MovieChat Forums > The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) Discussion > Anyone Read the Book?

Anyone Read the Book?

posted 14 years ago by cmashieldscapting
2 replies | jump to latest

How does the film compare? I know it bears at least some resemblance as I saw a bit of the film not long after reading the book (over 30 years ago) and recognized it as what I had read. To tell the truth, I've never seen the film. All these years I thought it was Robert Wagner, then I come here to be SHAMED, SHAMED AND HUMILIATED, to find it was Tony Curtis! Robert Wagner played Prince Valiant, it is true, but still I can't forgive myself. If I can be wrong about this I can be wrong about so...so much more...many, many things, perhaps countless untold things. I'm off to sink into a torpor of despondency now.

[–] jxh13 13 years ago

Yep. Howard Pyle, "Men of Iron," right? The film is a piece of 50s technicolor Hollywood entertainment, but I've always been fond of it as a juvenile adventure. You'll recognize the source material, but if you try to enjoy the movie on its own merits, you'll be pleasantly distracted.

[–] tuesda2 10 years ago

As I recall, I was 11 when I read Men of Iron and 12 the year the movie was released. I loved the film then and no less to this day; I'm 71.

The one departure that is a glaring improvement, is the Black Shield. In addition, Tobin Thatcher couldn't have been a more ideal Sir James. As to the other actors, all were, in my opinion, superb.