Review of The Black Duke

Lively Spanish swashbuckler, benefiting from an unusual Cameron Mitchell performance in that this time the actor (unrecognisable in dark hair and a beard) plays a kind-of romantic lead for a change! Yet he easily passes for a man ten years younger than himself (he was in his early 40s when this was made) and his athleticism in the action sequences is more than adequate for the production. My only gripe here is that there's far too much dialogue in comparison to the amount of action we get - sure, the film never drags and the pacing is good, but there are only two or three fights aside from the excellent swashbuckling finale and there should have been much more instead. More confrontation, more testosterone, but instead all we get is a number of romantic sub-plots and people spying on each other in secret passages.

Technically, the film is a delight, with vivid colours bringing the screen to life and sets and costumes which, as well as being authentic, are also very pleasing on the eye for the viewer. The aforementioned Mitchell gives a sincere and solid performance in the leading role which holds the film together and the supporting cast are adequate, if unremarkable. The film is complimented by an effective score and good Spanish locations, although originally it was an Italian funded movie. This is old-fashioned fun which recalls the swashbucklers being made by Hollywood in the '30s and '40s, but a little more swash and a little less buckle wouldn't have gone amiss at all.