I ran across this piece the other night that was supposedly used in the film Ben Hur. I don't know which version (the early or late) and there is no other information about it. Someone put some love into its creation.

http://dns.websitemanagement.net/clients/404/1274_photo1.jpg

I sometimes wonder about other film swords of the past. I know Osacar Kolombatovtich was involved with a couple of more recent (my lifetime) films and there is always some interest in more recent projects.

Does/has anyone gone to the lengths of filing some of the names from the past. Those who armed folk Errol and Victor? There were some good looking efforts in the days gone by, functional or not. Even the rapiers in the old Cyrano film looked good.

Cheers

GC

Back in Hollywoods golden era most of the props were made in-house. Under the studio system each studio had pretty massive prop departments so I doubt if much was made by private contractors like we see today.

Just a little aside to that, mentioning Erroyl Flynn, the swords in The Adventures of Robin Hood were made of aluminum, and I doubt many survive to this day. All the arrow shots were real, however. All the arrow stunts were performed by Howard Hill, including the shot where Robin's arrow splits another in twain, done in one shot. One of the best movies ever.

Ken

It would have made the film a hard watch :D maybe he would have stolen Trigger from Maid Marian :D I have to pull out the DVD now!

Ken

No confusion Jean :D according to the IMDB trivia for The Adventures of Robin Hood the horse that Maid Marion rides in the film was purchased by Roy Rogers from a stable that leased animals for films. He became Trigger the Wonder Horse. Apparently even horses back then were contract players :D

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029843/trivia

Ken

Interesting responses.

What caught my eye on the sword linked was what looks like a fairly well done grip and pommel, married to the rest of the quite whimsical …umm, mess.

Cheers

GC

I once met a director who had a sword on his wall that looked like it was hacked out of the worst shop in the world. He was given the sword a long time ago and it was said to have been used in the original silent version of Ben Hur. It was a real boat anchor but cool as it was used by the actors of that day. The piece pictured above is far to nice to have been used in that production. I do not remeber ever seeing something like that in the Charelto Heston version. Maybe though,, time to pull out the DVD.

As for Robin Hood, now out on DVD, and yes I mean the Errol Flynn RH as if there are any other, its the reason I sit in a corner of my bedroom and type like a fiend about swords and then get up in the mornig and make them :-) Bloody afternoon movies when I was a kid swashbuckler week with Mel Jass . Damn the fool. :wtf:


Keep well marry men!

Craig :lol:

The dealer listing for the sword pictured in my first post is inconclusive. It is simply listed as a theatrical sword used in the movie Ben Hur. Thanks, Craig, for affirming it was not likely used in the silent version.

Sunday night Disney during the late '50s was my first and limited exposure to action adventure movies. They ran movies such as Robin Hood over the course of a couple of weeks. My mother was one for a very classical education and upbringing, so there was a good dose of Shakespeare stage and film productions as well. Television was more or less forbidden in our house, so I had to rely on neighbors and fraternity lounges nearby (I pretty much grew up on college campuses).

Cheers

GC

Anyone fans of 'Robin of Sherwood', the British series from the '80s? Clannad did the title song, and most of the soundtrack I believe, great show.

Ken