The Flame and the Arrow

Infobox Film
name = The Flame and the Arrow


caption = Promotional poster
director = Jacques Tourneur
producer = Harold Hecht
Frank Ross
writer = Waldo Salt
starring = Burt Lancaster
Virginia Mayo
Nick Cravat
music = Max Steiner
cinematography = Ernest Haller
editing = Alan Crosland Jr.
distributor = Warner Bros.
released = July 9 1950
runtime = 88 minutes
country = USA
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:17706
imdb_id = 0042464

"The Flame and the Arrow" is a 1950 adventure film made by Warner Bros. and starring Burt Lancaster, Virginia Mayo and Nick Cravat. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur and produced by Harold Hecht and Frank Ross from a screenplay by Waldo Salt. The music score was by Max Steiner and the cinematography by Ernest Haller. The film was shot in Technicolor.

Plot

In the time of Frederick Barbarossa, in the area of Italy known as Lombardy, Dardo Bartoli (Burt Lancaster) is walking with his son Rudi (Gordon Gebert) when they encounter Count Ulrich (Frank Allenby), the 'Hawk', his niece Anne (Virginia Mayo), and his lover, Dardo's unfaithful wife Francesca (Lynn Baggett). Dardo shows off his skill as an archer by shooting down Ulrich's expensive hunting hawk. In revenge, the count takes Dardo's son to his castle. Dardo is struck by an arrow while rescuing Rudi, so the boy allows himself to be recaptured in order to draw the soldiers away.

Back at the palace, young Marchese Alessandro de Granazia (Robert Douglas) asks for Anne's hand in marriage, but is rejected. Ulrich then arrests him for not paying his taxes. When Dardo and his men rescue the marchese, he joins Dardo's band of rebels.

Dardo make another attempt to free his son. On the advice of his uncle Papa Bartoli (Francis Pierlot), he obtains the help of Anne's maid (one of Dardo's many lovers) to sneak into Ulrich's castle along with his best friend Piccolo (Nick Cravat), but they are unsuccessful. When they find themselves in Lady Anne's apartment, Piccolo suggests they kidnap her instead. They take her to their secret hideout. She tries several times to escape, but Dardo is too crafty for her.

Dardo sends a message to the count, offering an exchange of prisoners, but Ulrich threatens to execute Papa Bartoli unless Anne is released. Dardo and the others race to the village and rescue Papa. Then, Dardo learns from his aunt, Nonna Bartoli (Aline MacMahon), that five more prisoners have been taken to hang in Papa's place. Dardo gives himself up to save the others and is hanged in front of his son. Ulrich takes the rest of the rebels prisoner, including the marchese.

The marchese informs Ulrich that the rebels are planning an attack the next day and that Dardo is alive (the executioner had been replaced by Dardo's friend). As a reward for this betrayal, Ulrich agrees to the marchese's marriage to Anne. When she finds out their plans, she warns Nonna Bartoli, with Dardo and his men hiding around the corner.

They decide that they must attack at once. Piccolo comes up a plan for getting into the castle by posing as some of the acrobats providing entertainment. The ruse works. When they are ready, they remove their disguises and a battle ensues. During the melee, Anne warns Dardo that Ulrich has gone for his son. When Dardo catches up to Ulrich, he is in the company of the marchese. The count leaves Dardo and the marchese to fight. Though Dardo tries to persuade the marchese to stand aside, the marchese refuses and is killed.

Afterwards, Dardo finds his wife dead, killed by a knife in the back. Then, he finds the count holding Rudi at sword-point. Dardo finds a bow and, aiming carefully, kills Ulrich and frees his son. With the battle won, Dardo embraces Anne.

Cast

*Aline MacMahon as Nonna Bartoli
*Burt Lancaster as Dardo Bartoli
*Francis Pierlot as Papa Pietro Bartoli
*Frank Allenby as Count Ulrich, 'The Hawk'
*Gordon Gebert as Rudi Bartoli
*Lynn Baggett as Francesca
*Nick Cravat as Piccolo
*Norman Lloyd as Apollo, the troubadour
*Robert Douglas as Marchese Alessandro de Granazia
*Robin Hughes as Skinner
*Victor Kilian as Apothecary Mazzoni
*Virginia Mayo as Anne de Hesse

External links