studio system, every major studio had its bank of contract players. With Warner Brothers, you'd see James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, but also supporting actors like Alan Hale. There was also Errol Flynn, and to some extent, I believe that Tyrone Power was 20th Century Fox's answer to Warners's resident swashbuckler. Certainly, the Tyrone Power Collection features Powers in many of his swashbuckliest roles.

Chronologically, the first of the five movies is Blood and Sand, with Power as a famous bullfighter. Fame and fortune come with a price, as Power is distracted from his marriage to his childhood sweetheart by the love-`em-and-lose-`em rich girl played by Rita Hayworth. There are plenty of other Fox regulars in this film, including Linda Darnell as the loyal wife, John Carradine as Power's best friend and Laird Cregar as a bullfighting critic. It's a nice-looking film (in fact, a commentary track by a cinematographer explains the film technique in great detail), but just okay storywise.

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake has Power as the illegitimate son of a wealthy lord. Actually, he may not really be illegitimate, but proof is hard to find, and his uncle (played by George Sanders) will do all he can to keep hold of the title. This forces Power into servitude in an era where by class alone, he has no rights. He gets an opportunity to flee to the South Seas, where he hooks up with Gene Tierney.

In Captain from Castile, Power is once again a fugitive, this time from the Spanish Inquisition. He winds up in Cuba, where he joins Cortes (played by Cesar Romero) in an expedition to Mexico. Power's noble birth and fighting talent makes him rise in the ranks, but there are many adversaries to deal with. This is the other disc in the set with film commentary, this time by a trio of film historians. For fans of USC sports, a bit of trivia: the tune Conquest used by the Trojans was developed for this movie.

Prince of Foxes has Power serving a different conqueror, Cesar Borgia played by Orson Welles. Power is sent to do advance intelligence work in a town slated for invasion, but instead he decides to help the townspeople instead (in part, no doubt, because of the beautiful wife of the town's aged ruler).

The final movie, The Black Rose is another period piece, with Power as a nobleman in the time of Edward I of England. Disgusted with the oppression of Saxons, Power heads to the Orient, where he hooks up with Welles again, this time as a general working with Kubla Khan to invade China. Will Power find wealth? Will he rescue the beautiful girl of English descent, sold into slavery when her crusader father died?

Power is a decent enough actor and all these movies are reasonably entertaining, but none are real classics. In part, this is because of Power, who compared with his contemporary, Flynn, doesn't have the same charm or presence; I think Power actually works better in other, darker roles, such as in Nightmare Alley. As a set, this is pretty nice for Power fans: besides the movies, there are lots of extras, including the commentary tracks, trailers, still galleries, documentaries, a little booklet and lots of lobby cards. This may not be a set of the greatest movies ever, but it is a set worth watching.