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The Black Rose

"An adventure that will blaze... A love that will flame... 'till the stars grow cold..."

In the 13th century, Walter of Gurnie, a disinherited Saxon youth, is forced to flee England. With his friend, Tristram, he falls in with the army of the fierce but avuncular General Bayan, and journeys all the way to China, where both men become involved in intrigues in the court of Kublai Khan.

Top Cast

  • Tyrone Power

    Tyrone Power

    Walter of Gurnie

  • Orson Welles

    Orson Welles

    Bayan

  • Cécile Aubry

    Cécile Aubry

    Maryam

  • Jack Hawkins

    Jack Hawkins

    Tristram Griffin

  • Michael Rennie

    Michael Rennie

    King Edward

  • Finlay Currie

    Finlay Currie

    Alfgar

  • Herbert Lom

    Herbert Lom

    Anthemus

  • Mary Clare

    Mary Clare

    Countess Eleanor of Lessford

  • Robert Blake

    Robert Blake

    Mahmoud

Overview

In the 13th century, Walter of Gurnie, a disinherited Saxon youth, is forced to flee England. With his friend, Tristram, he falls in with the army of the fierce but avuncular General Bayan, and journeys all the way to China, where both men become involved in intrigues in the court of Kublai Khan.

Rating

6.7 / 10
24 Reviews
1 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 Sep 8, 2022

    This is my kind of film! A good old Robin Hood style adventure yarn with Tyrone Power on decent form as the dashing "Walter of Gurnie". He falls foul of the new Norman hierarchy in England and so with his skilful archer friend "Tris" (Jack Hawkins) signs up with the formidable warrior "Bayan" (a wonderfully hammy Orson Welles) and heads off for some escapades that take the two to the glitter court of Kublai Khan where they hope to make their fortune. It's not a great film, this, no - the plot is an hybrid of loads of other stories, but the cast are clearly having fun here and I found it rather contagious. There are intrigues a-plenty, with plenty of arrows whistling about and a gently simmering romance with "Maryam" (Cécile Aubry) keeping it ticking over too. It is far, far, too long - indeed at times it comes across as just a bit too episodic but there is a degree of entertaining chemistry between Power and Hawkins and a solid supporting cast of familiar faces to keep the swash buckling. Henry Hathaway does manage to get everyone pulling in the same direction, it's a colourful and jolly romp through English history with some Oscar winning costume design, a jolly score from Richard Addinsell and messy and derivative as it is, I still rather enjoyed it.

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