The Golden Blade (1953) User Reviews

Rock Hudson as a swashbuckler is OK

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 10 November 2013]

Who could picture in their minds Rock Hudson swinging from drapes, jumping over balconies, or subduing the sultan's guards with his sword? But that's just what Universal gives us in "The Golden Blade." He's surely not on the scale of Errol Flynn, Ty Power, or Stu Granger, but Hudson does a nice swashbuckling turn here.

The Golden Blade is a light-hearted movie of fiction set in a mythical Baghdad. It has some skulduggery that is usual for these desert tales of the mid-20th century. Hudson's physical trysts combine with the energy and rebelliousness of a princess (Piper Laurie) who is always sneaking off to see the world outside the palace. And to do good turns with the people that endear them to her.

The plot isn't complicated and the script is just average. The color, cinematography and costumes add to the enjoyment of the movie. It's not serious filmmaking, but the cast seem as though they are enjoying their craft. Viewers should do likewise. Just sit back and enjoy the color, action, humor and romance of this light but entertaining film.

Doom may be our future as much as success.

[hitchcockthelegend · 5/10 · 20 April 2012]

The Golden Blade is directed by Nathan Juran and written by John Rich. It stars Rock Hudson, Piper Laurie, Gene Evans & George Macready. Music is by Joseph Gershenson and Technicolor photography by Maury Gertsman.

By Allah! It would be magic, indeed, that this sword were mine at such a time as this.

Colourful, energetic and costumed with skill, The Golden Blade doesn't lack for effort in the low expectation realm of Arabian Nights adventures. Sadly it's actually TOO daft and goofy when it's not meant to be. True enough that it isn't a film to be taken seriously in the first place, and judging by the performances of Laurie and Hudson, the cast are playing it purely for the undemanding popcorn munching crowd. But once over you just get reminded that there are far better films of this type out there and that the interesting premise, a sort of Arabian/Arthurian blend, isn't fully realised. Not enough swishing and swashing of the titular title weapon also annoys greatly. 5/10

THE GOLDEN BLADE (Nathan Juran, 1953) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 31 December 2008]

Arabian Nights adventures were staples on Italian TV in my childhood; this (acquired fairly recently on DVD as part of Universal's "Rock Hudson: Screen Legend" set) was one of them, though I'd practically forgotten all about it in the interim. Not that it's in any way a memorable entry in the genre, and certainly not original – since this is basically the Excalibur legend transposed to ancient Bagdad – but a pleasant diversion nonetheless.

Having watched two of the star's 'oaters' back-to-back (the other was SEA DEVILS [1953]), I can say that he was rather more at ease as an Englishman than an Arab (though he does well enough by the action required here, involving a handful of swordfights and even a jousting[!] contest – which he loses – for the hand of leading lady Piper Laurie). The latter – petite and vivacious – lends some freshness to the mostly familiar proceedings; a similar outing of hers I'd like to revisit someday is THE PRINCE WHO WAS A THIEF (1951) featuring Tony Curtis, another then-rising Universal star who dabbled in actioners (read: potboilers) of every kind during this period.

Anyway, the rest of the cast here is equally creditable: George Macready as the (typically conniving) Grand Vizier, who's eventually revealed to have also ordered the decimation of neighboring Basra (from where Hudson emanates); Samuel Fuller regular Gene Evans as Macready's incompetent son(!) – the old man wants him to marry princess Laurie in order to secure the throne for themselves, but he actually loves her subordinate; Steven Geray as the merchant who first comes into possession of The Golden Blade, and subsequently steers Hudson into fulfilling its destiny (that is, apart from supplying the film's comedy relief); and Edgar Barrier as the reigning Caliph (I've watched him recently in two other exotic ventures for the same studio, namely ARABIAN NIGHTS [1942] and COBRA WOMAN [1944]).

The climax of this compact swashbuckler – running a mere 80 minutes – incorporates a bit of magic (and campiness) as the blade becomes entrenched in the walls of the palace; consequently, a host of muscle-men, inventors and sorcerers are recruited so as to try and dislodge it…but only the dashing hero is able to, the direct result of which is to have the column in question crumble and bury the two villains underneath it! By the way, director Juran would later helm two other (and far more notable) mythical adventures – THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1958) and JACK THE GIANT KILLER (1962), both of which had the added appeal of stop-motion animated monsters.

Rock Hudson and Piper Laurie as brave and intrepid protagonists in this adventure set in ancient Bagdad

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 13 June 2019]

Arabian Nights adventure with luxurious costumes , brisk action , fencing and dealing with a tale about a magic sword. More fabulous than the tales of the Arabian Nights , more exciting tan the travels of Marco Polo , more spectacular tan the splendors of Kublai Khan . Harum (Rock Hudson) is a valiant hero of the people who comes to Bagdad to revenge the killing of his daddy and meets Krairuzan (Piper Laurie), a princess masked as a commoner, working against a scheme by a gang of evil bandits attempting to do away with her father, the Caliph . The disguised girl gives Harum a golden sword which, in his hands, makes him a brave heroe . Harum and is doing quite well until a duplicate sword is placed in his scabbard during one of his off-guard moments, and he winds up in chains . His Blade Of Gold... A Legend In Battle! Her Kiss Of Surrender... The Prize Of Victory!

Oriental adventure with all the usual ingredients , including glowing colour and distinctive photography in Cinemascope . Adventure and stirring movie set in Bagdad , including bandits , schemers , a cunning Calipha , gorgeous dancers , intriguing sheiks , and many other things . Another look at ¨The Golden Blade¨ today reveals it to be a bit short on action but here outstanding the sympathetic and funny Rosetta Jacobs , alias Piper Laurie . Hudson gives a passable acting as an invincible merchant who swears to avenge his daddy and is soon involved the twisted intrigue and mysterious plots . Hudson using the powerful sword in the name of justice managed to spring from this ridiculous camp Oriental Adventure outing to stardom .Rock as the fearless merchant Harun Al-Rashid avenges his daddy's murder in this adventure set in ancient Bagdad and Hudson work is well up to his ordinary high standards , being inspired from the Arabic fairy tales of One Thousand and One Nights . This is Hudson's second adventure in the East , the others were :The Desert Hawk , Bengal Brigade , Spiral road , Battle Hymm , and Thunder of God . Rock was Douglas Sirk's fetish actor including essential titles as Taza , Magnificent obsession , Written in the wind , among others . He is well supported by Piper Laurie who really was a pretty package and she is was worth the price of admission to see her . Support cast is very good such as : Gene Evans , George Macready , Kathleen Hughes , Steven Geray , Edgar Barrier and Richard Carlson as Narrator .

Colorfully produced by Leonard Goldstein and Universal International , being accompanied by brilliant and glimmer cinematography carried out by director of photography by Maury Gertsman who photographed numerous Universal productions .The motion picture was professionally made by a magnificent director , Nathan Juran, who sometimes used pseudonym "Nathan Hertz" who collaborated with Charles H. Schener in several films . Nathan directs it all in stylish Technicolor . Before entering the film industry as an art director in 1937 Nathan ¨Jerry¨Juran won an Academy Award for art direction on How Green Was My Valley (1941). World War II interrupted his film career, and he spent his war years with the OSS. Returning to Hollywood, he turned to directing films in the 1950s. He handled mostly low-budget westerns and sci-fi opuses, as ¨First man in the moon¨, ¨The brain from planet Arous¨, ¨The deadly Mantis¨ , ¨20 million miles to Earth¨ , ¨Jack the Giant Killer¨ , his most famous being The attack of the 50 foot woman (1958) . He was also responsible for the superb fantasy adventure The 7th voyage of Sinbad (1958). Juran directed some Westerns starred by Audie Murphy such as ¨Drums Across the River¨, ¨Tumbleweed¨ , ¨Gunsmoke¨ and ¨Law and Order¨ with Ronald Reagan . In the early 1960s, he journeyed to Europe, where he spent several years piloting adventure epics and spaghetti westerns such as ¨Land raiders¨. Juran made sensational Sci-fi and fantastic movies , such us : ¨First men oh the moon¨, ¨The 7th voyage of Simbad¨ , ¨20 million miles to earth¨, ¨Jack the Giant Killer¨ and several others .

The Sword In The Palace Stone

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 18 December 2010]

When Universal Pictures made those Arabian Nights films with Jon Hall, Sabu, and Maria Montez in the Forties a lot of expensive period sets were built on that lot. The rule is get use of them, so even after Universal became Universal-International in the Fifties with a crop of new leading men like Jeff Chandler, Tony Curtis, and Rock Hudson they still kept cranking out those old tales set in the Caliphate of Old Bagdad.

This film is a reworking of the Christian Sword and the Stone legend into the Arabian Nights. Haroun of Basra played by Rock Hudson comes upon his dying father in an ambushed caravan and he's given a mission to find the murderer who is also trying to stir up trouble between Basra and Bagdad.

While on the mission he comes upon a magic sword in a marketplace and discovers he's invincible with it. He also comes upon the Caliph's daughter the blond Piper Laurie who likes to roam the streets of Bagdad incognito to sample public opinion and get a taste of adventure to the annoyance of her father Edgar Barrier.

But there's treason afoot in the palace with Grand Vizier George MacReady and son Gene Evans who want the throne for themselves. Evans wants to marry for it which bothers his mistress Kathleen Hughes a lot.

During the course of the film the magic sword is stolen from Hudson and later when Evans was trying to use it, he rammed it into the palace wall and no one can get it from the stone foundation. I'll give you one guess who can.

The Golden Blade is the average Universal Arabian Nights epic with a lot of gaudy color cinematography, with a bigger budget you'd think it was a DeMille film. No better or worse than some of what Universal was putting out in those years. I'm sure Piper Laurie felt the same as Maureen O'Hara did in these kind of films, Maureen in her memoirs realized how ridiculous a redhead was in the Middle East.

George Macready was one of the best movie villains ever in just about any kind of genre be it western, noir, sand and sandal, you name it. He does a wonderful job mouthing some lines that were quite frankly ridiculous with earnest conviction.

By the way if you were to make a golden blade it would not be much use to you if it weren't enchanted. As any geologist will tell you, gold is the softest and most malleable of metals, remember in the days of gold coin people would bite into it to see if it was genuine and if the coin had teeth marks, you knew it was good.

The Golden Blade is entertaining enough and not to be taken too seriously.

Actually gold-plated

[dbdumonteil · 5 September 2009]

A bizarre cross between the Thousand and One Nights and the legend of KIng Arthur and the sword in the stone ,this is routine exotic story,saved by the two leads ,Rock Hudson and Piper Laurie.The latter portrays an outspoken princess who often leaves her palace to see what's going on in the town of Baghdad ,while a vicious VIP is doing very bad things against her noble father .Meanwhile,Hudson is searching the man who killed his also noble father .Both will discover they have things in common.Action-packed movie,nice colors,heroes , villains and a Greek merchant whose shop is full of bargains and of course a golden blade .

This is pretty awful stuff

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 17 June 2014]

"The Golden Blade" is an embarrassingly bad film. The most notable thing is that NO ONE belongs in the film, as it's set in ye olde Baghdad--but it's filled with the whitest actors Universal Pictures could find! They hired the likes of Rock Hudson, Piper Laurie, George Macready and Gene Evans to play Middle Eastern Muslims--and I wonder why they didn't also include Wally Cox and Phyllis Diller as well! Now had the only problem been the casting, it could have still been a nice little adventure film. However, the dialog and characters simply suck. No one talks like real people and the dialog sounds like a 12 year-old's conception of olde tyme talking! Additionally, the characters are amazingly one-dimensional. The worst is the anachronistic Princess (Laurie) who acts like a spoiled child...and a rather annoying one at that. The film is dumb and probably offensive to anyone from that region. I can understand why this film is relatively unknown today--it deserves to be that way.

Fun adventure

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 18 May 2021]

Harum is a fearless man of the people who comes to Bagdad to avenge the murder of his father and meets Krairuzan, a princess disguised as a commoner, who discovers a plot by a band of evil schemers trying to do away with her father, the Caliph. Meanwhile, Harum retrieves a golden sword which, in his hands, makes him invincible. Harum uses the sword in the name of justice and is doing quite well until a duplicate sword is placed in his scabbard during one of his off-guard moments, and he winds up in chains.

It's a fun adventure, one thousand and one nights meets Arthurian legend sword in the stone. Rock Hudson does well as the hero, sword fighting with the bad guys, as does the ravishing Piper Laurie, whose character is quite energetic and charming. They both have good chemistry. The vizier played by George Macready and Gene Evans as his dim witted son are villains of the piece, who want to take over Baghdad.

It's colourful, fast paced, humorous, has swordfights and romance - it's not to be taken too seriously, but fun, harmless escapism.

Cartoons and pantomime

[Marlburian · 3/10 · 27 June 2022]

Childlike cartoons for the opening credits, a lot of chat with the merchant (was his "selling" board a satire on modern practice?), one of the most unconvincing Arabian princesses in the history of Cinema, a pantomime brawl, then girlish chatter American-style in the harem, at which point I gave up.

The only plus point was Rock Hudson looking great in Arab dress.

Good Enough for the Time Spent

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 8 May 2022]

After watching his father being killed in combat by soldiers from Baghdad, a young man from Basra named "Harun" (Rock Hudson) sets off to find those responsible and put an end to the violence between these two cities. Upon his arrival in Baghdad, he happens to notice an attractive woman named "Khairuzan" (Piper Laurie) attempting to sell some old clothing to a Greek merchant by the name of "Barcus" (Steven Gerey). Wanting to help in his own small way, Harun offers Barcus a certain amount of money in exchange for one particular piece of clothing from Khairuzan and whatever other items he may find in a pile of second-hand clothes as well. To his great delight, while sorting through the clothes a sword catches his eye and not long afterward, he discovers that he is invincible whenever he wields it in combat. Unfortunately for him, however, others soon learn of this sword, and they will stop at nothing to have it in their possession. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a fairly enjoyable "Arabian Nights" type of film which benefited from a good performance by Piper Laurie and to a lesser extent that of Rock Hudson. Admittedly, Errol Flynn would have been much better in a swashbuckling role of this sort--but that goes without saying. Be that as it may, while this may not have been a great adventure film by any means, it was still entertaining enough in its own right, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

For entertainment purposes only, lacking the camp fun of Maria Montez.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 15 October 2014]

Take a red-headed Caliph's daughter and pair him opposite a very American looking Arabian Knight and you have the type of sword and sandal adventure that had the kiddies flocking in on Saturday afternoon but left critics cold. Universal was the king of these types of films from the early 40's through the mid 1940's when the Italians took over, leading Peter Graves to ask that question, "Billy, do you like movies about gladiators?" It isn't just the obvious Caucasian casting, but the many clichés used over and over since the days of Sabu, Jon Hall and Maria Montez. At least in those films, you know that the creator's tongues were in their cheek. Here, the writers were just looking for a fast buck, and thanks to the quarters of the adolescent crowd, many of these films scored big. There are too many of them, so in film history now, they all meld together in a stew of sameness.

The saga is based upon the legend of the sword of Damascus which gives the man who is able to pull it out of a wall the "power of many thrones", much like the legend of King Arthur and the sword of Camelot. All is fine with that, but with Rock Hudson as the hero and red-headed Piper Laurie as the feisty "lady in distress", you know that nobody gave much thought to reality in casting. At least with Montez, Sabu and Hall, they looked the parts, and with Tony Curtis as "The Prince Who Was a Thief", you had a "Hellzapoppin'" like spoof of the genre that audiences still laugh both with and at today.

Colorful photography barely hides the fact that the hanging props of the lavish sets are obviously cheaply made and look like things you'd see hanging in an elementary school classroom. They do not at all give the impression of the ancient middle east, coming off as ostentatious and gosh rather than remotely sophisticated. The villains are one-note, the sidekicks silly rather than comic, and the dancing girls more off of Broadway than of Bagdad. The action sequences are exciting, but some moments seem more like filler than like plot development. This is the type of film that a realist might buy popcorn to eat during the movie but may find themselves throwing at the screen as the film drags on.

Lively, physically beautiful, with delightful comedy and John Rich's script

[silverscreen888 · 8/10 · 7 June 2005]

Young Piper Laurie and handsome newcomer Rock Hudson were both featured to great advantage in this clearly-plotted and lively adventure-comedy. Imaginative veteran Nathan Juran directs very accurately and imaginatively, and the acting by George Macready as the ambitious villain, aided by Gene Evans (not quite up to a classical accent) and Kathleen Hughes and that of their opponents played by Edgar Barrier, the crafty Stephen Geray and others is above average for any genre. Adding to the fun is lovely Laurie impersonating a boy, a mysterious magic sword (which in lesser hands would have been a detriment) and its magical unwillingness to obey other than a virtuous owner. There is a prolonged sequence when various magicians attempt to remove the sword--which Macready needs to claim the throne--that has become embedded in a wall, and more physically colorful and beautifully-realized scenes than in any ten mean-streets melodramas of the post 1970s. If you do not fall in love with the spirited Khairozan, as Hudson does in the film, then you are probably dead. If you cannot delight in this youthful and stirring adventure of a bygone era, you had best give Grecianized Near-Easterns, our richest adventure genre in so many ways, a consistent miss.

The Golden Blade

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 25 November 2023]

This is a tale that comes straight from the "Arabian Nights" compendium. The son "Harum" (Rock Hudson) out to avenge his father murdered at the hands of the evil "Jafar" (George Macready). He must travel to Baghdad where he encounters a feisty young woman "Khairuzan" (Piper Laurie) who is secretly the daughter of the city's caliph - a man also in danger from the menacing ambitions of "Jafar". Luckily, she has a magical golden sword that she gives him to wield. He is invincible! Well he is until someone hits on the idea of swapping his sword for a less effective fake - and soon "Harum" is in a dungeon! Can he escape and save the Caliph and get the girl? Rock Hudson never really cut it for me. Easy enough on the eye, but his characterisations rarely differed from role to role and here he just doesn't really gel with the more charismatic Laurie at all. Plaudits do go to Macready, though - he hams up perfectly as the silken-clad, megalomanic, tyrant. There's plenty of lavish costumes, colour, sword-fighting and at times it's actually quite an entertaining adventure that I did quite enjoy.

needs more fun

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 2 August 2020]

Harum (Rock Hudson) from Basra is traveling across disputed land between Basra and Baghdad. His father is murdered and their camp destroyed. He is tasked by his father to take revenge. In Baghdad, he encounters Krairuzan (Piper Laurie) who is a princess dressed up as a commoner to see the regular popular. Her ruler father faces hidden foes in the palace who are stoking conflict with their Basra neighbors and were the ones responsible for the murder of Harum's father.

It's a blending of One Thousand and One Nights and the Sword in the Stone. I like Piper Laurie's playfulness but Rock Hudson is a bit stiff. He's the classical hero. There is a bit of swashbuckling in this old fashion sword welding adventure. It needs more fun. It needs more of Krairuzan teasing Harum. It needs them to build the back and forth banter in their relationship. They have their moments but those are soon fleeting. It's almost good enough but I wouldn't recommend it.

Sword in the stone

[ulicknormanowen · 28 October 2023]

Rock Hudson in his pre-Douglas Sirk days (the director who provided him with his best works, along with Frankenheimer's "seconds") and Iin a movie obviously aimed at the children's market .

The screenplay may look like a poor man's "one and thousand nights" leftover ,but the colors are glistening ,Hudson is handsome as Harun, an oriental destitute prince in search of his father's murderer (the whodunnit is predictable and is not pivotal in the plot ); Piper Laurie has plenty of go as a feminist Sheherazade who mingles with the people,dressed up as a commoner or as a young man ("your skin is as smooth as that of a girl", says Harun);he even goes as far as to suggest they pick up girls for dinner!

The ending borrows from king Arthur 's story,complete with sword in the stone,and the old scholar as Merlin. And the tournament looks like those of European Middle-Ages. The baddie uses a watermelon as the world, aping Chaplin in "the dictator ".

But it was pleasant entertaining stuff for the kids of yore ; today's brats might be more demanding ....

The Rock as Harun, an Arab Swashbuckler

[dglink · 6/10 · 17 December 2020]

Filmed on location in a faux Baghdad somewhere in a remote corner of the Universal backlot, "The Golden Blade" is colorful childish nonsense that makes the Jon Hall-Maria Montez epics look like David O. Selznick productions in comparison. Written and acted like a sophomore production of Ali Baba in high school, the film is often laughable and nearly critic-proof in its ineptness. Of course, being a studio production, there are a few positive attributes. The 28-year-old Rock Hudson, who plays Harun, an Arab out to avenge his father's death, has boyish charm and incredible good looks; his full head of hair, dazzling teeth, and tall physique are well rendered in the glory of Technicolor. Besides Hudson's physical assets, Maury Gertsman's camera captures the candy-colored sets and costumes of a Baghdad that exists only in the feverish brain of an art director who never opened a book about the Middle East. The flamboyant costumes are dazzling in color, but look as though pulled randomly from the racks in Universal's costume warehouse. The diversity of clothing styles is perhaps appropriate, because the action seems to take place anywhere in any period from the Thousand and One Nights through Arthurian England to an MGM musical or a night at a Las Vegas hotel.

Perhaps the movie is too easy a target and should be enjoyed for what it is, an innocent tale for pre-teens in the early 1950's. Sword fights and jousts, Viziers and Princesses, an Excalibur-like sword and a mysterious legend. However, contemporary sophisticated audiences will certainly roll their eyes at the dialog and wonder how such respected actors as Piper Laurie and George Macready could utter the lines with straight faces; "Have courage and use it like a woman;" "Yes, Oh cunning father." When Gene Evans as Hadi or Tall Son is named Caliph, he takes time out to fluff the golden pillows on this throne, which resembles an enormous bean bag. While most adults should probably overlook this routine programmer, fans of Rock Hudson will certainly delight in catching the star early in his career. While no Errol Flynn in a role that needs one, Hudson is nonetheless engaging and captures and holds the eye whenever he is on screen.

Lots of adventure, just smidge of mundane, lots of stuff

[Apollo15AnnoPianoCatDogSnailAnt · 4/10 · 2 August 2020]

There is a scene of the badguys holding a cantaloupe in their hand saying something like: next the world. Good luck taking over Europe and Asian kingdoms because they probably would just like prove a bit of a hassle. The flick has smidges of whatever in things like the badguys wanting to take over once more as king and there is a pedestrian sense about this with no other innovative elements of note, just the title weapon, butchaknow what it is a good lesson in yet more of these middle eastern set adventures.

The Princess Who Was An Aussie

[boblipton · 5/10 · 2 August 2020]

This time it's Rock Hudson with erratically marcelled hair who's the commoner who loves the princess, Universal's exotic Piper Laurie. There's a magic sword that gets stuck in a stone pillar, George Macready is a magician and the bad guy who winds up with a cart of junk like something out of Aladdin. All the costumes are uncomfortable and gauzy. Basically, it's an excuse to take the Arabian Nights set out for its annual run, after Tony Curtis and Farkey Granger turned down the role. Under the direction of Nathan Juran, it turns into a movie for 14-year-old boys.

The 28 Year Old Rock Hudson

[Single-Black-Male · 3 November 2003]

Having appeared with Lee Marvin in 'Seminole', Rock Hudson now needed a film to lift him out of the status of being the best newcomer to being a screen legend. Films like 'The Golden Blade' only padded out his c.v., but did nothing to lift his career.