NOTES: Noting that Flynn was back in form, enthusiastic reviews elevated this movie to number 39 at Australian ticket windows for 1954. Despite equally enthusiastic reviews, the movie failed to match anything like these returns elsewhere
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Flynn back in form.
COMMENT: For all Cardiff's fine cinematography and Keighley's astute direction, The Master of Ballantrae is not quite as visually stylish as you might expect. Nor is it quite as costly as it looks, thanks to the fortunate advantage of stock footage from Bonnie Prince Charlie. Oddly, it has the same fault as the Bonnie Prince of juxtaposing location material with extremely obvious studio-built exteriors.
Luckily, Flynn is in fine form. Older yes, but he can still mix a mean sword. There's action a-plenty, and there's our Errol in the midst of it (any doubling or stunting is performed with skill).
Although it contains little of the horror elements inherent in Stevenson's novel, The Master of Ballantrae is still a fine adventure yarn. Flynn is first-rate. So is Livesey. And Jacques Berthier makes a delicious villain.
This was director William Keighley's last film before he was forced to retire. Hollywood employers told him he was far too meticulous and worked too slowly.
COMMENT: For all Cardiff's fine cinematography and Keighley's astute direction, The Master of Ballantrae is not quite as visually stylish as you might expect. Nor is it quite as costly as it looks, thanks to the fortunate advantage of stock footage from Bonnie Prince Charlie. Oddly, it has the same fault as the Bonnie Prince of juxtaposing location material with extremely obvious studio-built exteriors.
Luckily, Flynn is in fine form. Older yes, but he can still mix a mean sword. There's action a-plenty, and there's our Errol in the midst of it (any doubling or stunting is performed with skill).
Although it contains little of the horror elements inherent in Stevenson's novel, The Master of Ballantrae is still a fine adventure yarn. Flynn is first-rate. So is Livesey. And Jacques Berthier makes a delicious villain.
This was director William Keighley's last film before he was forced to retire. Hollywood employers told him he was far too meticulous and worked too slowly.