The Sword and the Rose
Brief Synopsis
During Henry VIII¿s rule, Mary Tudor seeks to get out of an arranged marriage by fleeing the country with her one true love.
Cast & Crew
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Ken Annakin
Director
Glynis Johns
Princess Mary Tudor
Richard Todd
Charles Brandon
James Robertson Justice
King Henry VIII
Michael Gough
Duke of Buckingham
Jane Barrett
Lady Margaret
Photos & Videos
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3 Photos
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adventure
Historical
Romance
Release Date
Aug
8,
1953
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Walt Disney Productions
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
Great Britain and United States
Location
Beaconsfield--Wilton Park, England, Great Britain; Beaconsfield--Wilton's Park, England, Great Britain; Iver Heath, England, Great Britain
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel When Knighthood Was in Flower by Charles Major (Indianapolis, 1898).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 40m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Synopsis
At Windsor Castle, King Henry VIII pits his wrestlers against those of the French court. The British are losing pitifully, and when Henry calls for volunteers, the only one to step forward is the low-born Charles Brandon, who is stopping in London on his way to the New World. Henry's sister, Princess Mary Tudor, persuades her brother instead to enter into competition her suitor, the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham easily bests the French champion, after which Mary suggests that he wrestle Charles. Buckingham seems the clear victor until Charles rebounds with vigor, trouncing the duke and earning Mary's admiration. She convinces Henry to name Charles a Captain of the Guards, but when Charles visits her to deliver a message, she receives him coolly. He responds with impertinent teasing, further intriguing Mary, who deflects Buckingham's attentions in order to invite Charles to her chambers before her party that evening. There, Sir Edwin Caskoden, Master of the Revels, and Mary's lady-in-waiting, Lady Margaret, watch as Charles teaches Mary the latest French dance, called La Volta. However, when he comes to the part of the dance that involves lifting Mary off the ground, she is scandalized and refuses to continue. At Edwin's suggestion, Margaret takes her place, prompting Mary's envy. At the party, Buckingham spots Charles and challenges him to leave, until Edwin informs him that Mary invited Charles personally. Buckingham is further incensed when Mary chooses Charles as her dancing partner. Mary soon dares to suggest that they dance La Volta, and although Henry's wife, Queen Katherine, is horrified, Mary convinces Henry to enjoy the dance with her. Weeks later, Mary, disappointed that Charles spends all of his time hunting with Henry rather than wooing her, tricks Charles into accompanying her into a secluded forest glen. There, she commands him to recite poetry, and he responds with a sonnet that bemoans their disparity in rank. Ignoring his fears, Mary begs him to kiss her, and he is about to respond when Margaret calls them back to the castle. There, France's ambassadors are informing Henry that King Louis XII has agreed to a peace pact in exchange for Mary's hand in marriage. When they ask for 500,000 crowns as a dowry, the greedy Henry consents only after deciding to keep 100,000 for his personal coffers. When Mary refuses to join the men, Henry leads them to her room, where she frightens them off by greeting them without clothes. Mary orders Charles to meet her in the library, but learns from Edwin that Charles has left for the New World, via Bristol. Crushed, Mary disguises herself as a male page and races to Bristol to join Charles. He at first refuses to put her at risk by taking him with her, but soon acquiesces, swept away by his love for her. Despite his instructions on how to appear more masculine, when the boat captain insists that everyone throw their hat overboard for luck, her long hair is exposed. Mary and Charles are forcibly put ashore, where Henry's men await to imprison Charles in the Tower of London. Mary begs Henry to spare Charles, and he agrees only if she will marry the elderly, ailing Louis immediately. Cardinal Wolsey, however, counters that she is still too reluctant, prompting Buckingham, conniving for his own future, to suggest that Mary will be more compliant if she is allowed free rein to choose her second husband. Before being sent to Paris, Mary asks Buckingham to inform Charles that his life has been spared. During Mary's wedding celebration, she deflects the amorous attentions of Louis' son, Francis, while encouraging Louis to drink wine. As she has planned, Louis collapses, thus relieving her of her wedding-night duties. Back in England, Buckingham arranges for Charles to escape from the Tower, but then sends two thugs after him. When Charles hops aboard a rowboat, they stab him and throw him overboard, then report to Buckingham that he is dead. Meanwhile, Mary continues to reject the Dauphin and fatigue Louis, whose health declines until he is on his deathbed. Upon discovering that Francis plans to force Mary to marry him after Louis' death, Mary sends Margaret and Edwin back to England with a message to Buckingham, begging his protection. Buckingham travels to France to confront Francis, who, sure that Henry will return Mary to him in exchange for the 500,000 crowns, allows her to go back to England. After informing Mary that Charles has died, Buckingham stops their carriage at an inn, where he forces her attentions on her, declaring that her only chance to avoid marriage to Francis is to marry him right away. They are interrupted by Charles, who survived his attack and has been brought to France by Edwin. Charles locks Buckingham in a closet and races off with Mary and Edwin, but Buckingham and his soldiers follow, overtaking the trio later that night. Edwin fights the guards while Charles duels with Buckingham, finally stabbing the duke in the arm. He and Mary return to England, where Henry is admiring the chests full of gold sent by Francis. Henry would like to take the money, but Mary's tears, combined with Charles' suggestion that he keep the money as "a loan repaid," persuades the king to allow Mary to remain in England. Mary then reveals that she has already married Charles, whom she now urges Henry to name Duke of Suffolk. Frustrated with her wiles, Henry rushes out before she can demand her share of the gold.
Director
Ken Annakin
Director
Cast
Glynis Johns
Princess Mary Tudor
Richard Todd
Charles Brandon
James Robertson Justice
King Henry VIII
Michael Gough
Duke of Buckingham
Jane Barrett
Lady Margaret
Peter Copley
Sir Edwin Caskoden
Rosalie Crutchley
Queen Katherine
D. A. Clarke-smith
Cardinal Wolsey
Ernest Jay
Lord Chamberlain
John Vere
Lawyer clerk
Philip Lennard
Chaplain
Bryan Coleman
Earl of Surrey
Phillip Glasier
Royal falconer
Jean Mercure
King Louis XII
Gerard Oury
[Francis,] Dauphin of France
Fernand Fabre
Ambassador of France
Robert Le Beal
Royal physician
Gaston Richer
Grand Chancellor
Helen Goss
Princess Claude
Patrick Cargill
French diplomat
Anthony Sharp
French diplomat
Caven Watson
Captain Bradhurst
Richard Molinas
Father Pierre
Hal Osmond
Costermonger
Norman Pierce
Innkeeper
Douglas Bradley-smith
Squire
Ewen Solon
Guardsman
Rupert Evans
Bargeman
Paddy Ryan
Bargeman
Thomas Heathcote
Wrestling second
Arthur Brander
First mate
Russell Waters
Sailor
John Serret
French squire
Bob Simmons
French champion
Hamilton Keine
Henry's servant
Crew
Dr. Charles Beard
Technical Advisor
Peter Bolton
Assistant Director
Joan Bridge
Technicolor Color Consultant
Alex Bryce
2nd Unit Director
Carmen Dillon
Art Director
Walt Disney
Presented By
Peter Ellenshaw
Matte Effects
David Harcourt
Camera Operator
Cyril J. Knowles
[2d unit] Photographer
Muir Mathieson
Conductor
Dudley Messenger
Sound
David Paltenghi
Dances by
Clifton Parker
Music
Perce Pearce
Producer
Douglas Peirce
Production Manager
Gerald Thomas
Editing
Geoffrey Unsworth
Director of Photography
Valles
Costume Design
Lawrence Edward Watkin
Screenwriter
Photo Collections
3 Photos
The Sword and the Rose - Movie Posters
The Sword and the Rose - Movie Posters
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adventure
Historical
Romance
Release Date
Aug
8,
1953
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Walt Disney Productions
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
Great Britain and United States
Location
Beaconsfield--Wilton Park, England, Great Britain; Beaconsfield--Wilton's Park, England, Great Britain; Iver Heath, England, Great Britain
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel When Knighthood Was in Flower by Charles Major (Indianapolis, 1898).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 40m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Articles
The Sword and the Rose
Tells the story of Mary Tudor and her troubled path to true love. Henry VIII, for political reasons, determines to wed her to the King of France. She tries to flee to America with her love but is captured when she is "un-hatted" on board ship. In return for her consent to the marriage with France, Henry agrees to let her choose her second husband. When King Louis of France dies, Mary is kidnaped by the Duke of Buckingham. He tries to force her to marry him but she is rescued by her love in an exciting battle on the beach.
The Sword and the Rose
Tells the story of Mary Tudor and her troubled path to true love. Henry VIII, for political reasons, determines to wed her to the King of France. She tries to flee to America with her love but is captured when she is "un-hatted" on board ship. In return for her consent to the marriage with France, Henry agrees to let her choose her second husband. When King Louis of France dies, Mary is kidnaped by the Duke of Buckingham. He tries to force her to marry him but she is rescued by her love in an exciting battle on the beach.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film begins with the following written statement: "Windsor Castle, early reign of Henry VIII. The king is matching his English wrestlers against the champions of France." Although Richard Todd is listed first in the opening credits, he is listed second, after Glynis Johns, in the closing credits. Throughout the movie, various traditional Scottish songs are heard in the background.
As depicted in the film, Mary Tudor (1495-1533) was forced by her brother, King Henry VIII, to marry King Louis XII of France in order to promote an alliance between the two countries, and secretly married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, after Louis' death. Most other historical details, however, were changed or fictionalized by the film, and many reviews pointed out the historical inaccuracies.
According to press materials, the film was three years in production, beginning with a full year of scriptwriting by producer Perce Pearce and screenwriter Lawrence Edward Watkin. Press materials also noted that technical advisor Dr. Charles Beard was an expert in chivalric manners and English history. Like the two previous live-action Disney films, Treasure Island (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50) and The Story of Robin Hood, both of which used many of the same crew members, The Sword and the Rose was shot entirely in England. A July 17, 1952 Hollywood Reporter news item stated that interiors would be shot at Pinewood Studios and location shooting done at Wilton Park, Beaconsfield.
A May 4, 1953 Hollywood Reporter article reported that King Features would distribute a cartoon serialization of the film in order to promote the picture's release. According to the Variety review, the film was "available with title cards suitable for widescreen projection."
Charles Major's novel When Knighthood Was in Flower, which was the basis for The Sword and the Rose, was adapted into a Broadway play that opened January 14, 1901. The book had previously been filmed in 1923 under the title When Knighthood Was in Flower. That version was directed by Robert G. Vignola, starred Marion Davies and was released by Paramount (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1920-31).
