Movie Cosmos - The Sword and the Rose

Description:

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.

Top Cast >

Richard Todd

As Charles Brandon

Glynis Johns

As Princess Mary Tudor

James Robertson Justice

As King Henry VIII

Michael Gough

As Duke of Buckingham

Peter Copley

As Sir Edwin Caskoden

Rosalie Crutchley

As Queen Katherine

D.A. Clarke-Smith

As Cardinal Wolsey

Jane Barrett

As Lady Margaret

Ernest Jay

As Lord Chamberlain

John Vere

As Lawyer Clerk

Philip Lennard

As Chaplain

Bryan Coleman

As Earl of Surrey

Phillip Glasier

As Royal Falconer

Jean Mercure

As King Louis XII

Gérard Oury

As Dauphin of France

Fernand Fabre

As Ambassador of France

Robert Le Béal

As Royal Physician

Gaston Richer

As Grand Chancellor

Helen Goss

As Princess Claude

Patrick Cargill

As French Diplomat

Anthony Sharp

As French Diplomat

Caven Watson

As Captain Bradhurst

Richard Molinas

As Father Pierre

Hal Osmond

As Costermonger

Norman Pierce

As Innkeeper

Douglas Bradley-Smith

As Squire

Ewen Solon

As Guardsman

Rupert Evans

As Bargeman

Paddy Ryan

As Bargeman

Thomas Heathcote

As Wrestling Second

Arthur Brander

As First Mate

Russell Waters

As Sailor

John Serret

As French Squire

Bob Simmons

As French Champion

Top Crew >

Ken Annakin

Director

Lawrence Edward Watkin

Writer

Clifton Parker

Music

Jean Osborne

Publicist

Charles Major

Original Film Writer

Reviews:

CinemaSerf (7/10)

Hats of to Walt Disney (and to James Robertson Justice) for managing to turn the rather unpleasant English King Henry VIII into an engaging, cheeky character who likes nothing better than to spat with his younger sister Mary (Glynis Johns) who is determined to live her own life, despite her brother's dynastic ambitions for her. She alights on the newly appointed captain of the King's Guard "Brandon" (Richard Todd), a character with ambitions to sail the world seeking plunder and glory, but her kingly sibling has decided to wed (sell, basically) her to the aging French King Louis XII (a fun scene with Jean Mercure). After a few escapades, she is forced to acquiesce - otherwise her beau will face the axe - but she does manage to exacts a few useful pre-conditions that will allow her to choose her next husband herself! Quite an achievement for a Princess in 16th Century Europe. It's got the odd bit of swash and buckle, but mostly it is a sort of pantomime-does-history romantic romp with a cast having fun, a remarkably dashing Michael Gough as her would-be suitor Buckingham, and some fine looking sets and costumes. True, the facts are treated with a certain degree of "latitude" but I really quite enjoyed it... It's the sort of family drama that this studio did well.

2023-03-25