THE SCARLET BLADE - 1964 **

DDirected by John Gilling. Starring Lionel Jeffries, Oliver Reed, Jack Hedley, June Thorburn, Michael Ripper. Action/adventure, UK, 79 mins, cert PG.

Released in the UK on DVD by Studiocanal on January 16th, RRP £15.99.

A reminder that Hammer made more than horror and ON THE BUSES films, THE SCARLET BLADE is an action adventure film set during the English Civil War.

A cruel Roundhead Colonel (CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG’s Jeffries) is on the trail of royalist sympathisers, but unaware of his daughters royalist sympathies. When she falls into a love triangle with Cavalier Edward Beverly(Hedley) and Roundhead officer Captain Sylvester (Reed) the stage is set for double crossing and derring do.

Hamstrung by Hedley’s bland lead, the film is chiefly notable for Oliver Reed’s sneering rotter and a strangely downbeat tone. Also features Hammer regular Michael Ripper in heavy make up as a gypsy rebel called Pablo who seems to have wondered in from a spaghetti western.

Staurt Barr.

GORE IN THE STORE
REVIEWS BY FANS FOR FANS
5 STAR FAB - 1 STAR RUBBISH