GEORGE SIDNEY

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.  USA, 1952.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.  Screenplay by Ronald Millar, George Froeschel, based on the novel by Rafael Sabatini.  Cinematography by Charles Rosher.  Produced by Carey Wilson.  Music by Victor Young.  Production Design by Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters.  Costume Design by Gile Steele.  Film Editing by James E. Newcom.  

The famed swordsman (played by Stewart Granger) scampers around 18th-century France in search of new villains to slay. When the evil Mel Ferrer slays Granger’s brother, our hero must hide out in a troupe of travelling players as the clownish character Scaramouche until he can find his opportunity to seek vengeance. Meanwhile, they both romance an innocent maiden (Janet Leigh) and engage in thousands of breathtaking sword fights. The action isn’t as well done as in the older Errol Flynn movies, and as an adaptation of a Rafael Sabatini novel it’s nothing compared to The Sea Hawk or Captain Blood, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had.