GOOD TV (& Movie) Fencing

It's true that theatrical fencing brings in even more newbies to the
piste than anything else. Although most of what fills the screen
would make us regulars gag.

But I have to hand it to the great stage masters as it is they that
help keep the interest in fencing alive.

Here's a site to one of the current day schools in theatrical and
sport:

http://www.swordplaystudios.com

No, I'm not from the school though I'd love to go there as well as
others.

What are the movies or TV shows where you've seen good bladework
worthy to be called fencing?

In rec.sport.fencing on 5 Feb 2003 23:55:24 -0800
abortretryfail <abortretryfail@mail.nu> wrote:
>
>What are the movies or TV shows where you've seen good bladework
>worthy to be called fencing?

Most of the ones with Basil Rathbone in them.

Ignore the hero, watch the villain... He doesn't always get to show
his ability, but sometimes he does. ALmost all the time the
footwork's there, the bladework shows sometimes in Court Jester and
Captain Blood.

Zebee

--
Zebee Johnstone (zebee@zip.com.au), proud holder of
aus.motorcycles Poser Permit #1.
"Motorcycles are like peanuts... who can stop at just one?"

Scaramouche would be my vote for best fencing duel.
Especially the last 10 min. duel!!!

ChrisMSD



"abortretryfail" <abortretryfail@mail.nu> wrote in message
news:38eedfb4.0302052355.60e54b99@posting.google.c om...
> It's true that theatrical fencing brings in even more newbies to the
> piste than anything else. Although most of what fills the screen
> would make us regulars gag.
>
> But I have to hand it to the great stage masters as it is they that
> help keep the interest in fencing alive.
>
> Here's a site to one of the current day schools in theatrical and
> sport:
>
> http://www.swordplaystudios.com
>
> No, I'm not from the school though I'd love to go there as well as
> others.
>
> What are the movies or TV shows where you've seen good bladework
> worthy to be called fencing?

abortretryfail <abortretryfail@mail.nu> asked:

>What are the movies or TV shows where you've seen good bladework
>worthy to be called fencing?

The three names you're looking for are Fred Cavens, William Hobbes, and Bob
Anderson.

Fred Cavens: The Mark of Zorro (Fairbanks), The Three Musketeers
(Fairbanks), Captain Blood, The Mark of Zorro (Power), Robin Hood (Flynn),
The Court Jester, and the Disney Zorro TV series. In the Fairbanks silents,
there's more of Fairbanks's athleticism, but I don't find that inappropriate
for a flamboyant adventurer. All the fencing shown by shadows on the wall
is done by masters, not actors. Caven's (later) movies have the most
precise strip fencing -- which is, of course, an inaccuracy.

William Hobbes: Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, Salkind's The Three
Musketeers and the Four Musketeers, Hamlet (Gibson). Hobbes's fencing is
fighting, not strip fencing, and quite realistic.

Bob Anderson: The Princess Bride, The Mask of Zorro, The Lord of the Rings.
Anderson puts the most thought into characterization of fencing styles.
Legolas fights like an elf; Gimli fights like a dwarf; Boromir fights like a
soldier; Aragorn fights like a loner. In the Zorro movie, the soldiers all
use the same military style; Zorro has some stylistic tactics (e.g., the
hanging guard) that he and his student use. The only one who takes a
classic stance is Elena -- the only one trained in a salle.

Jay Rudin

Speaking of, "Sunshine" was on TV again last night. I don't know a film that
better depicts modern (1930s, I mean) fencing, down to the mannerisms and
intonations of the president of jury, whom I am sure I recognized.

If you haven't seen this film, it is worth it, and not just for the fencing.
Plus the fencing segment (the movie is about three generations of a Hungarian
Jewish family) _appears_ to mirror the life of the uncle of one of my former
saber fencers at Vassar, a guy named Petschauer, down to the very circumstances
of his death.

B.C. Milligan