[The News Bot]

Reviewed by Chris McEneany, 21st September 2009
The Black Shield Of Falworth is a valiant entry in a crowded genre. Provided you aren’t looking for anything either historically accurate or emotionally connecting, you should have a ball. This was made at a time when Hollywood was in love with the myth of chivalry and Mate’s film certainly indulges in plenty of wanton mayhem. Curtis, however determined he is to leap about the sets and “have at ye!!!” every five minutes or so, is still possibly miscast. But the sense of sheer fun is ever-present and with Janet Leigh looking absolutely ravishing (and quite pneumatic, too) and some better-than-average fight choreography, Black Shield is a great way to while away some undemanding time.

Eureka’s new BD transfer is now a little bit more colourful, with its Technicolor palette looking more robust and bright, and the newly-found print used is mostly free from damage and detrimental processing. The audio doesn’t have a great deal of presence, but nor does it present any errors along the way.

If you love sword-swinging derring-do with a hint of “Who Do You Think You Are?” style birthright unearthing thrown-in, you’ll get a lot out of this. This is big daft fun that shrieks Saturday Matinee at you with unashamed enthusiasm.

Now that it is on Blu-ray, fans can certainly chuck away the earlier edition.


Read the full review...

[IAN P]

These are great releases by Eureka, probably won't sell many, but hey, I'll buy every type of "big daft fun that shrieks Saturday Matinee" film there is.



Thanks for the review Chris, there's only 1 other place I've even seen the slightest hint of a review, so kudos for doing a proper job.

[eiren]

Great review again.

There's such great chemistry between Curtis and Leigh in the film, but they were of course married at the time (and hadn't created Jamie Lee [Leigh] Curtis yet).